Cocktails are entering their maximalist era, with bars embracing chef driven techniques, purposeful garnishes, and tiny pours that turn drinks into full sensory experiences. This year expect umami rich creations, amaro riffs, and endlessly reimagined martinis.
Gen Z is reshaping restaurant strategy with digital-first connection, solo dining, and a hunger for immersive, social media-ready experiences. Operators that deliver storytelling, sensory “food moments,” and premium non-alcoholic options are most likely to win over the young cohort.
Dole’s new FRUIT FWD report spotlights 2026’s biggest shifts, from a surge in tropical flavor demand to consumers replacing meals with snack centric “on the go” eating. With wellness, mocktails, and affordable indulgence all rising, the data points to clear innovation lanes for brands ready to move fast.
AI is shifting from pilot projects to full scale deployment in restaurants, reshaping everything from kitchen workflows and pricing to fraud prevention. As automation ramps up, operators gain efficiency – and space to refocus on culture.
The 2026 Winter FancyFaire spotlighted a wave of genre-bending innovation, from collagen packed “beauty drinks” to Asian-inspired comfort mashups. Wellness shots, playful chocolates, and global better-for-you brands largely stole the show.
President Trump’s backing may help usher the Credit Card Competition Act through Congress and the House of Representatives. Banks warn it could gut rewards programs, but food retailers see long‑overdue relief.
Roma’s evolution reflects the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. pizza industry, offering insights into brand strategy, product consistency, and long-term foodservice impact.
Mexican avocado imports are set to smash records ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl, signaling strong supply-chain confidence and sustained U.S. demand. Avocados From Mexico is pairing that momentum with an AI-powered fan experience designed to drive even more guac consumption.
Retail’s biggest show, NRF 2026, signaled a reset, with economists forecasting steadier growth as AI, health-forward innovation, and omnichannel discipline reshape how food retailers compete. Leaders left aligned on one theme: 2026 belongs to operators who cut friction, elevate fresh, and deploy tech with purpose.
From autonomous convenience stores to robotic baristas and ingredient traceability platforms, CES 2026 highlighted how automation and AI are moving deeper into food, retail, and supply chain operations.
A sweeping U.S. visa freeze across 75 countries signals deeper turbulence in global labor mobility. Food and beverage leaders may face fresh uncertainty as immigration scrutiny tightens and long term workforce pipelines grow less predictable.
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.
