Trending with Tracie: Let’s Partake

Hu first started in 2012 in NYC as a high-end restaurant and market; back then they were known as ‘Hu Kitchen.’ Their vegan and paleo-friendly chocolate bars were a hit, and eventually started to sell in the natural retail channel. The purpose-led lifestyle brand, with a mission of, “Get Back to Human,” has expanded beyond chocolate and into new segments – baking, snacking chocolate, and grain-free crackers. Along the way, the brand has stayed true to its core values of unbeatable taste with unmatched simplicity.

Trending with Tracie: Speaking of Cravings

Snacking is a part of our culture. Long gone are the days where 3 meals a day are the norm, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that American consumers have once again turned to snacks for comfort and enjoyment. Based on NPD’s latest Snack Food Behaviors in Challenging Times study, snack food consumption has increased 8% during the pandemic as folks look to comfort food with savory and sweet snacks in mind.

Trending with Tracie: Changes

There’s one thing that I don’t ever skimp on, and that’s my morning java. I’ve been WFH lately and can’t order my favorite oat milk latte from my local coffee shop craftily made by my barista Julien. But, as we’ve all had to, I’ve learned to adjust, and it looks like most consumers have too. Peet’s Coffee, which got its start in 1966 in Berkeley and has grown to 200 locations, saw a 70% increase in subscription orders fulfilled in May 2020 as compared to May 2019.

Trending with Tracie: Let’s Get Innovative

Gary Erickson founded Clif Bar almost 30 years ago with a goal of making a better energy bar with both nutritious and quality ingredients. Fast forward to 2020, and Clif Bar announces Sally Grimes as its new CEO. A globally recognized CPG leader, Grimes most recently served as Group President at Tyson Foods where she was responsible for the $10 billion Prepared Foods business.

Trending with Tracie: Fresh Ideas

Chocolate milk isn’t just for kids anymore. La Colombe recently released its very first product from its Fresh Ideas limited-batch innovation hub and let me tell you… it’s spectacular! They’ve taken a childhood favorite drink and added their patented nitrous oxide process to give it that signature draft mouth-feel and brought us a high-quality chocolate in a lactose-free milk experience.

Trending with Tracie: Dang Tea!

Post drinking tea do you ever feel like your mood is oh so much brighter? Many folks who drink tea testify to the relaxing and invigorating feeling it brings. Researchers have found that drinking tea lowers stress hormone cortisol levels. Tea causes a calming and alert effect at the same time – you drink it and feel calm, but then alertness settles in (as the caffeine kicks in).