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.
Consumers are craving “feelable flavor,” driving brands to explore cooling, warming, and tingling trigeminal sensations that deepen emotional and sensory engagement. These effects are quickly becoming powerful tools for innovation in functional, NA, and better‑for‑you products.
Coca-Cola’s steady handoff from James Quincey to Henrique Braun comes as the beverage giant navigates slowing soda demand, political crosswinds, and shifting consumer habits. Quincey proved Coke could thrive amid turbulence; now Braun must do the same.
Casual athletes are influencing F&B trends, fueling demand for premium protein, hydration, and functional snacks. With wellness spend rising as other categories pull back, savvy brands must meet this lucrative consumer base where they play.
India’s bid to become a U.S. trade powerhouse is colliding with tariffs, infrastructure gaps, and geopolitical juggling. Despite strong growth, stalled negotiations and falling exports signal a tougher road ahead for food-sector trade.
Greece’s sheep and goat pox outbreak is gutting herds and threatening the feta supply, setting the stage for global price spikes. Importers may soon pivot to substitutes as climate and disease expose the category’s fragility.
As one of the best Certified Humane egg brands, Sauder’s Eggs partners with local family farms that adhere to strict guidelines for hen care.
Chicken appears poised to keep its protein crown in 2026, buoyed by strong availability and foodservice versatility. But shifting consumer value dynamics and disease risks could elevate eggs and pork to unexpected growth.
Flavor forecasters say 2026 belongs to the color black—think sesame, currant, garlic, soybeans, and grass jelly. From nutty lattes to bold mixology, these dark-hued trends promise premium appeal and global inspiration for forward-looking food innovators.
Fiber is rapidly taking protein’s place as the star of functional food. With rising demand for gut health and metabolic support, as well as a massive nationwide fiber gap, CPG brands have a rare opportunity to lead the next wave of nutrition innovation.
After successive quarters of steepening same-store sales declines, Sweetgreen is offering a $10 deal that may turn its luck around. Critiques of the app’s user experience, and friction from tech-enabled back-end efficiencies may be the source of its turmoil.
In late 2025, premiumization has come to mean clarity, convenience, and storytelling. From blockchain packaging to sashimi-grade salmon, premium brands winning trust are those turning transparency and narratives into irresistible consumer experiences.
Agentic AI is shifting retail from answers to actions – transforming discovery, consideration, and conversion. For food brands, metadata mastery and AI literacy are now imperatives.
Subway’s revived Sub Club promises free subs and flashy perks, but franchisees warn of profit risks. The loyalty gamble highlights the tension between corporate marketing ambitions and operators’ bottom-line realities.
