Health Is Wealth When It Comes To Global Better-For-You Food and Beverage Consumption

by: Grovara

Healthy eating can save the world. 

If that seems far-fetched, consider the mammoth Nature study that found healthy food is not only more nutritious, but it’s more sustainable and better for the environment. 

At the same time, more people around the world are concerned about their health. 

In the U.S. there was a 33% increase this year in the number of people following a specific diet or meal plan, with one in five of those people motivated by improving their relationship with food. In Europe, some 82% are concerned about their health and level of physical fitness, and an earlier version of the same study indicated consumers there are focused on reducing their intake of the three biggest food and beverage offenders: Sugar, fat, and salt. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many existing food and beverage trends, especially those related to healthy, better-for-you, and wellness-oriented products and brands. This growing interest in healthy eating is continuously altering consumer purchasing habits, along with inflation and supply chain issues that forced many to try new products or adjust routines.

Here’s a look at some of the major storylines driving the ever-growing focus on healthy foods and beverages, and how Grovara is feeding that appetite through thousands of better-for-you products on the only B2B marketplace for export/import.

Vegans, Vegetarians, Flexitarians, and Reducetarians

Eating less meat products is not only good for the planet, it’s good for your health. Vegetarians are up to 53% less likely to have Type 2 diabetes type than meat-eaters, while they also have a 12% lower cancer rate incidence. While vegans make up just 1% of the global population, they are expected to comprise 10% by 2030.

This is why sales of plant-based foods are increasing at a phenomenal clip. Plant-based foods grew three times faster than overall food sales in 2021, driven largely by alternative milk, egg, cheese, meat, yogurt, butter, and creamer products. The global vegan market grew nearly 10% to $15.77 billion last year with similar growth anticipated for the coming years.

Grovara’s global online marketplace is stocked with plant-based options, including:

Inside the Trends

There are many individual trends driving growth across the better-for-you landscape, demonstrating the overall potential in the industry.

Four out of 10 people globally live with a gastrointestinal disorder, and many live with one without getting treatment. By simply adding prebiotics and probiotics to one’s diet, many can find a level of relief that improves their ability to work or care for loved ones. That’s why the digestive health market is expected to grow by 7.9% annually to nearly $72 billion worldwide by 2027. On the Grovara marketplace, GT’s Living Foods, Humm, That’s It, Wild Tea Kombucha, Cleveland Kitchen, Uplift Food, and Mamma Chia are reliable and delicious sources of prebiotics and probiotics. Adaptogens, which can help with a range of issues from stress to sleep, are growing 7% annually to nearly $14 billion, and are represented on the Grovara marketplace via Four Sigmatic.

COVID-19 had a specific impact on the immunity-boosting category as people all over the world scrambled to stay ahead of the pandemic. The immunity-boosting foods market is expected to grow by 7.9% annually to $18.4 billion by 2030, and featured in dozens of products in the Grovara marketplace from Drink Zyn, Alpine Start, Positive Beverage, Balanced Tiger, Grace’s Goodness.

Leaning Into Weight Loss 

Global obesity has tripled since 1975, and while some regions of the world are improving, being overweight is still a major issue for many. It’s why weight management is such an important factor in better-for-you growth. 

Consider the wildly popular keto diet, which restricts carbs to (usually) less than 50 grams and eliminates sugar, which has gained mass appeal and is driving 6% annual growth of keto products. Keto is well-represented on the Grovara marketplace by Kiss Me Keto, NuttZo, B. Fine Foods, Bhu Foods, for example.

Our marketplace also promotes weight loss with products that help avoid sugar like drink flavoring True Citrus, allulose-based alt-sugar RxSugar, and Health Garden condiments and sweeteners, plus superfoods like Ancient Harvest’s grains and pastas to help get the most from mealtime.

Snack Attack Grows Stronger

Snacking is alive and well, with more people snacking with purpose to replace meals, eat healthier, or treat a specific ailment. 

Healthy snacks are growing by 6.6% annually and expected to total $152.2 billion by 2030. Grovara’s virtual better-for-you snack aisle is loaded with options that are organic, functional, and delicious like Cooper Street Cookies, Honey Stinger, IQ Bar, Kate’s Real Food, Inka Foods, Mavuno Harvest, Symphony Chips, Think Jerky, Tosi, U-LUV. 

Oat-based snacks are especially hot and expected to grow 4.3% annually and reach $23.45 billion by 2025. Grovara’s marketplace offers a number of oat-centric snacks and ingredients from Earnest Eats, Arrowhead Mills, Unna Bakery, and Steve & Andy’s.

There are many reasons to eat healthier. Just by paying more attention to the foods and drinks we consume, we can create healthier outcomes. Grovara’s marketplace is just a click away, open 24/7, 365 days per year for you to explore how you can build your ideal better-for-you shelf.