Top 10: Latest Trends in the Food Industry
The global food and drink industry is undergoing a significant transformation as it approaches 2025.
Environmental concerns are driving innovation across the sector.
FoodTech startups and established brands are integrating waste reduction practices and zero-waste workflows to improve sustainability.
The industry is also rapidly adopting intelligent technologies like AI to enhance food quality and operational efficiency throughout the value chain.
Food producers are digitising production with robotics, e-commerce and digital management systems, while restaurants increasingly employ automation for service and food preparation.
These advancements aim to create a more efficient, transparent and sustainable food industry that can meet evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements in a post-pandemic world.
Here, we look at some of the biggest trends in the food industry that are thought to boom into 2025.
10. 3D Food Printing
Top benefits: customisation and personalised nutrition
Key Companies: Barilla, Nestlé and PepsiCo
3D food printing is an emerging technology with the potential to transform food production.
It enables the creation of intricate structures and personalised nutritional profiles, offering applications in personalised nutrition and waste reduction.
Companies like Natural Machines, a technology company that specialises in 3D food printing, are leading the way, developing printers that produce a wide range of food items, from chocolates to plant-based meats.
This technology could revolutionise food production and consumption patterns, offering new possibilities for customisation and sustainability.
Barilla, an Italian pasta manufacturer, has developed a 3D pasta printer and launched BluRhapsody, offering customised 3D printed pasta shapes.
Nestlé, a multinational food conglomerate, is exploring 3D printing for confectionery products.
PepsiCo, a global beverage company, is collaborating with 3D printing startups to create customised snacks.
9. Robotics
Top benefits: efficiency, food safety and labour cost reduction
Key Companies: McDonald's, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Mondelēz International
Robotics is transforming the food and beverage industry across the entire value chain.
From production to service, robots are enhancing efficiency, consistency and scalability.
In restaurants and hotels, robotics services improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
For example, McDonald's, the global fast-food chain, is trialling a fully automated restaurant in Texas.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, a fast-casual restaurant chain, has invested in 'Chippy', an AI-powered tortilla chip maker.
Meanwhile, Mondelēz International, a multinational confectionery company, is adopting robotic solutions to address labour shortages.
8. Food Waste Reduction
Top benefits: environmental impact, cost savings and resource efficiency
Key Companies: IKEA, Ingka Group and Too Good to Go
Innovative solutions are addressing food waste across the supply chain.
From apps linking consumers with surplus food to technologies extending produce longevity, companies are finding ways to minimise waste.
This trend aligns with consumer demand for sustainable practices.
Startups like Lumitics and Food Drop are using technology to track, reduce and redistribute IKEA, a furniture retailer with food operations, partnered with AI company Winnow to cut food waste by 54% in its stores.
Ingka Group, IKEA's largest retailer, saved over 20 million meals through this initiative.
IKEA also collaborates with Too Good to Go to sell surplus food at discounted prices.
7. Digital Food Management
Top benefits: reduced waste, inventory optimisation and supply chain efficiency
Key Companies: IBM, TE-FOOD and Connecting Food
Digital food management systems are crucial for reducing waste and improving efficiency.
AI-powered platforms predict demand, optimise inventory and automate ordering, addressing sustainability concerns and enhancing operational performance.
IBM, a technology company, is enhancing supply chain transparency with blockchain solutions.
TE-FOOD, a traceability provider, offers digital tools for supply chain optimisation. Vestapack, a packaging firm, also develops smart packaging for efficient stock management.
Meanwhile, Connecting Food, a transparency platform, uses blockchain for real-time product verification.
6. Restaurant Digitisation
Top benefits: operational efficiency, enhanced customer experience and data-driven decisions
Key Companies: McDonald's, Starbucks and Yum! Brands
McDonald's, the global fast-food chain, is implementing self-ordering kiosks and mobile ordering apps.
Digital technologies like what McDonald’s has used are transforming restaurant operations, from contactless ordering to AI-driven inventory management.
