As we step into 2025, the food industry is poised for significant shifts driven by evolving consumer behaviors and uncertainties in the business environment. To navigate these changes, InsightsNow’s CEO David Lundahl offers his forecasts of trends to watch.

Dave’s Perspective for 2025

Continued Fractionation of Food Markets.

The placement of Robert Kennedy into a leadership role at US Department of Health and Human Services will further heighten food concerns and a distrust for science and large brands. This will lead to greater fractionation of markets creating more opportunities for small, upstart brands targeting emerging moments, niche markets and smaller consumer segments.

Familiar with a Healthy Twist.

Disruptions in agricultural supply chains will force companies to remain conservative and de-emphasize innovations for simple renovations to existing lines in their portfolio. Demand for health and wellness will drive a lot on renovation efforts with new health and wellness claims.

Slow Growth in Demand for Verifiably Sustainable.

The demand for verifiably sustainable foods will continue to lag with regulatory compliance as the principle driver until market disruptions are stabilized. Until disruptions stabilize, food brands will benefit from incremental renovations that that do for consumer tradeoffs.

Greater Food Service Share-of-Stomach

With a strong economy, consumers will continue the trend of eating out more frequently. This will increase pressure on food retailers to differentiate with new and more innovative products to serve the demands of their respective shoppers.

Demand for Innovative, Cross Cultural Food Experiences.

As consumers eat out more, so will their exposure to culturally authentic and cross cultural innovations in flavors, e.g.swicy.

In addition to Lundahl’s insights, several other experts have shared their projections for consumer behavior in 2025 in the Dec.-Jan 2025 issue of Food Technology magazine :