From Novelty-Driven Consumption To Comfort-Led, Memory-Based Food Choices In an environment marked by economic pressure and uncertainty, consumers are increasingly turning to nostalgic foods that evoke familiarity, safety, and emotional comfort. Rather than seeking constant novelty, many are choosing products tied to childhood memories, traditional recipes, and recognizable flavors. Retro techniques like fermentation, pickling, and traditional preparation methods further rein

Food Has Become a Wellness System, Not Just Sustenance Expo West 2026 confirmed what Mintel has been tracking for years — consumers want food that makes them feel better, physically and emotionally, at every level of function. Seven dominant themes emerged: fiber's renaissance, digestive wellness going mainstream, muscle gain replacing weight loss, real-food ingredient expectations, texture as sensory differentiator, economic strain driving comfort, and mood as a design princ

From Long-Lasting Food Trends To Fast, Rotating Ingredient Obsessions The 2026 food landscape reflects a shift where individual ingredients and concepts—like pecan, doner kebabs, or fermented flavors—rise quickly into popularity and fade just as fast. Unlike traditional food trends that lasted years, today’s cycles are driven by social media, cultural mixing, and constant novelty. Ingredients move in and out of favor rapidly, with pistachio declining as pecan rises, showing h

From Cheap Staple To Social Media-Driven Food Phenomenon The resurgence of jacket potatoes in the U.K. reflects a shift where everyday, previously overlooked foods are being rebranded as desirable through social media storytelling and experience design. Businesses like SpudBros and Spudman are transforming a simple, low-cost dish into a viral, high-demand product by combining generous portions, personality-driven content, and long queues that signal hype. Instead of innovatio