This trend helps restaurants adapt to changing consumer behaviours and regulatory requirements, improving efficiency and customer service.
Starbucks, a multinational coffeehouse chain, is expanding its mobile ordering and payment system.
Meanwhile Yum! Brands, which owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is adopting digital ordering solutions through their apps.
5. Personalised Nutrition
Top benefits: tailored dietary solutions, improved health outcomes and consumer engagement
Key Companies: DSM, Nestlé and L Catterton
Advancements in DNA testing and AI are enabling personalised nutrition, allowing consumers to tailor diets to their unique needs.
Companies are using algorithms to analyse genetic and lifestyle factors, offering customised dietary advice.
This trend aims to enhance health management and consumer satisfaction.
DSM, a Dutch multinational, invested US$100mn to launch Hologram Sciences, a personalised nutrition company.
Meanwhile, Nestlé acquired Persona, a personalised vitamin subscription service.
Lastly, L Catterton, a private equity firm, provided funding to Persona Nutrition.
These investments signal a growing interest in tailored nutritional solutions across the industry.
4. Food Safety & Transparency
Top benefits: consumer trust, traceability and quality assurance
Key Companies: Nestlé, Walmart and PepsiCo
Technologies like blockchain and IoT are enhancing food safety and transparency.
These innovations allow real-time tracking of food from farm to table, reducing contamination risks and improving recall efficiency.
This trend aims to build consumer trust by providing detailed product information.
Nestlé, a multinational food conglomerate, is implementing blockchain technology for supply chain traceability.
Meanwhile Walmart, a retail giant, is using blockchain to track food from farm to store.
PepsiCo, a beverage and snack company, is also integrating RFID technology for real-time tracking.
3. E-commerce
Top benefits: convenience, broader market reach and enhanced consumer data
Key Companies: Amazon Fresh, Ocado and Unilever
Amazon Fresh, an online grocery delivery service by Amazon, offers online grocery shopping and delivery services as a prime example of the use of e-commerce in the food and drink industry.
E-commerce in the food sector has surged, driven by the pandemic's impact on shopping habits.
Online platforms and meal kit services are changing how consumers access food, prompting traditional retailers to enhance digital offerings.
This trend seeks to improve customer experience and expand market access.
Unilever, a consumer goods giant, is investing in digital commerce across its food and beverage portfolio.
Ocado, the technology-driven online grocery retailer, specialises in technology-driven grocery solutions and is developing these currently.
2. Nutraceuticals
Top benefits: health enhancement, preventative healthcare and personalised nutrition
Key Companies: Nestlé, Nestlé Health Science and Arla Foods
Nutraceuticals, which offer medicinal benefits, are increasingly in demand as consumers focus on health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated interest in functional foods and supplements that support immune health and overall well-being.
Companies are innovating to provide products that cater to specific health needs, from stress management to chronic disease prevention.
Nestlé leads with $16.96bn in nutritional segment revenue.
Meanwhile, Nestlé Health Science is developing nutritional products that support health and wellness.
Additionally, Arla Foods, a dairy cooperative, manufactures milk-derived nutraceutical ingredients for various industries.
1. Alternative Proteins
Top benefits: environmental sustainability, ethical production and nutritional benefits
Key Companies: Tyson, Cargill and Danone
Alternative proteins, including plant-based and lab-grown options, are gaining popularity due to environmental and health benefits.
The Protein Brewery, a Dutch startup, produces FERMOTEIN, an animal-free protein using fungi and non-allergenic crops.
This trend aims to reduce the carbon footprint of meat production and address ethical concerns associated with livestock farming.
Major food companies investing in alternative proteins include ADM, Tyson, Cargill and Danone, accounting for 18% of all transactions in the sector.
These large agribusiness and food processing firms are making strategic investments and acquisitions in alternative protein startups, such as International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), an ingredients company, is investing in new technologies to improve plant-based meat alternatives.
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