For many, the holiday season is a time to eat, drink, and be merry. However, health does not have to fall by the wayside. Shoppers still seek better-for-you options making it a prime opportunity for retailers to stock up on top better-for-you trends hitting the holiday scene.
1. Mocktails
Craft cocktails have been on the rise for years – but many consumers today, especially younger shoppers like millennials and Gen Z, now crave a special libation in that spirit – without the spirits. As more consumers thirst for low- and no- alcohol drinks that still feel festive, the mocktail subset of craft beverages is seeing renewed energy. Keep an eye out for brands like Bar None and Mocktail Club, who are coming out with bold, adventurous flavors.
2. Better-for-you Baking
Baking-related activities are plentiful during the holiday season. With health and wellness top of mind, SPINS is seeing a huge trend toward better-for-you baking, as consumers opt for keto, paleo, vegan, and gluten-free options to make their favorite sweet treat. These include items that use flour and gluten-free blends and seeds (e.g. amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa,etc.) as their base. Additionally, SPINS has identified a trend toward alternative sweeteners like stevia and agave, which are up 92% and 53% in dollar sales, respectively.
3. Taking Time for Wellness
While consumers tend to indulge more than usual over the holiday season, they are also seeking balance by introducing functional products for a boost of health. SPINS data shows sales of functional wellness shots have reached more than $365.6 million in total sales as consumers look for a quick and easy cure-all potion. SPINS has seen immunity and cleansing/detox shots as the biggest areas of expansion, and expect this to continue through the new year as people over-indulge in sweets, snacks, and alcohol.
Additionally, a good night’s sleep can often seem far and few between this time of year. As a solve for this, a growing number of consumers have begun to establish new habits (often called sleep hygiene) and to seek out new products to help them relax, unwind, and get a good night’s rest. In addition to traditional forms like pills and herbal tinctures, SPINS has seen several new delivery methods for sleep supplements come to market. For example, Garden of Life’s mykind Organics Sleep Well R & R comes in the form of a spray, or Dream Dust by Moon Juice features a blend to be stirred into a nighttime beverage, and even transdermal delivery through a topical patch from Patch MD.
Curious as to how SPINS can help you use seasonal trends to find growth?