Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 12/8/11

Group dining, dad shopping, cutting back on sugar and using technology to help rein in rising food costs all are among the 10 most prevalent trends in the food arena for the coming year, according to "Supermarket Guru" Phil Lempert.

In a release distributed by ConAgra Foods, Lempert notes that 2012 could be a game-changer in the industry.

"2011 brought us higher food prices at unprecedented levels, in part because of crops and livestock being destroyed by global weather catastrophes," Lempert notes. "We will continue to see higher prices, but we will also see all the different ways Americans love their food — in supermarkets, on television, at restaurants and now even on their mobile phones. We are on the verge of what may be one of the most exciting and game-changing years in the food world."

The 10 trends that Lempert projects for the food supply chain in 2012 are:
• Food prices that keep rising. Environmental conditions and higher production costs will goose food prices, spurring the use of printable grocery coupons, frequent shopper cards and shopping lists — perhaps generated by a processor’s website featuring specific recipes.
• Never eat alone. Group events, like “flash raves,” are springing up around food. They're about connection, conversation and community, Lempert says, and consumers will embrace mobile marketing enhanced by the location, social and camera features, and perhaps enticed by discounts.
• Baby boomers still in the driver’s seat. Expect supermarkets to cater to boomers with foods and services to satisfy their growing interest in and need for more healthful options, and to make sure the physical shopping experience makes them feel welcome and respected, with wider aisles and lower shelves.
• Increased emphasis on "farm to fork." A different kind of food celebrity is on the horizon: the farmer. Expect to see more advertising and television programs starring these real food experts.
• The end of the checkout lane. Many shoppers are learning to appreciate the tech-savvy nature of self-checkouts.
• Ethnic food revolution. Food trucks are replacing gourmet and specialty stores as the channel to experiment and discover new food experiences, especially ethnic foods.
• New role of the male shopper. It's all about "dad" and family. Men want to be engaged parents and successful professionals, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 41 percent of men are now doing the food preparation. Look for them to do more of the grocery shopping.
• Extreme home cooking. Get ready for yet another slowdown at foodservice establishments as more men and women eat at home to save money, and pride themselves on making the most food for the least amount of money.
• How sweet it isn't. Look for reduced sugar products to be the biggest health claim in the coming year, along with a revised Nutrition Facts panel on food.
• Listen for the sound of food: People judge the readiness of some foods (like microwave popcorn or grilled burgers), by the sounds the foods make. Multisensory perception will be one of the new "food sciences" in 2012.

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