This episode dives into the cutting-edge food and beverage trends for 2026, offering ecommerce operators a strategic look at what consumers will be demanding. It highlights the shift towards functional ingredients, all-in-one nutritional approaches, and the growing influence of health and wellness movements, providing direct implications for product development and marketing in the CPG space.
Key takeaways
Focus on developing high-protein and 'fibermaxxing' products across all food and drink categories to meet increasing consumer demand for functional nutrition.
Innovate with "all-in-one" product formulations and portable packaging to cater to consumers seeking convenient ways to integrate supplements like creatine into their daily routines.
Monitor and leverage the MAHA (Mind-Anima-Health-Awareness) movement to guide product innovation and messaging, particularly in the health, beverage, and wellness sectors.
Actively communicate ingredient choices, especially for "better-for-you" alternatives like beef tallow and avocado oil, to differentiate products in a market increasingly scrutinizing seed oils.
Analyze and adapt to the rapid shifts in consumer preferences within the food and beverage industry, using insights from events like Expo West to stay ahead of the curve.
In this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, special projects editor Melissa Daniels and senior reporter Gabriela Barkho discuss their favorite food and beverage trends of 2026. Fresh off of Expo West, the episode’s discussion revolves around what is considered “in” and what’s “out” across categories. Protein sod and functional coffee remain hot items. Meanwhile, the noise against seed oils continues to grow in the better-for-you space, with brands boasting products made with alternatives like beef tallow and avocado oil. The emerging trends in 2026 include: High-protein and “fibermaxxing” across nearly all food and drink categories. An all-in-one approach to routines, such as combining daily creatine dose with the morning coffee, often in portable packaging. The MAHA movement’s growing influence on trends in food, beverage and wellness is only growing in 2026.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Focus on developing high-protein and 'fibermaxxing' products across all food and drink categories to meet increasing consumer demand for functional nutrition.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Innovate with "all-in-one" product formulations and portable packaging to cater to consumers seeking convenient ways to integrate supplements like creatine into their daily routines.
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Monitor and leverage the MAHA (Mind-Anima-Health-Awareness) movement to guide product innovation and messaging, particularly in the health, beverage, and wellness sectors.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Actively communicate ingredient choices, especially for "better-for-you" alternatives like beef tallow and avocado oil, to differentiate products in a market increasingly scrutinizing seed oils.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Analyze and adapt to the rapid shifts in consumer preferences within the food and beverage industry, using insights from events like Expo West to stay ahead of the curve.
