Top 2025 Food and Beverage Industry Trends
By maximizing ingredients, minimizing waste, and integrating automation, foodservice professionals deliver unique, exciting experiences.
The foodservice industry has always been about flexibility and resilience, and in 2025, many operators will strive to do more with less. Nestlé Professional Solutions’ report, Top 2025 Food and Beverage Industry Trends, covers this and more:
- Insights: Statistics about today’s consumers and operators
- Ingredients: Making the most of ingredients across dayparts
- Sustainability: Its benefits for cost, efficiency, and diner preference
- Automation: Adopting new tools for smoother operation and delivery
- Personalization: Customization and memorable experiences for a fair price
- Conclusions: Final considerations about the current and future state of foodservice
Professional foodservice operators are learning how to satisfy people’s changing preferences — while still delivering special experiences at a value. Based on recent market surveys, people are still feeling the squeeze from inflation and rising living costs. Yet, recent food and beverage industry trends indicate that’s not keeping them from dining out.
While 32% of people will order cheaper menu items than usual as a strategy to save money at restaurants1, diners report they spend nearly a third of their food & beverage budget away from home.2 And further, “Great taste” and “value” are among the top considerations for people when choosing a restaurant.1
Some further food industry trends for foodservice professionals to consider:
- Diners are striving to eat “healthy,” with a strong emphasis on the nutritional value of food and beverages. “Eating right” is one of the most important factors of a healthy lifestyle for people.3
- Sometimes an indulgent meal can brighten someone’s day, reflecting a more holistic view of wellness. 53% of people say they typically choose the menu item that sounds the most delicious over the ones they think are healthiest.4
- Hydration remains a top health goal for consumers alongside exercise.5
- Foodservice professionals are approaching the new year with a renewed sense of stability, and cautious optimism. Even weighing challenges, customer satisfaction remains one of the most important business objectives for all operators.6
2025 FOR PROFESSIONAL FOODSERVICE OPERATORS
Overall, the forecast for professional foodservice in 2025 is promising, thanks to a rebounding economy and consumer optimism. Consumer Sentiment Index was at 68.2 in June 2024; up from 64.3 in June 2023.7
And as overall GDP and consumer sentiment continue their upward trajectory and inflation keeps subsiding, particularly in the Away-From-Home (AFH) dining segment, a resilient economy takes shape as the industry moves into the new year. Q2 2024 U.S. GDP increased at 3% (compared to increasing at 1.4% in Q1 2024).8
People’s evolving preferences for things like plant-forward meals and non-dairy alternatives, are a great opportunity for operators to provide convenience and customization, especially to Gen Z and Millennials. The key for foodservice professionals to making the most of these food industry trends, however, lies in striking a balance between personalization and price sensitivity.
Sources: 1. Datassential Consumer Omnibus (August 2024), as cited in Datassential Table Stakes Report (September 2024) ; 2. IFMA CPP Research Window #1 (2024) ; 3. Datassential Keynote Report Healthy (2024) ; 4. Datassential Midyear Trends (2024) ; 5. Datassential 2024 Trends Report (December 2023), as cited in Datassential Big Picture Factors (2024) ; 6. Datassential PULSE Industry Overview (2024) ; 7. Thomson Reuters University of Michigan Survey of Consumers, as cited in Datassential Economic Indicators (August 2024) ; 8. Bureau of Economic Analysis, as cited in Datassential Economic Indicators (August 2024)