At heart, people want to connect. It might be through shared stories, thoughtful gestures, or time spent with others – but when you really strip it back, food is often at the centre of it all. It’s how we show love. How we mark milestones. How we turn the everyday into something worth celebrating.
And if you’re a retailer, that craving for connection is something you can absolutely tap into, because when you bring thoughtful food gifts into your store, you’re not just selling ingredients, you’re offering people a way to show love, get creative, and make memories around the dining table.
Why Food Connects
We’ve all felt it – that emotional pull when someone says, “I made this for you.” Whether it’s an aromatic curry, a tray of lovingly made brownies, or a new recipe tried for the first time: food creates conversation and brings people together in a way that few other things can. It’s personal, generous and full of warmth – and that makes it one of the most powerful categories you can stock.
At Spice Kitchen, we’ve seen this in action time and time again. Our spice tins often become part of people’s special moments: wedding gifts, housewarmings, birthdays, thank-you gestures. Our Indian Spice Tin was traditionally a gift from mother of the bride to her daughter on the eve of her wedding, plus, tin is the symbol for 10 year anniversaries – so again, there’s thought and tradition, and so much more than a product.
Gifting, Cravings and Customer Behaviour
Shoppers tell me they aren’t just looking for practical items: they’re looking for meaning, and this is true now more than ever. Especially when buying gifts, people want something that says: I thought about this. I know you and I know you will love this.
There’s also growing evidence that consumers are becoming more adventurous in the kitchen: trying new cuisines, recreating dishes they’ve seen online, or simply wanting to break free from the same three midweek meals. That’s where spices come in. A small tin can open up a whole world of flavour, without needing a full kitchen overhaul. It’s affordable experimentation—and it excites people.
Add to that the rising interest in all things chilli (seriously – it’s trending in a big way), and you’ve got a category that’s growing in popularity, relevance and all-year-round appeal.
Food is always in season
Another reason food makes sense for retailers? Seasonality. We’re seasonal creatures by nature, and shoppers love stores – and feel instinctively at home – when that store reflects what’s going on in the world around them.
Think about how you might bring food into your retail calendar:
- Spring/Summer: BBQ rubs, marinades, bright spice blends for alfresco dining
- Autumn/Winter: Mulling kits, warming curry blends, chilli products
- Occasions: Father’s Day, Eid, Diwali, Valentine’s, Christmas – food always fits.
Then there’s impulse: meaning you can position lower cost items near the till for those spontaneous ‘just because’ self-gifting moments.
Stocking food gifts doesn’t just enhance your product mix – it deepens the emotional connection your customers feel with your store. It turns your space into somewhere that reflects them – their rhythms, their relationships, their rituals.
A moment from our table
At Spice Kitchen, food is so much more than business to us – it’s how we live. One of my favourite team rituals is our World Spice Tin Pot Luck Lunch. Each person takes a blend from our World Tin and cooks a dish to share. We gather, we eat, we talk about flavours and family and what inspired us to create that specific dish, and through this we get to know so much about one another. It’s so powerful. And, we each donate what we would’ve spent on lunch to a charity close to our hearts. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s created a real culture of curiosity, care and connection in the team. Some of our customers have even started doing their own versions at home or at work which makes us so happy.
That’s what I’m talking about: the power of food. It brings people together – and done right – it turns a product on your shelf into a memory in someone’s kitchen. And the best thing? They will connect that lovely moment with the purchase in your shop.
So, what’s the takeaway?
If you’re a retailer looking to offer something truly meaningful – something your customers will use, remember and come back for: food gifts are a smart and soulful choice. They’re tactile. Emotional. Versatile. Inspiring even. And when presented with care (gorgeous displays, recipe ideas, a dash of storytelling), they become irresistible.
At the end of the day, we don’t just eat to live, we eat to connect. And helping your customers do more of that? Good business.
About Spice Kitchen
Spice Kitchen is a family-owned, family-run business based in Liverpool. We believe in the power of food to bring people together, and we are dedicated to ethically sourcing, blending, and handcrafting the finest spices in small batches. Our spices are always fresh, high-quality, and full of flavour, ensuring that every meal is a culinary experience.
Find out more at spicekitchenuk.com
