Once seen as a fridge-side condiment, pickles are emerging as a powerhouse in the specialty food space – bridging wellness trends and culinary snacking formats.
At the recent Summer Fancy Food Show, flavor-forward pickle brands showcased just how far the category has evolved.
According to Straits Research, the global pickles market is expected to reach $19.36 billion by 2033, driven by consumer interest in gut-friendly, fermented foods and globally inspired flavor profiles.
From fast food to fermentation: Evergreen & Market
For Salwa Kisswani, founder of Atlanta-based Evergreen & Market, pickling is personal. Growing up eating gas station snacks and fast food, she saw an opportunity during the pandemic to create a better-for-you alternative – one rooted in wellness, cultural heritage and versatility. She left her software development job and self-funded the launch of Evergreen & Market, which now offers a lineup of pickled items ranging from watermelon rinds and lemons to strawberries.
But Evergreen & Market’s products are positioned beyond snacking – they are multi-use ingredients, with consumers using the brines in everything from marinades and salad dressings to oil infusions, cocktails and even tea, explained the company’s CEO, Randy Michael.
Sourcing regionally from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, the brand emphasizes local agriculture and small-batch production.
Evergreen & Market is available in 250 specialty shops across the US, with jars retailing for $16.95. At Atlanta-area farmers markets, the price drops to $10, and both Kisswani and Michael say they hope to improve margins in grocery.
A recently launched GoFundMe campaign aims to help finance manufacturing capabilities and reduce costs to bring their artisanal pickles to more consumers, Kisswani said.
A flavorful wildcard: Pickle Creek Canning Co.
While many brands are exploring premium and culinary-forward approaches to pickling, Texas-based Pickle Creek Canning Co. brings a nostalgic and creative twist to the table.
The company featured a range of sweet, spicy and savory pickled products, like spicy pickled quail eggs, marinated mushrooms and jalapenos, in addition to preserves, sauces and dips.
Relish reinvented: Fourth Creek Foods
Fourth Creek Foods is known for its flagship sweet or spicy red pepper relish, in addition to a smoky chipotle corn, cucumber and balsamic vinegar relish. The condiments bridges the gap between jam and pickle and goes beyond the traditional hot dog topper.
With a focus on small-batch production and culinary-inspired pairings, the brand positions itself as a differentiated offering in a crowded condiment category, according to Ury Martinez, business manager for Fourth Creek Foods. Its products are in Whole Foods, ShopRite and Stop & Shop, primarily in the tri-state area and select regions of Vermont and the Carolinas.