2024 has been wild ya’ll. There have been some extreme highs and lows though another tough year for the hospitality industry, and we experienced some exciting food trends that have had us intrigued for what’s next.
Today we’re looking forward to 2025 and the predictions for food, flavors, and choices driven by the changing consumer behavior.
Nostalgic Flavor Combos
Thanks to social media and big food brands hopping on this trend, we can expect to see a lot more fusions of the flavors we loved when we were kids, with just about anything. Keep up to date with what consumers are creating at home, wishing was available to buy still, what decades are popular in TV and movies, and use the inspiration to make limited time specials.
Dishes with great visual appeal that hit the nostalgia spot will be a great opportunity to increase social engagement and drive customers to your business.
Health Food Upgrades
In a total juxtaposition to the trend above, consumers are also looking to their futures and focusing on ways they can improve their health through food. We’re examples like:
- Adding fiber and protein to food that usually have less of those such as pea and lentil pasta or protein bread.
- Adding ingredients like turmeric and mushrooms to food they aren’t usually included in, like hot drinks.
These implemented by food vendors of different kinds. From burger joints with protein buns and restaurant upgrades to lentil ‘protein’ pasta, to cafés making turmeric lattes. Designing your menus to include healthy add-ons targets a market of health-conscious, affluent consumers who want to indulge in their favorite foods, with less consequences.
All of 2025 will be BBQ Season
BBQing and BBQ flavors associated with Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine is something we’ll see more of in 2025. As indoor, table BBQ kits become more popular and affordable, consumers will be looking for smokey and chargrilled flavors at the eateries they visit.
Combining BBQing with the sweet and spicy flavors of Asian cuisines isn’t limited to meats. Charred vegetables, smokey snacks, and even sweet and spicy desserts will be a big hit with consumers.
Spicy and Warming Flavors
Why stop the spice with BBQing? In 2025 consumers will continue their adventurous quest for not just how spicy they can handle food, but how spices maximize flavor. Cuisines associated with spices such as Asian and Mexican are already popular, so expect to see unexpected combos and fusions centered around the spices associated with them.
For more interest, look for new varieties of chili peppers being grown, get familiar with the Scoville scale, and experiment with both trends and custom combos to entice your customers.
Premium Treats for the Soul
With the emphasis on adding healthy options as well as warming flavors, it’s no surprise that consumers will be looking for premium ingredients to treat themselves without guilt. Seasonal and local produce are a key part of what makes food ‘premium’. Food grown and produced locally hasn’t travelled as far, and seasonal ingredients are often more flavorful, both are traits that foodies value highly.
In 2025 add local producers to your regular suppliers and highlight the role they play in your menu, alongside limited items due to seasonal stock.
Healthy, local, and seasonal ingredients, with spicy, charred flavors and a pinch of nostalgia will be the recipe for food success in 2025. To entice new and repeat customers, aim to make dishes visually creative and engaging so they want to share photos and videos on their social media. Adding limited time periods that menu items are available helps drive demand.
When thinking about your presentation, ensure you maximize visibility when your creations are shared on social media with personalized parchment paper.
