By John Tanasychuk
December 29, 2011 10:00 AM
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/features/food/restaurants/blog/2011/12/the_supermarket_gurus_2012_foo_1.htmlPhil Lempert has made a career for himself as The Supermarket Guru. He’s can see consumer buying trends before we know it. He also advises food producers on how to attract consumers. Here are his 2012 predictions created as ConAgra spokesman.
1. Consumers will use even more coupons and frequent shopper cards as food prices continue to rise.
2. Food trucks pioneered the use of social media in announcing their whereabouts, but now food companies will jump on the band wagon with special apps and online communities.
3. Baby Boomers will become the largest food influencers and purchasers, controlling 52 percent of the total $706 billion spent on groceries by 2015. They are particularly interested in more healthful options.
4. Farmers will become the new food celebrities as consumers continue to be interested and how and where food was grown.
5. Self-service checkouts, cellphone scanners and mobile coupons will become the norm.
6. Ethnic food will be best found in food trucks instead of gourmet and specialty stores.
7. Even more men will shop for and prepare food. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 41 percent of men are now doing the food preparation, as compared to half that amount in 2003.
8. Following the lead of extreme couponers, extreme home cooking will become the norm as consumers eat at home to save money.
9. Reduced sugar products will become more popular and nutrition facts panels of food products will be revised.
10. The sound of food — popping popcorn or burgers sizzling on the grill, for example — will become an even more important element in how food is bought and sold.
PHOTO: Phil Lempert
Author
