They say that taste is affected by acombination of the senses of sight, smell and palate. This month we have a treat to excite the senses.
First we were presented with a bountiful feast of pleasing sights at the Fall New York Tabletop Market, where suppliers showcased their fresh assortments for 2011. We saw more color and bold design integrated into products that were more durable and more affordable than ever. Remember when elegant and dishwasher-safe were mutually exclusive terms? Well, that is all changing rapidly. Consumers will have plenty of opportunity to showcase their enthusiasm for a bright future with these upbeat assortments without putting a dent in their pocket book.
Next it was off to the Natural Products Expo East where our palates were teased with amazing flavors, and our noses filled with pleasing aromas encompassed in products that were healthy and beneficial to our well-being. Keeping healthy and feeling good never seemed so easy.
Remember when organic was a special word? Now that consumers can pretty much live their lives organically if they wish, the industry is taking it a step further and introducing products with health-boosting benefits with even less processing. The really good news is the products that we love and consume in moderation are now found to be good for us. I’ll drink a glass of red wine to that. Now we learn that the wonderful treat that we over- consume at Halloween, chocolate, can be good for the heart. Read our story about chocolate in this issue to find out more about this health trend, and some of the key products you will want to learn about.
We have done our best to uncover the latest trends and thinking that will drive the markets in 2011, and identify key products to address changing consumer wants and needs. Understanding current consumer sentiment and behavior will allow you to understand and select prod- ucts to ride these trends. Don’t miss the boat – trends are constantly emerging, and new trends build upon old ones as new products are brought to market. 4th quarter – here we come!