Kerry has showcased insights that are driving future flavors with Kerry taste charts. There has never been a more exciting time to be part of the food and beverage industry. With increasing access to global markets, evolving consumer preferences, and groundbreaking technological advancements, the opportunities for growth and innovation are endless. Consumers today are uniquely positioned to influence the future of food, as their curiosity and tastes evolve, inspired by the latest social media trends and content they’re consuming online.
But for food and beverage manufacturers looking to tailor their products to meet consumer demand, the challenge lies in pinpointing just exactly what that demand is. From wellness and taste to sustainability and quality, consumers are seeking increasingly personalized products that adapt and evolve with them and their ever-changing needs.
Kerry Taste Charts
Kerry’s annual Taste Charts trend predictions take the guesswork out of the year ahead. Bringing together comprehensive data—from social media, advanced analytics, retail and foodservice trends, AI-driven menu analysis, and retrospective retail innovation data— Taste Charts create a stress-tested blueprint for industry professionals, enriched by the expertise of Kerry’s chefs, baristas, mixologists, scientists and tastemakers.
“Kerry’s Taste Charts ‘reveal more than just what’s trending—they tell a story of evolving human needs, mapping how our desires for health, indulgence, and sustainability have influenced global palates. By leveraging human insight and a decade’s worth of flavor evolution, we link these tastes back to fundamental shifts in consumer behaviour, showcasing how the markets we work in are transforming.”
David Deeley, Senior Insights Manager for Europe, Kerry’s
Though industries have long relied on consumer trends to anticipate the next “fad”, Kerry’s Global Consumer Research and Insights Director Soumya Nair’s extensive experience in research and analysis offers her a unique perspective, particularly when it comes to topics related to health, wellness, and sustainability.
“Consumers transitioning from a reactive to a proactive approach to health is a gradual evolution, not an overnight shift. Today’s conscious consumer rejects the notion of compromising taste for nutrition. This shift away from a ‘trade-off-mindset’ has reached a critical juncture, as consumer loyalty shifts toward brands that can deliver both – ‘novelty and vitality’. Think ‘table-stakes’ – the new norm from food and beverages.”
Soumya Nair,Director, Consumer Research and Insights, Kerry Global
“Consumers are diving headfirst into adventurous flavors, perfectly mirroring today’s cultural zeitgeist—a world that craves novelty, wellness, and meaningful connections. Today’s consumers call for balance and self-care in our fast-paced lives, and Fun with Functional answers this need. Consumers are looking for flavours that deliver more than just taste—a delicious daily boost that nourishes both body and mind. In a world that never stops, people crave flavors that do double duty, bringing both enjoyment and a feel-good factor that grounds them in the moment.”
David Deeley, Senior Insights Manager for Europe, Kerry’s
Rethinking approach
The growing demand for ‘experience-driven moments’ is challenging brands to rethink their approach to consumer engagement. When leveraged effectively, these insights create unique opportunities for brands to connect with consumers in authentic and memorable ways, allowing them to become part of consumers’ stories rather than simply existing as a byproduct.
Consumers are seeking genuine connection and meaning in their everyday experiences, with food serving as the perfect backdrop for daily pockets of escapism and playfulness. Brands that truly listen to and evolve with their consumers have the opportunity to embed themselves in their lives in more authentic and creative ways.
“While consumer loyalty is a moving target driven by a variety of needs, this trend emerges as an equalizer. Food experiences are deeply emotional – from evoking memories to providing a much-needed escape from the demands of everyday life. Imagination Infused’ fosters a whimsical fusion across diverse categories, where imagination converges with innovation, resulting in weird but wonderful creations that spark the imagination and enchant the consumer palate. Consumers are diving headfirst into adventurous flavours, perfectly mirroring today’s cultural zeitgeist—a world that craves novelty, wellness, and meaningful connections.”
Soumya Nair,Director, Consumer Research and Insights, Kerry Global
Shaping a sustainable future with Kerry Taste Charts
As consumers seek to find joy in simplicity, it’s little wonder that interest in sustainability and zero-waste living is increasing day by day. What was once synonymous with simply “reducing plastic”, has evolved into adopting a cleaner, greener lifestyle that is now embedded in cultures worldwide as we strive to live more mindfully.
“Through upcycled ingredients and reimagined classics, consumers are not only rediscovering heritage flavors but rethinking how we engage with nature’s resources. Alongside ‘Clean and Simple’, these trends reflect an appreciation for purity and tradition, celebrating nature’s goodness and showing that sustainable choices can be just as exciting.”
David Deeley, Senior Insights Manager for Europe, Kerry’s
Nair adds that consumers today are more ‘intentional’ about their choices, stating that Gen Z consumers, in particular, are influencing older generations and influencing ‘the growth of ‘human-centered design’ in technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and brand experiences.’
“The ‘index’ of sustainability is now defining loyalty – as consumers actively seek out brands who are committed to solving humanity’s dominant challenges from food sourcing and tackling food waste to offsetting biodiversity and more, ‘the mounting ‘eco-anxiety’ among consumers signals a ‘call to arms’ for solutions.”
Soumya Nair,Director, Consumer Research and Insights, Kerry Global