6 Top Trends in the Food and Beverage Industry

Gen Z is more likely to talk about bowls than any other generation, and consumers from the US, UK, and Australia are more likely to talk about this food trend than other countries analyzed. It's safe to say that bowls aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 

2. Consumers love (and hate) spicy foods 

Spicy foods and ingredients are the second most mentioned food trend in online conversations. The number of unique authors talking about spicy food increased by 4% from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 compared to the previous 12 months. Gen Z is particularly fond of spicy foods and more likely to talk about the topic than other generations.   

Consumers talk about spicing things up with chili peppers and sauces, going to Mexican and Indian restaurants, or experimenting with new ingredients like gochujang, a Korean fermented chili paste.    

The spicy food that has seen the biggest increase in online conversation is Buldak. Buldak ramen are Korean instant noodles famous for its spiciness. Search interest has skyrocketed, and the spicy noodles were recently in the news when Denmark banned some Buldak Ramen for being too spicy and a danger to children. 

Many consumers seem to be reaching their limits with these spicy noodles. Conversations are overwhelmingly negative, with three-quarters of sentiment-categorized mentions being negative. Consumers complain that the noodles are too hot for them, or that the spiciness makes their eyes water. 

3. Yes to caffeine, but healthier  

For many people, drinking coffee is an important part of their morning routine to start the day with an energy kick. It's no surprise that coffee is the most mentioned non-alcoholic beverage in online conversations. From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, consumers talked about coffee more than 3.4 million times.   

One topic in coffee conversations that is gaining traction is coffee alternatives, also referred to as "clean caffeine." The number of unique authors discussing clean caffeine increased by 3% from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 compared to the previous 12 months.    

Health is an important topic in these discussions with consumers looking for caffeinated beverages that are healthier and easier on the stomach. Consumers mention switching to green tea, black tea, matcha or mate for a healthier caffeine kick. 

4. The popularity of fusion kitchens  

Fusion kitchens are trending. Online conversations increased by 25% from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 compared to the previous 12 months, and according to Google Trends, search interest reached a five-year high in June 2024. 

Consumers love to try new things, and fusion kitchens offer a new culinary experience. Fusion kitchens bring together two or more cuisines, combining different ingredients and flavors to create new and unique dishes. The most popular combinations in online conversations are Japanese and Chinese, Japanese and Italian, and Italian and American.    

Consumers say they love to try new flavors and have a special experience at a fusion cuisine restaurant, but they don't hesitate to criticize when the experience doesn't live up to their expectations, especially if the restaurant has a higher price tag and the quality isn't good enough.