#1 TREND INGREDIENT 2024: WALNUTS

Every year, the renowned US retail chain Whole Foods unveils its trend outlook for the upcoming year. Taking center stage in 2024 is a notable shift within the plant-based industry, focusing on "Put the "Plant" Back in "Plant-Based", emphasizing the main ingredients.

Logical consequence: walnuts are at the top of Whole Foods' trend list for 2024.

Focusing on natural ingredients, including walnuts, marks a decisive development for this segment and is characterized by the increased use of proteins derived from mushrooms, walnuts and legumes instead of complex meat alternatives.

The guiding principle is a short ingredient list. Plant-based milk alternatives, for example, can be limited to just two components.

This prioritization aligns with the preferences of consumers who value a purist plant-based diet. Walnuts are versatile and hold significant potential, particularly as an alternative to minced meat. Chopped, seasoned and pan-roasted, they add extra-crunch to dishes such as chili sin carne, bolognese and more. Walnuts from California are particularly mild and known for their high quality.

Discover our recipe inspiration for product development here.