Each year, the fall season ushers in hundreds of new and limited-time offer introductions to retail and foodservice channels. Starbucks, keeper of the seasonal beacon Pumpkin Spice Latte, announced its fall menu on Aug. 22, 2024, when most people are still under an olfactory spell of grilled meats, cut grass, sunscreen and chlorine. Since then, the food and beverage industry has followed suit with an autumn mix of flavors across categories that address just about every consumer desire for the cozy cool of fall.

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 the season shifts, consumer preferences evolve, creating a valuable opportunity for food and beverage product developers to tap into fall-themed flavors. Whether your target market prefers to savor the last hints of summer or eagerly anticipates fall, now is the time to introduce innovative, seasonal products that align with both consumer health trends and seasonal nostalgia.

The 39th annual report, “Eating Patterns in America,” highlights a growing trend toward at-home dining over the past year, with 86% of eating occasions sourced from home. While retail volumes show modest growth, foodservice traffic remains under pressure. However, significant opportunities remain in both sectors, with American consumers spending nearly $1.7 trillion annually on food and beverages. 

Gen Z consumers are just starting to learn their way around a kitchen and will want to advance their cooking skills but also balance quick dinner meals. 

The Kearney Private Label Report shows an industry with the wind at its back, with positive demographic trends, category proliferation that fills in gaps in national brands’ portfolios, the quality-to-value equation being increasingly recognized by shoppers, and a strong potential boost to retailer economics. 

Consumers continue to say their primary store for purchasing food does an excellent job of meeting their needs, with 79% of shoppers reporting that getting a “good value” when grocery shopping is their top priority. 

Joan Driggs, Circana’s vice president for content and thought leadership, sits down with Prepared Foods to break down trends fueling success for Circana’s top New Product Pacesetters at both the retail and convenience store channels.

The report, “Tapping Into the Global Consumer Well-Being Opportunity,” reveals the complexity of personal well-being, with consumers turning to solutions as varied as physical activity, social media, food, pet ownership, beauty, and books, among many other products and services, to harmonize their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Contributing technical editor Dr. Dana McCurdy shares her highlights of the IFT FIRST 2024 conference and expo.