Increasingly people want the freshest and most natural products made from the fewest ingredients without artificial additives — and the dairy aisle is no exception.

Consumers are closely examining nutrition labels and factoring them into their purchase decision, often favoring clean-label foods and beverages made with natural and organic ingredients. 

Note: The following is an excerpt from the new white paper "Terminology Tempest in the Dairy Case" by David Sprinkle, Research Director of Packaged Facts. To read the entire white paper, download it here for free.

The recent European Union Court of Justice ruling against marketing of non-dairy soy / soya products in dairy terms (such as soy “milk” or tofu “butter”) was the right call, narrowly speaking.

The $1.5 billion dollar meal kit delivery industry is a godsend for consumers who are strapped for time but still want quality meals. While the industry has matured in recent years, new entrants continue to target specialized niche markets that are sometimes overlooked by more established and widely known companies.

Packaged Facts takes a look at 10 up-and-coming meal kit services (listed alphabetically) that are emerging in this exciting market.

The global probiotics market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.30% between 2017 and 2025, according to a recent report by Inkwood Research. The market is forecast to grow to $71948 million by 2025.

Probiotics are thought to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in the body and improve immunity and digestive health. Probiotics appear in a wide variety of products — including food and beverages, supplements, and animal feed.

It’s no secret that chocolate holds widespread appeal. Chocolate is a popular impulse buy, and you can find tempting displays of chocolate nearly everywhere — from the candy aisle in supermarkets to the checkout lane of department stores.

Chocolate is often a favorite flavor of American consumers, and ongoing research continues to demonstrate the health benefits of chocolate, further boosting its appeal.

The beverage industry is evolving rapidly, with a variety of hot growth sectors shaking up the status quo. There are more small and independent craft brewers and distillers operating in the U.S. than ever before, offering creative and unique flavor combinations to locavore-minded tourists and customers.

In addition, the markets for bottled water, coffee, tea, and energy and sports drinks continue to rise, as consumers seek out healthier beverages to consume on the go.

Nearly 60 percent of U.S. consumers say they are more concerned about animal welfare, specifically as it relates to the food supply, than they were just a few years ago, according to a groundbreaking new report by Packaged Facts, a leading market research firm.

Most U.S. consumers believe livestock should be treated humanely and slaughtered in the least painful way possible. Key concerns include how animals are housed, fed, and handled. Antibiotic use is another top issue.

Packaged Facts is a premier source of market information for top industry decision makers in the food and beverage industry. Packaged Facts reports are frequently quoted in leading news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes Magazine, and the Associated Press, in addition to many trade journals.

So far this year, Packaged Facts has released four new market research reports on the food industry that are packed with current insights to help drive business growth.

Packaged Facts, a leading consumer research firm, just released a new report 2017 Forecast: Culinary Trend Tracking Series. It takes an in-depth look into little-known food trends that are expected to take off in 2017.

Here are five international foods featured in the report that are on “the edge of the culinary world.” These trendy foods have not yet become mainstream items, but are poised for rapid growth.

As consumer spending and corporate profits increase, more households and businesses will host catered events such as wedding receptions, luncheons, and trade shows. 

A variety of organizations — including schools, senior living facilities, and hospitals — will also turn to contractors to outsource on-going foodservice needs. Professional contract caterers help free up organizations to focus on their core strengths and cut costs, rather than running meal programs on their own.

The global contract catering market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% from 2016-2021, according to recent industry analysis conducted by Azoth Analytics.