Two major recalls – Salmonella‑linked chocolate bars and Listeria‑tainted cheeses – are putting food safety back in the spotlight. With Class I risks in play, brands are reminded how quickly routine testing can become a reputational stress test.
Foodservice chains are charging into 2026 with bold menu revamps that tap breakfast demand, nostalgia, and the protein boom to spark traffic and repeat visits. From Dutch Bros to Chick-fil-A to Shake Shack, operators are leaning hard into trend-driven innovation to stay competitive.
Dutch Bros is rewriting the coffee playbook with tiny, hyper efficient drive thru huts built for speed and Gen Z friendly indulgence. Its rise signals that the next big coffee chain may look more like an energy drink competitor than a café.
Dry January has inspired a cultural reset, with consumers swapping booze for tea, soda, and other NA options. Health, cost‑cutting, and medication‑assisted moderation are accelerating the shift, creating fresh whitespace for beverage innovators.
Target is muscling into Whole Foods territory with a major wellness expansion, betting that value priced “better for you” goods can revive slipping sales. But with Walmart and Amazon escalating their own health pushes, the retailer’s path to growth remains anything but simple.
The food manufacturing industry’s most pressing challenges—labor shortages and high turnover, inconsistent quality, food giveaway, and constrained throughput—now have a proven solution. Chef Robotics has developed AI-enabled robots for meal assembly to flexibly automate production …
Health and wellness are top of mind as consumers consider their food and beverage purchases.
Mid‑sized pizza chains are gaining ground as consumers prioritize hot, high‑quality pizza over sheer delivery speed. With giants slowing and carryout times rising, operational discipline is becoming the new competitive edge.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s flipped food pyramid champions whole foods and fuller fat proteins, but nutrition experts warn the shift could spike chronic disease risks. The shake-up also raises big implications for producers, as federal guidance realigns around less processing.
Food companies limped through a bruising 2025 as CPG giants, grocers, and fast casual chains saw valuations crumble under weak demand and structural headwinds. Yet, recent weeks hint at selective rebounds, rewarding the players best positioned to execute in a more fragmented market.
Canadian farmers enjoyed record harvests recently, despite floods, drought, and extreme heat, thanks to high tech farming and advanced seed genetics. As climate volatility accelerates, northern growers expect similarly bountiful harvests in the future.
Health-driven consumer habits are shaping produce trends, with broccolini selected as the 2026 Vegetable of the Year and sweet potatoes earning a spot as the honorable mention. FullTilt Marketing also identified the kabocha squash and endive as vegetables to watch this year.
The well-publicized lawsuit that claims McDonald’s misleads consumers with the McRib’s name has sparked debate over transparency in QSR marketing. While legal impact may be minimal, experts say perception risks could force tighter messaging and PR control.
Digital signage is becoming core QSR infrastructure, boosting ticket sizes, reducing decision fatigue, and strengthening guest trust through real time updates. Operators leveraging dynamic menus and time sensitive promos are benefitting.
AI-powered personalization, shifting health behaviors, and cost pressures are impacting restaurant strategies in 2026. Operators eye takeout growth and rising non alcoholic demand as key levers for expansion.
Minimum wage hikes that took effect Jan. 1 will boost pay for more than 8 million workers, but economists warn they may squeeze employment. Operators are bracing with pricing adjustments and selective automation to offset rising labor costs.
iTradeNetwork examines how integrated traceability is reshaping food manufacturing by strengthening data accuracy, accelerating issue resolution, and supporting stronger customer confidence across the supply chain.
TikTok has become the fastest-moving food R&D engine, turning creator-born trends into menu items and CPG products at unprecedented speed. Brands that prototype quickly, leverage LTOs, and collaborate with creators are capturing outsized upside.
Monin’s 2026 Flavor Trends forecast points to a year defined by experiential drinking, from savory umami cocktails to Mediterranean profiles. For the F&B industry, the opportunity lies in pairing global inspiration with visually striking, social ready innovation.
Weight loss and personal health are top-of-mind for Americans making New Year’s resolutions this year. Empowering personalization with data will be a big trend heading into 2026, especially to understand how food choices affect blood sugar, energy, and metabolic health.
The newest generation of tiny tastemakers, Gen Alpha, are balancing fun, flavor, and function into their food occasions. Some trends from the year ahead endeavor to make unique experiences more accessible.
Nostalgia is booming, but recreating “childhood flavors” is far more complex than matching ingredients. As neurogastronomy shows, brands are really chasing memories and emotions—making retro hits powerful, but notoriously hard to get right.
Consumers have become “uncommitted,” hopping between retailers and restaurants as price pressure, tariffs, and value seeking behaviors reshape spending. To win them back, brands must deliver sharper value, smarter incentives, and experiences that meet shoppers exactly where their needs are shifting.
McCormick’s once faded growth story is regaining heat, as consumer volumes stabilize and younger generations fuel long term demand for bold, global flavors.
Independent grocers are gaining ground as cost-pressed shoppers place more trust in local stores than national chains. To keep that edge in 2026, independents must pair community credibility with digital convenience, personalized value, and smarter savings tools.
Circana forecasts slower F&B growth in 2026 as economic pressure and supply chain complexity reshape the competitive landscape. Still, experts say brands that balance pricing and evolving consumption “moments” for customers can still thrive.
Online grocery is accelerating into 2026 as retailers lean into functional beverages, agentic AI, and ever faster fulfillment to boost loyalty. The winners will be those who blend smarter tech with sharper product strategy to meet rising consumer expectations.
MenuData predicts four forces will shape 2026 menus, from texture‑obsessed consumers and nostalgia‑driven LTOs to the resurgence of animal fats and the growing influence of GLP‑1 users. For brands, these shifts signal major opportunities for innovation—and risks for those who fall behind.
When contamination strikes, having both General Liability and Product Recall Insurance can mean the difference between recovery and ruin. Smart food companies treat them as a dynamic duo – not a redundant expense. Sponsored by Coughlin Insurance Services
Instacart’s AI driven pricing tests are drawing FTC scrutiny and risking a consumer trust meltdown as shoppers balk at higher than expected costs. Experts warn that without transparency, retailers could push customers toward cheaper rivals and curbside alternatives.
The next phase of plant-based growth is beginning to take root. New SPINS data, global flavor innovation, and the growing influence of natural retailers suggest 2026 could be a pivotal year – if brands rethink value, positioning, and proof-of-concept strategies.
Club stores are surging as inflation weary consumers flock to value, consistency, and private label innovation, leaving traditional grocers fighting for relevance. Costco leads the charge, turning trust and membership loyalty into a growth engine the rest of retail can’t ignore.
Chocolate makers are scrambling as soaring cocoa costs force reformulations and shrinkflation. With supply pressures mounting, the industry is racing toward alt cocoa, gene-edited crops, and other science-driven solutions.
Acosta Group expects 2026 to be a breakout year for agentic AI, with shoppers embracing AI “companions” while still wary of automated purchasing. Acosta Group also feels consumers will demand personalized wellness, along with innovation that feels relevant – not just new.
