Food Trends: How Accurate Are They?

As we prepare to release our 2026 Trend Report, we took a moment to look back at our predictions from the past three years — 2023, 2024, and 2025 — and evaluate how they held up against what actually happened in the world of food, hospitality, and CPG.

The result? Our predictions weren’t just accurate. They aligned directly with some of the biggest shifts happening across the industry.

Because for us, trends aren’t guesses.

They’re signals — rooted in culture, consumer behavior, and the evolution of how people eat, drink, and gather.

Here’s a quick look at what we got right.

2023: We Called the Shift

Some of the biggest movements we identified early include:

• The decline of fake meats, as consumers moved away from highly processed substitutes and cultivated meat gained approval.

• Global flavors entering the mainstream, with the “ethnic aisle” fading as Kroger, Whole Foods, and Walmart integrated international ingredients across all categories.

• The rise of mixology, with bars and cocktail programs becoming cultural leaders.

• Home cooks leveling up, embracing premium equipment and professional techniques.

A miss? Bread & Butter service didn't become as universal as predicted.

2024: Right on Trend

Some of the biggest movements we identified early include:

• Tequeños moving into frozen aisles and catering, especially in diaspora-heavy cities.

• Savory desserts like olive oil cakes, miso caramel, and caviar ice cream spreading across menus.

• Pasta snacks and texture-forward snacking becoming major CPG players.

• Early momentum for cultivated meat, following regulatory approvals.

A miss? Turkish wet burgers didn’t become the next smash burger.

2025: One of Our Strongest Years Yet

This year delivered some of the clearest validation of our predictions:

• Sustainable wine and packaging innovations expanding across the industry.

• West African cuisine gaining major visibility in NYC, London, Houston, and beyond.

• Chicken being reimagined, from heritage breeds to tasting-menu formats.

• Old-school hospitality returning, with daily menus, warm service, and less emphasis on social media-first dining.

• Elevated bar programs becoming central to restaurant identities.

One near-miss? The Caesar salad renaissance is not as strong.

What’s Next: 2026 Trends

Trend accuracy isn’t about bragging rights — it’s about trust.

Our partners rely on us for clarity in a fast-moving landscape, and looking back helps us sharpen how we analyze and forecast what’s ahead.

And the past three years have shown one thing:

our signals consistently align with real-world outcomes.We’re putting the finishing touches on our 2026 Trend Report. Be on the lookout for the full report soon.