For many of today's consumers, food is considered an essential component of overall health & wellness. Grocery shoppers are not only looking for clean-label, "free-from" foods, they're also seeking products with added health benefits such as disease prevention and weight loss. 

Obesity levels in American are a significant concern, as 70% of adults are overweight or obese, with no improvement in sight. Medical conditions such as diabetes, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea are directly related to this obesity.

The global bottled water market did not end 2017 without surprises. After years of strong growth in the USA, bottled water sales surpassed carbonated soft drinks to become the largest beverage category by volume in 2016. 

More consumers are trying out plant-based dairy alternatives. This trend is connected to concerns about health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.

Some consumers seek dairy alternatives because of food intolerances, allergies, or vegan diets. Others choose dairy alternatives as part of the “clean eating” regimes often touted by social media stars and food bloggers.

The U.S. weight loss market is estimated to be worth $68.2 billion in 2017—a 2.7% gain, and growth should continue into 2018, when the market is expected to post a better gain of 3.2% to $70 billion.

Continued high rates of obesity and overweight, coupled with low unemployment and higher disposable income, are boosting the market. However, performance will vary significantly by individual market segment.

Grocery retail has never been more cutthroat. With razor thin profit margins and new pricing pressure from Amazon, Lidl, and ALDI, U.S. food retailers must adapt quickly in order to remain competitive and appeal to shifting consumer preferences. 

Based on the latest studies by the market research firm Packaged Facts, here are four disruptive food industry trends to keep on an eye on in the coming months and years. 

Microencapsulation is increasingly attracting the attention of various industries as a means to attain product differentiation and enhance product value. It is the process of encapsulating tiny core/internal phase material with shell material through advanced techniques.

Many health-conscious consumers have started adding grass-fed meat into their repertoire, and grass-fed dairy products are also rapidly growing in popularity as well. This includes grass-fed milk, yogurt, ice cream, and butter.

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Consumers are not only looking for free-from products that eliminate pesticides, chemicals, and toxins from their diets, they are also seeking nutrient-dense foods that offer additional health benefits. In response to growing demand, many different companies are incorporating funtional foods into their product lines.