Loblaw Challenges Canadians to Try Something Unexpected in 2017

Loblaw Food Council - a group of experts ranging from professional and home chefs and registered dietitians, to academics and a futurist has worked together to launch 2017 Canadian Food Trends, #TasteTheNewNext, challenging Canadians to try something unexpected in 2017.

Loblaw predicts the 2017 Canadian Food Trends will be as follows:  

The New Conscious Consumer

Canadians are more interested than ever before about where their food comes from and how it is grown. Canadians are exploring new food options based on a desire to cook with ingredients that are produced sustainably and from local sources.

Alternative Proteins: Plants and insects will cement their importance on plates as Canadians continue to search for sources of alternative proteins. Many Canadians will increasingly include special meal days, like "meatless Mondays," in their repertoire as they embrace vegan and vegetarian meal options.

Reducing Cooking Waste: Canadians will address growing anxiety about food waste by taking interest in a wider range of meat cuts and using the entire vegetable or fruit in their cooking. Vegetable tops will act as a substitute for herbs; vegetable bottoms and bones will be saved for homemade soup and stock.

Responsible Sourced Brand Certification: Canadians are more aware of where their food comes from, how it is cultivated, and its effect on the environment. Canadians will increasingly turn to brands that have third party certification to confirm the item is responsibly sourced.

The New Mindful Foodie

Canadians will place a greater emphasis on what and how we are eating to improve our physical and mental health.

Back to Basics: Canadians are better educated about nutrition. They will increasingly look for clean ingredient decks and labels, such as additive free and preservative free. Canadians will be looking to spices and ingredients that serve a dual purpose, like turmeric with its beneficial properties and great flavour.

Eating with Purpose: Greater attention will be paid to not just what we eat, but how we are eating it. Slowing down during mealtime, turning off our cell phones, eating with family and friends, and enjoying the meal will make Canadians happier.

Raw Foods: Canadians seeking less processed foods will turn to cold-pressed oils, kelp, and seaweed.

The New Canadian Cuisine

Canadians are looking for ways to gain rich cultural experiences through food. They are infusing global flavours into everyday favourites to create new options. Our Canadian food landscape is becoming a global sensorial adventure.

Fusion of Flavours: Cultural cuisines will land together on Canadians' plates. Dishes like butter chicken poutine will bring excitement and creativity to dining.

Discovering Global Flavours: More global spices will make their way into Canadian homes as Za'atar and Togarashi take the spotlight. Filipino, Middle Eastern, and Moroccan food will gain popularity in 2017.

The New Home Chef

The dichotomy of time pressure and a desire to eat nutritious food will continue to impact how we eat. The New Home Chef will be a weekend warrior in search of a deeper connection with their food. But during the week, this time-strapped New Home Chef is looking for support to bring nutritious meals to their tables.

Back to the Kitchen: Canadians are reverting back to traditional and artisanal food preparation methods to truly enjoy the food making and eating experience. This includes slow cooking, preserving, canning and souping.

Meal in a Box: Meal kits and subscription food delivery services that provide nutritious, fresh, or frozen ingredients will gain popularity, becoming an acceptable alternative to feed family and friends.

The New Connected Shopper

Canadians will opt to shop at retailers that offer enhanced digital experiences to make their shopping seamless, accessible, and efficient. At the same time, Canadians seeking layered and personalized experiences will benefit from the transformation of the grocery store – from transactional shopping to community hubs that include education, socialization, and one-to-one connections with employees to drive experience and make the shopping trip a cultural moment.

eCommerce: Canadians will continue to turn to eCommerce solutions to make their weekly shopping experience more convenient – from pre-order to day-of delivery.

Personalization Through Technology: Technology, such as beacons, apps and others, will be used to create enhanced in-store experiences to offer personalized shopping and information.

Throughout the year, the Loblaw 2017 Food Trends will come to life in many different ways in-store, online and in kitchens across the country. As the hub of food innovation, the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens will feature the trends at various times throughout the year and provide opportunities for customers to taste, learn, and understand new food experiences like never before. Loblaw invites food lovers from across the country to unite and taste what's new in food in 2017.

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