Prepared Foods

PF December 2025 cover

December 2025

PREPARED FOODS’ ANNUAL PREDICTIONS ISSUE

New Year—New You?

Where can food and beverage brand owners find an innovation edge in 2026? Here are predictions about what’s next in beverages, foodservice trends, immunity, retail trends and sustainability.

Cover Story

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The Year Ahead 2026
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Food Industry Forecast: Tight Volumes, Value Focus for 2026

Prepared Foods’ annual Predictions issue explores shifting consumer behaviors, inflation impacts and the pressures reshaping food and beverage innovation
Bob Garrison, Chief Editor
Robert Garrison
November 24, 2025

Circana’s latest outlook points to modest dollar sales growth, tighter volumes and evolving value expectations as consumers lean into convenience and functionality. These insights anchor Prepared Foods’ new Predictions issue, which gathers expert perspectives on what’s new and next for food, beverage and retail trends in 2026.


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Features

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Whole Food Market brands
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Whole Foods Market Predicts Fiber, Freezer Gourmet and Tallow Trends for 2026

The retailer’s Trends Council spotlights eight shifts—from ancestral fats to mindful sweets—that reflect growing curiosity, creativity and conscious consumer choices in the year ahead
December 19, 2025

Whole Foods Market’s 2026 trends point to a year defined by fiber-forward innovation, fine-dining-inspired frozen meals, elevated instant foods and a renewed appreciation for heritage ingredients.


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Welcome to AI Chat
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Eight Forces Redefining Food and Beverage Strategy for 2026

Clean label mandates, GLP-1 shifts, women’s health needs, sensory design and AI-driven personalization point to a new era where credibility, balance and emotional wellbeing guide innovation
Mario DiFalco Kim Lopez-Walters
December 17, 2025

As economic pressure, anxiety and rapid technological change reshape how consumers eat, brands must rethink product design, sourcing and communication. The year ahead will reward companies that blend performance, pleasure and purpose—and help people feel better in an uncertain world.


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SUSTAINABILITY / UPCYCLING
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Upcycled Food Movement Gains Scale, Credibility and Global Momentum in 2025

Industry leaders from the Upcycled Food Association and Upcycled Certified® program highlight rising adoption, expanding certification, and the economic and environmental forces shaping 2026
Bob Garrison, Chief Editor
Robert Garrison
December 18, 2025

With more than 5 million tons of food waste diverted and growing retailer demand, upcycling has evolved from a sustainability niche into a strategic growth engine. As consumer trust rises and certifications expand, 2026 will bring deeper integration across supply chains, product innovation and ESG reporting.


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milk and milk drinks
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Innova Spotlights 2026 Trends Driving Holistic Wellness and Functional Innovation

From powerhouse protein to purposeful beverages, Innova’s top trends reveal how health, indulgence, sustainability and affordability are reshaping global consumer expectations
December 16, 2025

As consumers navigate climate, economic and wellness pressures, they’re turning toward functional ingredients and holistic health solutions. Innova’s 2026 trends highlight the rise of gut health, mental wellbeing, authentic plant-based options and beverages designed to deliver targeted benefits.


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purpose-driven nutrition
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Inside 2026’s Immunity-Driven Product Revolution

A new era of microbiome-first design, functional proteins, botanicals, and plant-powered ingredients is redefining how consumers expect foods and beverages to support everyday immune health
Dr. Dana McCurdy
Dana McCurdy, PhD
December 11, 2025

Immunity is now a daily wellness priority, fueling innovation across gut health, clean label, protein, and functional beverage categories. As Gen Alpha reshapes expectations, brands are racing to deliver multi-benefit products that blend science, flavor, and immune-support functionality.


