It's not all going to be about plant-
based foods in 2019, however. In addition
to the proliferation of plant-based items as
healthy alternatives, other healthful foods
that are expected to be in demand in 2019
include bone broths, according to several of
the retailers interviewed.
Robin McNamara, director of special-
ty foods at Wellesley, Mass.-based Roche
Bros., says that, like plant-based foods, bone
broths appeal to consumers seeking health-
ful products to incorporate into their diets.
"We want to be kind to our bodies and
try to repair some of the damage that's been
caused by environmental and poor process-
ing practices," she says.
Along those lines, McNamara also
predicts that cannabindiol (CBD) oils and
hemp-based beverages will become increas-
ingly popular in 2019.
"This is one category that has endless
potential, and we are just at the tip of the
iceberg," she says.
Better-For-You Beverages
Retailers expect other health-focused bever-
ages to continue to gain momentum in the
year ahead.
Beverages from Rebbl are "f lying off
the shelves" at Barons, Shemirani says, cit-
ing the appeal of the brand's packaging
as well as the healthful attributes of its
products. These elixirs contain "superfood"
ingredients such as turmeric, maca—a
Peruvian root vegetable—matcha, and rei-
shi mushroom extract. Barons merchan-
dises the products alongside its kombucha
and cold-brew coffee assortment.
Winter Fancy Food Show Booth 5969
"We're seeing innovation
in products that can
address health, and one
of them is vegetable-
based proteins."
WINTER 2019 47