Long associated with pleasure and exceptionality, fine food stores are now seeing their frame of reference evolve. Consumers are not giving up on taste or quality but are now more systematically incorporating health and balance criteria into their choices. The issue of protein, whether plant-based, dairy or marine, is gradually emerging as a key indicator of this transformation. At Gourmet Selection, this evolution is reflected in a range of products that pays close attention to composition, nutritional density and naturalness.
Published on Mar 2,2026 at 8:16 AM | Updated on Mar 2,2026 at 11:24 AM

According to Speciality Food Magazine, health is now one of the biggest drivers of the speciality food and beverage market. This dynamic goes beyond specific diets: it is part of a lasting transformation in consumer expectations. The concepts of balance, naturalness and nutritional density are becoming fundamental, including in the world of quality groceries.

At the Gourmet Selection trade show, this evolution is clearly reflected in the ranges presented by exhibitors. Fine food retails, historically associated with pleasure and exceptional experiences, are now more explicitly incorporating health into their offerings. Eating well is no longer at odds with indulgence; it redefines it.

This trend was also noted in the magazine Good Taste Guaranteed, in the chapter ‘2026 trends that are already whetting our appetite.’


Protein, a strategic marker

The OpinionWay 2025 study on proteins confirms this change. Proteins are now perceived as a major health issue by the French. They are no longer solely associated with athletic performance: they are becoming a pillar of daily nutrition, linked to vitality, satiety and the maintenance of muscle mass.

This awareness directly influences purchasing behaviour. Consumers are paying increasing attention to the protein content of products, whether they are of animal or plant origin. Legumes, seeds, nuts, but also enriched dairy products and plant-based alternatives are gaining visibility.

In the aisles of the Gourmet Selection trade show, this trend is reflected in a rise in products highlighting their protein profile. Some exhibitors are reworking their traditional recipes to improve their nutritional content. Others are developing specific ranges that combine high-quality ingredients with functional value. Protein is becoming a key selling point, on a par with origin and expertise.


Health and speciality: a lasting convergence

Speciality Food Magazine emphasises that health is now an integral part of the value proposition of speciality products. Consumers are looking for less processed foods with shorter, more understandable ingredient lists. Transparency and naturalness are becoming decisive criteria.

In this context, Gourmet Selection exhibitors are adapting their positioning. The discourse is no longer limited to rarity or craftsmanship; it now includes elements related to nutritional balance. The concept of ‘clean label’ is gradually gaining ground in quality grocery stores, as are sugar reduction and the promotion of raw ingredients.


Exhibitors reflecting the nutritional shift in the market

This change in expectations is not just theoretical: it can be seen in the profiles of the exhibitors at Gourmet Selection. Several players illustrate how protein and nutritional balance are becoming key criteria in the product range.

On the plant-based side, exhibitor MANGE TES GRAINES embodies the rise of alternative protein sources. Seeds, legumes and raw ingredients are part of a quest for naturalness and nutritional density, in line with the growing interest in plant-based proteins identified by the OpinionWay study.

produit de l'exposant vijaya boyère sur Gourmet Selection 2025
In the same vein, Vijaya - Boyère, a specialist in dried fruits and superfoods, is promoting products that are naturally rich in protein, fibre and healthy fats, responding to more mindful and daily consumption.
For its part, Maison Barthouil, a specialist in seafood products, illustrates the interest in marine proteins, associated with complete nutritional intake and a reinforced healthy image.
Pièce de saumon de la Maison Barthouil présenté au salon Gourmet Selection

Beyond protein alone, the overall approach to healthy eating is also reflected in exhibitors who promote the quality of raw materials.

Maison Alziari, an olive oil producer, is committed to the search for good fats and a balanced diet.

Finally, exhibitor Bacanha, which specialises in non-alcoholic beverages, is supporting the trend towards better consumption by extending nutritional considerations to beverages.

The range of products on offer at Gourmet Selection thus reflects a broader market trend: health is no longer a specific segment, but a cross-cutting factor that influences the formulation, positioning and selection of products in quality grocery stores.

This convergence between speciality and health is also changing the expectations of professional buyers. Concept stores, independent grocery stores and premium networks are looking to enrich their assortment with products that can meet the growing demand for well-being without sacrificing perceived quality. Selection is becoming more strategic: it is no longer just a matter of introducing a new product, but of anticipating a fundamental shift. A food calendar marked by nutrition

A food calendar marked by nutrition

Calendrier Marketing Food Gourmet Selection
The issue of protein and healthy eating is part of a food calendar that is increasingly structured around health issues.

The issue of protein and healthy eating is part of a food calendar that is increasingly structured around health issues.

Find all the key dates that confirm this trend in the 2026 Food Marketing Calendar from Gourmet Selection:

  • International Pulses Day: 10 February 2026
  • Cereals Day: 7 March 2026
  • World Fair Trade Day: 9 March 2026,
  • International Plant Health Day: 12 May 2026,
  • International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May 2026,
  • World Environment Day: 5 June 2026,
  • National Agriculture Day: 16 June 2026,
  • World Plant Milk Day: 22 August 2026
  • World Vegetarian Day on 1 October 2026,
  • World Egg Day on 10 October 2026
  • World Vegan Day on 1 November 2026

 

In this context, Gourmet Selection is a key meeting point for players in the sector. The trade show provides an opportunity to identify upcoming innovations and assess brands' ability to sustainably integrate these expectations into their offerings. Discussions between exhibitors and buyers focus as much on taste as on composition, label clarity and nutritional consistency across product ranges.

This dynamic also opens up new perspectives in terms of product storytelling. The promotion of plant-based proteins, for example, is often accompanied by a discourse on food diversity and supply quality. The challenge is not only technical; it is also educational.

The observed trend confirms that health is no longer just a marketing argument. It now structures purchasing decisions and influences the very design of products. Proteins, in particular, are emerging as a key indicator of this transformation. At Gourmet Selection, this trend can be seen in the diversity of the offerings presented and in the way exhibitors articulate pleasure, quality and nutritional balance around their gourmet products.

Meet all the professionals in the quality grocery sector at the Gourmet Selection trade show from Sunday 7 to Monday 8 June 2026 at Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles Pavilion 7.2

Image credit: Pexels - Mart Productions

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