2025 Food & Beverage Trends: A Cohesive Look at Evolving Consumer Preferences

Dec 2nd, 2024

Personalization is one of the four powerful themes for 2025, as people increasingly seek experiences that feel tailored to their tastes and lifestyles.

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Unfortunately, the flavor industry doesn't have a crystal to predict consumer trends, but thankfully what it does have is high-level research platforms to evaluate current purchasing behaviors that can inform future habits. Toward the end of 2024, headlines were buzzing with 2025 trend predictions, P&F+ looked through each to align these predictions into 4 aligning trends. This convergence of trends is shaped by cultural dynamics, health awareness, and a craving for unique, personalized experiences. Reports from FlavorSum, Mintel, and ADM offer a comprehensive view of how brands are innovating to meet these demands.

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1. The Rise of Nutrient-Dense and Adaptive Eating

Driven by the increasing use of weight-loss medications like Ozempic, consumers are reconsidering “food as medicine,” focusing on essential nutrients and sustainable choices. Mintel’s 2025 Global Food and Drink Trend Report^a predicts that brands will blend health-centric claims with often-overlooked macronutrients like fat and carbohydrates, attracting consumers who seek practical, nutrient-dense solutions to support health gains made on anti-obesity medications.

ADM^b echoes this perspective with its "Adaptive Eating" trend, highlighting consumer interest in tailoring consumption for wellness, while also adapting to economic and environmental shifts. ADM notes that colors like ripe apricot and golden maize, along with familiar flavors such as lime, apple, and honey, will align with these adaptive eating habits, offering nourishment with indulgent, balanced flavors. FlavorSum also reinforces this trend with its “Seeking Serenity” flavor theme, pointing to increased interest in comforting, nutritious foods that help consumers cope with stress and feel more resilient.

Kelly Newsome, global senior marketing manager for colors and savory flavors at ADM, weighed in on the role of technology, remarking that consumers are now “harnessing the power of tech to make more informed decisions,” particularly when it comes to food and nutrition. One emerging trend she highlighted is “adaptive eating,” where technology helps consumers make smarter choices, whether it’s for weight management or balancing nutritional needs amid economic challenges. “It’s about how tech is shaping the way we live and eat in a more thoughtful way,” she said.

2. Nostalgia Meets Reinvention

There’s a shared focus on nostalgia, yet brands are evolving classic favorites to resonate with contemporary tastes. ADM’s “Revisit & Re-Invent” trend encapsulates this, as consumers embrace traditional flavors with fresh twists. Expect to see berry and creamy, umami-rich flavors reimagined in ways that evoke both comfort and novelty, with bold colors like fruit punch and regal burgundy adding vibrancy.

FlavorSum’s report^c highlights similar sentiments in the “Premium, Please” trend, with 81% of consumers discussing cozy, premium versions of classics. This demand for elevated simplicity is creating new avenues for reintroducing familiar foods, like nostalgic meringue flavors, in premium, on-trend formats that attract a wide array of age groups.

Jennifer Zhou, global product marketing senior director for flavors at ADM, shared, “Nostalgia has evolved into something deeper—revisiting and reinvesting in familiar flavors, but with a twist. Simplicity and comfort are still at the heart of it, but there’s an emphasis on executing them fantastically,” she explained. Another key trend is “euphoric wellness,” which emphasizes mood-boosting foods and beverages. Bitterness, like that found in grapefruit, is expected to trend in 2025, along with botanicals like hops. “We’re seeing hops move beyond beer into non-alcoholic beverages, offering relaxation and emotional balance,” Zhou said.

3. Personalized and Experiential Food Choices

Personalization is another powerful theme for 2025, as people increasingly seek experiences that feel tailored to their tastes and lifestyles. Mintel’s “Rule Rebellion” trend encourages brands to create products that embrace consumers' unique quirks and preferences, particularly around traditionally stigmatized health topics, including mental health. By positioning products as solutions for varied lifestyles, companies can break down social stigmas and promote inclusivity.

FlavorSum’s “Meet Me in the Moment” trend emphasizes the importance of aligning flavor offerings with specific times and places, from morning flavors like blondie and mascarpone cheese to evening options like miso and pimento cheese. ADM’s “Made for [You]” trend also taps into the desire for personalized, joyful experiences with vibrant flavors like cooling or heating sensations that offer playful twists on traditional options. Vibrant colors such as blue spruce and Neptune’s Reach are expected to enhance these custom experiences.

4. The Wellness Connection: Mood and Health-Driven Choices

Consumers are linking flavors and colors to their emotional and physical well-being, and brands are responding by curating flavors that resonate with mood and mental wellness. ADM’s “Euphoric Wellness” trend reflects a need for flavors and colors to evoke specific moods and support holistic wellness, with colors like honeydew melon and earthy olive creating a soothing effect. Hops, grapefruit, and bergamot are among the flavors anticipated to lead this wellness-focused trend.

FlavorSum’s “Seeking Serenity” and “Tell Me a Story” trends add to this with data showing a significant rise in the popularity of comforting and locally inspired flavors, as consumers crave both relaxation and meaningful narratives. According to FlavorSum, 35% of consumers are engaging with local flavors, seeing food as a channel for storytelling that connects them to authentic experiences, such as the rich, complex flavor of Vietnamese coffee.

2025 trend predictions are said to be shaped by cultural dynamics, health awareness, and a craving for unique, personalized experiences.Adobe Stock

Bridging Innovation and Tradition in 2025

The insights from FlavorSum, Mintel, and ADM reveal that the food and beverage industry is in a dynamic phase where wellness, nostalgia, personalization, and cultural connection are shaping product development. As consumers look for more nutrient-dense, emotionally resonant, and personalized options, brands that adapt to these multifaceted needs will thrive in an increasingly discerning market. With a focus on both human connection and health, 2025 promises a flavorful landscape that honors tradition while embracing the future.