Indulge in the Luxe World of Popcorn, Truffles, and Boba Tea Trends

At the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Summer Fancy Food Show, held from June 23-25, I was intrigued by market researcher David Lockwood’s insights from the “State of the Specialty Food Industry Report 2024-25.” Among the standout trends were snacking and indulgence, a trend I observed vividly at New York’s Javits Center.

Popping Trends

Popcorn continues to captivate, with inventive flavors such as Sea Salted Brulée, Birthday Cake, Spicy Taco, French Toast, Nori Crunch, and Pineapple Galore making an appearance. Innovations extended to products like Popilicious Popcorn’s new offerings, including pops and even popcorn cakes. CrackCorn Puffy Pop stood out with its smooth, hull-free texture. Maria Bailey, founder of Popilicious, highlighted that the snack’s enduring appeal lies in its health-conscious, gluten-free nature.

Truffle Indulgence

The indulgence trend was also evident in upscale popcorn toppings like Truffle Butter from Popzup. This aligns with the “premium finishes” discussed by Nancy Kruse, president of The Kruse Co., during her “State of the Plate 2024” presentation. The earthy flavor of truffles was featured in a range of products from cheeses and sauces to oils, honey, butter, ice cream, and even a breaded truffle mac & cheese ball appetizer.

Bubbling Up

For beverages, I gravitated towards boba tea, reflecting its transition from a specialty café item to a mainstream grab-and-go drink in the U.S. The show featured Bubluv, which claims to be the first low-sugar, low-calorie ready-to-drink boba tea, available in Black Milk Tea and Matcha Soy Latte varieties. Founder Diana Ark Chen explained the brand’s use of a tapioca starch and konjac blend to keep the product low in calories and carbs.

This shift to mainstream acceptance was underscored by Kruse, who noted Starbucks’ introduction of Summer-Berry Refreshers, their take on bubble tea. This beverage trend highlights the growing consumer interest in global flavors and aligns with the indulgence trend, even if it’s a drink.

Additional Highlights

Other notable items included Afar Savory Protein Bars, Arctic Farms Freeze-Dried Ice Cream and Candy, Diggables Buckwheat Puffs, G Hughes Sugar Free Pulled Pork and Chicken, Honey B sparkling honey drink, José Andres Foods Tortilla de Patatas, Lotte Snow Ice Coffee Shake, Nata Pura Portuguese tarts (billed as “not a donut”), Nutty Novelties Habanero Honey Peanut Butter, Royo low-carb bread, and Zany Bites artisan rice baked snacks.