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fresh look at product formats
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Mintel Forecasts 2026 Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s Food Culture

From nostalgia-fueled innovation to AI-driven diet diversity and intentional sensory design, Mintel outlines three opportunities for brands preparing consumers for a more resilient future
December 12, 2025

Mintel’s latest predictions highlight how resourcefulness, inclusive nutrition, and multisensory experiences will redefine product development through 2026 and beyond. Brands embracing heritage, diversity and empathetic design will be best positioned to meet the needs of the next generation.


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Nestlé products
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Nestlé Unveils 2026 Trends Driving Flavor, Texture and Coffee Innovation

Cultural curiosity, Gen Z experimentation and global inspiration are reshaping how Americans eat, drink and shop, from swangy flavors to texture-forward snacks and evolving coffee rituals
December 15, 2025

Nestlé USA’s 2026 Food & Beverage Trends forecast the next wave of flavor mashups, tactile indulgence and global coffee exploration. As consumers chase novelty and multisensory experiences, brands are reimagining everything from frozen entrees to RTD beverages.


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Bread from a wood-fired oven
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Nine Restaurant Trends Shaping Dining in 2026

From elevated bread service to all-day happy hour, operators are reinventing value, experience and creativity amid a shifting foodservice landscape
Amy Shipley
December 8, 2025

After a roller-coaster decade, restaurants are tapping into grit, ingenuity and new revenue ideas to keep guests engaged in 2026. This feature highlights nine trends—from whipped cheeses to modular design—reshaping how Americans dine.


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Trust /Truth letter blocks
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

How to Be Real With Consumers in 2026

As trust erodes and digital noise grows, consumers want authenticity, meaningful experiences and brands that truly understand them
Maeve Webster Mike Kostyo
December 3, 2025

Consumers are entering 2026 feeling overwhelmed, skeptical and hungry for what’s real. This feature breaks down five ways brands can cut through the chaos and build authentic connection.


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Food and Beverage Industry Trends

Datassential Expands Global Menu Tracking

A new solution offers a unified view of menu launches and LTOs across major international foodservice markets
Prepared Foods Editorial Staff
December 2, 2025

Datassential’s Global Launches platform now tracks new items across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, revealing how trends and flavors localize around the world. The tool offers cross-market comparisons, multilingual insights and historical data to help brands spot opportunities and plan smarter launches.


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Aldi Store Shopper
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Five Forces Shaping 2026 Food & Beverage Trends

Mattson previews the macro movements redefining consumer behavior, innovation and the evolving culture of food ahead of its January industry webinar
Barb Stuckey Emily Auerbach
November 25, 2025

From protein’s continued rise to the rebirth of vices, phone-free dining and the search for more human experiences, Mattson unpacks the forces reshaping how consumers eat, shop and connect. Prepared Foods gets an exclusive look at the five trends expected to influence product development in 2026.


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Millennials drinking together
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Four Trends Reshaping the 2026 Beverage Landscape

Personalization, indulgence, social experiences and smarter energy solutions are redefining how consumers use beverages in daily life
Dalena Quach
December 2, 2025

From guilt-free indulgence to AI-driven personalization, the beverage market is entering a new era of creativity and functionality. Emerging trends signal a future where drinks deliver not just flavor but wellness, connection and tailored experiences.


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Group socializing in coffee shop
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Inside Innova’s Top 5 Consumer Trends for 2026

A preview of the global behaviors shaping how consumers socialize, nourish themselves and use technology—and what it means for product innovation
December 4, 2025

Innova Market Insights has identified the five forces redefining food and beverage choices in 2026. From relaxed sociability to simplified living, these trends reveal where consumers are heading—and where brands should follow.


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People at a street vendor
WHAT’S NEXT IN 2026

Five Forces Reshaping Foodservice in 2026

Tech disruption, economic pressure and shifting consumer behavior are redefining how operators buy—and how suppliers must sell
Stephanie Lind
December 5, 2025

Foodservice is entering a tactical new era shaped by digital disruption, tighter budgets and a health-minded consumer base. This feature breaks down the five trends suppliers need to navigate to cut through the noise and win in 2026.


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