Broad Trend: Indulgence | Industry Trend: Indulgent Comfort Food Restaurant chains are bringing richer, more satisfying dishes back into the spotlight, using slow-cooked beef, bold seasonings and familiar comfort foods to create distinctive dining experiences. In November 2026, Chipotle reintroduced mesquite-smoked brisket, Moe's Southwest Grill brought back beef birria, and Cooper's Hawk featured braised short rib in its menu. These innovations illustrate Indulgence, a broad

Everyday Indulgence is moving into the drinks cup as consumers increasingly look for small, affordable pleasures that add excitement to ordinary moments. Fast-food chains are responding with matcha, boba, iced coffees, refreshers, frozen lemonades and increasingly elaborate specialty drinks that consumers can buy without ordering a meal. KFC's Kwench, Greggs' matcha and McDonald's expanding iced-drink range reveal the rise of Drinkable Treats — turning beverages from supporti

Plant-based food is entering a new phase where taste, quality and everyday appeal matter more than the vegan label itself. As consumers become more skeptical of highly processed substitutes and overtly activist positioning, the opportunity is shifting toward food that happens to be plant-based because it is genuinely delicious. Why Everyone Is Talking About It: The Vegan Restaurant Boom Is Reversing Only a few years ago, dedicated vegan restaurants symbolized the future of ea