We’ve pinpointed four flavors for 2025, each representing opportunity for differentiation while aligning with larger, sustaining trends. As we see them take shape on restaurant menus, each also promises opportunity in the retail space, offering a parallel path for consumer exploration and adoption. 

As inflation slowly moderates, US consumers continue to feel the pinch of higher food costs. Value retailers are seeing more foot traffic as shoppers shift to store brands and cut back on non-food expenses. According to Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, consumers are looking for ways to make their budgets stretch, from canceling subscriptions to favoring at-home meals over dining out.

“Consumers are looking for wellness across every aspect of their lives, and food and beverages are playing a critical role in this transformation,” said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor at Circana. 

There will be an increase in diversified ingredient sourcing, while the humanization of technology will be essential for consumers who are apprehensive about technology being used to create, modify and produce the food they put into their bodies.

The Whole Foods Market Trends Council – a collective of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members ranging from foragers and buyers to culinary experts – develop these trend predictions each year through a combination of deep industry experience, keen observation of consumer preferences, and collaborative sessions with emerging and established brands.

Parents care about health and wellness for their children, and their purchasing patterns drive innovation toward healthier children’s food and beverage products. We see growth in numerous categories in children’s products that are positioned as healthy and better-for-you, including dairy alternatives as well as new items in the sweet and savory bakery, and confectionery categories.  

Founded in 1983, Ancient Harvest pioneered the sale of quinoa in the US and continues to be a leading brand of value-added, plant-based products including gluten-free pasta, polenta and a brand of quinoa. 

The innovative and award-winning mini flatbreads are baked with upcycled flour, made from barley, wheat and rye rescued at the end of the beer making process. 

This summer’s Sweets & Snack Expo in Indianapolis drew more than 16,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, from 25 countries. The trends I noticed involve lots of activity around texture—including freeze-dried candies and crunchy and chewy protein snacks. There also are intriguing new flavors in snacks and chips. 

Planteneers’ new space can host customers for collaborative product development sessions with a full plant-based meat laboratory and a plant-based dairy laboratory (coming online soon-). The Aurora building also houses sales, distribution, marketing, product managers and R&D team members.

The Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars are inspired by Snoop Cereal flavors, this partnership symbolizes a fusion of culinary creativity and a joint commitment to quality and community empowerment.

“More and more research is looking at our gut microbiome and how it plays an integral role in affecting our immune system, brain health and other body functions,” says Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director for The Peanut Institute. “These findings are exciting because the students consumed a relatively small amount of peanuts each day but the impact on their memory and mood was statistically significant.”

With this launch, GoodBelly continues to pioneer thoughtfully crafted beverages that are good for bodies and sustainably sourced. 

Laird Superfood products contain only clean ingredients with no artificial (or “natural”) flavors, colors, syrups, refined sugars, or additives.

Fermented foods other than dairy are trending, with sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and other vegetables; kombucha; sourdough; natto and tempeh leading the pack. Yet with cultured dairy still at the forefront, there are multiple fermented dairy products that offer benefits besides the immunity support of probiotics.

According to the survey, conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation and the American Heart Association, almost all Americans (95%) report that they always or sometimes look for healthy options when food shopping.

GMO is a common term used by consumers to describe foods that have been created through genetic engineering. While GMOs have been available to consumers since the early 1990s and are a common part of today's food supply, research shows consumers have limited knowledge and understanding about what GMOs are, why they are used, and how they are made.

More than 80% of people in the US aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit and dairy. And most people consume too much added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. The proposed rule is part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to helping consumers improve nutrition and dietary patterns to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity. 

Earlier this year, US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. laid out a bold vision to transform the agency's human foods enterprise. I am thrilled to have joined the FDA last month as the first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods to help make this vision a reality.

Konscious Foods™, a plant-based seafood brand, announced its plan to expand its foodservice offerings across North America in 2024. The brand is now officially entering the US foodservice market, while appointing Affinity Group Canada as broker for the Canadian market.

The popular White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is now available in a new size that offers five different preparation methods to suit kitchens of any size, including boil-in-bag, microwave, pizza oven/impinger, rapid-cook oven, and steamer. 

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) released its final 2023 estimates and its latest 2024 Food Away-From-Home (FAFH) Industry and Segment Projections.

Generation Z, known for their substantial spending on dining out and for regularly making dining choices based on social media content2, are influencing dining experiences around the world. The report highlights a demand from this generation for 'flavor Shock', characterized by unexpected flavor combinations and twists on classic dishes such as incorporating Mexican sauces to create modern pastas.

