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.

Americans are spending more on their pets than ever before, and expenditures continue to rise. By 2020, the U.S. pet industry is expected to reach $96 billion in sales, according to Packaged Facts, a leading market research firm.

Approximately 56% of U.S. households own pets, and the close emotional bonds people share with their furry friends is a major driver of industry growth. To learn more about this and other trends, check out the article below, which highlights several key findings from the report U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2016-2017.

Gift cards are a popular go-to option for shoppers of all ages. Not surprisingly, Christmas and birthdays are top occasions for purchasing gift cards. The most widely purchased gift cards are for coffee shops and restaurants, according to Packaged Facts, a leading consumer research firm.

Gift cards are a massive, multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S., but not all prepaid cards are purchased as gifts and stocking stuffers. A variety of prepaid cards are also used for government-administered benefits, employee rewards and incentives, and tax refunds. In addition, millions of consumers use prepaid cards as an alternative to traditional bank accounts.

The food and beverage industry is undergoing major shifts as U.S. consumers gravitate toward natural, whole foods diets.

Shoppers are scrutinizing nutrition labels more closely, opting for groceries made with fewer, simpler ingredients. Although gluten-free foods are still a hot item, consumers are increasingly aware that gluten-free doesn't always mean guilt-free.

Meanwhile, the popularity of meal kit delivery services continues to soar, as more and more companies roll out subscription offerings for consumers seeking convenient home-cooked meals.

Read on to learn more about these trends.

Grocery retailers in the U.S. face fierce competition. There’s no shortage of retail channels vying for business — including supermarkets and discount stores, wholesale clubs, drug stores, natural food stores, farmers markets, and online delivery services.

How do these different retail channels measure up in the eyes of consumers? And with so many options available, how can retailers stand out from the competition and keep customers coming back? 

The research firm Packaged Facts addresses these questions in the new report Natural and Organic Foods and Beverages in the U.S., Fifth Edition, which includes data from a proprietary Packaged Facts National Consumer Survey conducted in July-August 2016. 

Today’s consumers are looking to fill their grocery carts with food made from clean, natural ingredients. As a result, big brands are modifying their products in hopes of winning over health-conscious consumers, and the baking aisle is no exception.  

“A trend that has really burst out in the last year is what I’ve been calling the ‘better baking trend,’” explains Kara Nielsen, a food trendologist and professionally trained baker. “This makes a ton of sense, when you consider a lot of the baking mixes, jarred frosting, and other items in the baking aisle are very family centered. Kids are the main consumer in many cases.”

Americans' longstanding love for cheese — and the wider availability of premium natural cheeses at lower price points — spurred growth in the natural and specialty cheese market to sales of $17.4 billion in 2015.

Both adults and children alike eat cheese throughout the day, and Millennnials and Gen Xers are eating more than they were a few years ago. Read our blog post and check out our infographic to learn about the U.S. cheese market.

Last Updated: May 15, 2017 According to Packaged Facts, the U.S. meal kit delivery services market will generate $1.5 billion in sales in 2016 and grow to a multi-billion dollar market over the next five years. With fresh food, little waste, and foolproof recipes and directions, easy meal kit delivery services offer time-saving, stress-free options that solve the problem of "what's for dinner" for today's busy consumers.

Given the growing popularity of subscription boxes, it’s no surprise that this niche market has many competitors. But what differentiates these subscription services from one another? Here’s a closer look at the top competitors in the market for meal delivery services.

We have a strange fascination with fat cats — not the wealthy members of the modern aristocracy, but rather plus-sized felines who flaunt their curves in roly poly reverie in pictures and online videos. Youtube is littered with hundreds of thousands of videos of overweight pets, including a video of the world’s fattest cats that has over 31 million views. That’s more views than most videos of the president, and approaches Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift levels of ogling devotion.

As an introduction into the spring season, April has been dubbed Lawn and Garden Month. With the weather warming up and trees starting to bloom, it’s the perfect time for consumers to get their yards ready for new landscaping, plants, and gardens.

Read our blog post and check out our infographic to learn about the market for lawn and garden equipment and supplies.