By: Rick Stein, Vice President, Fresh Foods, Food Marketing Institute 
SmartBlogs Food and Beverage Blog recently spoke with the Sterling Rice Group about what food trends to expect for 2015. So, what about the food truck trend of the last few years?
According to Sterling Rice Group, consumers will be looking for small businesses grouped together geographically, offering healthy and diverse menus. How does the supermarket take this trend and apply it within their store? Well, many retailers are already attempting this.
Go down the food court aisle of many supermarkets and you will see a station for Asian, Italian, American Sandwiches, Burgers, Fresh Salads, and much, much more. It’s a lot like walking down the block with food trucks lined up on the street, the local supermarket can create their own version within the four walls and many supermarkets already have.
However the secret, according to Sterling Rice Group, is how to convey LOCAL? Once again many supermarkets are achieving this through profiling their local chef at the point of sale, utilizing local products in their recipe, or creating signature dishes only served at that specific location. The combination of offering an array of choices, coupled with the marketing of local, will make the supermarket meal a stand out choice in 2015 among consumers.
It’s these food trends and more that will be on display in our 2015 Supermarket Chef Showdown. Fifteen top grocery store chefs from around the country will compete to be named America’s Best Supermarket Chef during the annual FMI Connect conference in Chicago. The winning store chef will receive an expense-paid trip for two to the Italian Culinary Institute in Calabria, and five additional category winners will each receive a $1,000 cash prize. All finalists will win a trip to FMI Connect to take part in the competition. Supermarket chains and their chefs have until February 28 to submit recipes to the Showdown in one or more of the following categories: Breakfast to Go, Holiday Platters, Ethnic Dishes, Affordable Family Meals, and Dessert.
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