The product line pairs hearty portions of classic flavors with various doughs, from flaky pastry to buttermilk biscuits, which offers home-style taste and on-the-go convenience.

The company had a new product on hand, which was a large slab of plant-based meat; and a cubed product specifically geared toward fast-casual restaurants. 

The Future Menus North America Trends 2024 report identifies top menu trends predicted to influence the restaurant industry in the coming years.

One of my biggest observations of The National Restaurant Show involves the reformulation or “remake” of many products made with familiar ingredients and flavors. Both shows reminded me of elements from my childhood, and particularly how my grandmother cooked. She worked as a cook 41 years for a first-generation family from Italy. 

Prepared Foods gets the inside scoop on foodservice new product development in an interview with Michael S. Zeller, Senior Corporate Executive Chef, R&D, at Simplot Food Group.

Dane Wigand is responsible for driving sales through Foodservice and wholesale customers while implementing new business strategies in these channels. 

Earlier this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that spending on food-ordering apps for deliveries from full-service restaurants quadrupled between pre-pandemic months and 2022. 

In a few weeks, we will begin publishing predictions for 2025. Prior to sharing our outlook for the year ahead, we wanted to review the predictions we made for 2024 to determine what we got right and what might not have fully taken shape.

SWAP's 'Umisation' protein platform employs a technique to transform plant proteins into structured fibers without high heat or pressure. The approach uses just eight familiar ingredients and no artificial flavors, colorants, or texturizers.

The addition of AAK Foodservice, Hillside aligns with Stratas Foods’ long-term growth objectives, particularly within the value-added oils, dressings, sauces, and mayonnaise (DSM) categories.

Automation of batch processing isn’t new, but as more companies move beyond the basics of automation, they are finding that new technology brings big rewards—as well as big challenges.

Environmental demands, allergen control, acoustics, cleaning and production needs all help define what you need from floors, doors and ceilings, and shape the evaluation process for identifying and installing the right ones.

In every food plant, there are gears and bearings that need grease, machines that need oil changes and components that need regular lubrication to continue performing at their best.

Many foodborne illnesses occur because a link in the cold food chain was weak or broken, with temperature inconsistencies that allowed pathogens to begin growing.

Data is valuable because it helps manufacturers make better decisions. But there’s a big difference between collecting data and being able to actually use it. If you don’t have a system in place to be able to understand what the data is telling you, then you’re going to be overwhelmed by it.

What qualities to look for in an industrial Ethernet switch that can provide long-term reliability in an F&B plant.

The prestigious recognition stands as a testament to GTLF's commitment to zero waste practices and sustainable operations, a commitment that resulted in the company securing a TRUE award-winning waste diversion rate. 

Many of these flavor combinations have never been seen before in the cultured dairy category. In addition to being lactose-free, the new Flavor Fusions line is loaded with high-quality bioavailable nutrients, like protein, calcium, and 12 live and active probiotic cultures.

As the dust settles on this deal, the company is also ushering in the next generation of Trainas to the helm. This expansion and succession demonstrates Traina Foods' commitment to keeping the fires of traditional Italian sun-drying burning bright.

Simplot Maple City Waffle line transforms popular menu entrée into a versatile, on-the-go option for operators, consumers.

The trend predictions are developed by Kroger's industry-leading team of food experts including Our Brands' product developers, chefs, buyers, culinary specialists and Kroger's retail data science arm, 84.51º, for a well-rounded projection of what customers will be buzzing about for the upcoming year.

Chunk Foods leverages fermentation for a new wave of cleaner, whole-muscle plant-based meats.

By leveraging Einride's offering of connected electric trucks, charging infrastructure and digital freight platform that optimizes operations with data-driven insights, PepsiCo aims to reduce its Scope 3 emissions.

After the pandemic years, it became clear that the foodservice supply chain and ecosystem are interconnected, with manufacturers, operators, and distribution partners needing each other to address critical challenges. 

The dumplings are filled with a mix of tender chicken, savory broth, scallions, and ginger, delivering a comforting, bold flavor. Crafted with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners, they provide a wholesome, allergen-friendly option.

The challenge is hosted by IFT and funded and initiated by the Seeding The Future Foundation. In its first three years, it has attracted over 2,400 submissions from teams of scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises.

Before LFG, Push served as CEO and chairman of Legacy Foodservice Alliance, which he founded in 2009 to facilitate commerce between independent foodservice distributors and suppliers.