As Instagram posts touting the benefits of celery juice proliferate, Google Trends shows a spike in the use of "celery" as a search term.
Have your shoppers taken a renewed interest in celery lately? It is likely due to social media and influencer buzz in recent weeks around the purported benefits of drinking celery juice.
Discussion of celery juice has been building throughout the year, and in the last month, articles on the trend have popped up in publications from PopSugar to Women's Health to WebMD to CNN, along with plenty more lifestyle-focused websites.
Google Trends data shows the dramatic surge in search interest around celery. Google indicates people have been seeking testimonials about celery juice, advice on which juicer works best for celery, and information on why celery juice is healthy.
Among the influencers singing the praises of celery juice is Anthony William, also known as the Medical Medium, whose Instagram account has more than 1 million followers.
William is the author of several books on how different foods affect the body. His admirers include celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert De Niro, Pharrell Williams and Jenna Dewan. William has been heavily pushing celery juice in recent weeks.
Since celery is getting its day in the sun — I saw one website call it "the new kale" — it might be a good time to bulk up your celery display, increase exposure by moving it closer to the front of the department or next to one of your top produce SKUs, or cross-merchandise celery with juicers.
It could also make sense to be prepared for any celery-related questions from your shoppers. Some of the benefits on which experts agree when it comes to celery juice are that it is certainly low-calorie, low-carb and hydrating. However, juicing the celery means the consumer loses out on the fiber in the vegetable, so that is something for shoppers to keep in mind as well.