As we reflect on the 2025 food & beverage industry, we can see it continues to adapt quickly to evolving consumer behavior and new product innovation realities. In this year-end recap, the experts at AIFI will revisit key ingredients that were forecast to gain traction in early 2025, provide an update on how they are performing mid-year, and highlight a few additional emerging ingredients that deserve attention going into 2026.
AIFI’s 2025 Trend Predictions: How Did We Do?
In AIFI’s 2025 Food & Beverage Trends & Trends Prediction article, we highlighted several ingredients, flavors, products, and trends that were anticipated to show accelerated growth in 2025. Below, we review those predictions and rank their real-world performance based on available 2025 data.
Top Flavors of 2025 (Ranked)
Kimchi
- According to Global Market Insights, global kimchi demand continued rising alongside broader fermented foods adoption.
- 2025 global kimchi revenue: nearly $4 billion USD, growing at approximately 5–6% YoY.
- Strong foodservice penetration and crossover into snacks, sauces, and ready meals elevated kimchi above other flavors.
Gochujang
- Financial Times and Innova Market Insights reported increased retail sales and search interest tied to Korean-inspired fusion foods.
- Growth driven by versatility across sauces, marinades, snacks, and plant-based products.
Horchata
- Gained mainstream visibility after Starbucks’ limited-time horchata beverage launch in Summer 2025.
- While culturally significant, horchata remains more seasonal and beverage-centric than kimchi or gochujang.
Top Product Trend of 2025
Crunchy & Crispy Texture
- Whole Foods Market identified texture as a key driver of snack innovation and consumer satisfaction in 2025.
- Strong uptake across snacks, coatings, bakery inclusions, and better-for-you formats.
Top Plant-Based Ingredients of 2025 (Ranked)
Microalgae & Spirulina
- Grand View Research reported algae-based proteins among the fastest-growing alternative proteins in 2025.
- Projected CAGR: 10–15%, driven by sustainability, nutrient density, and novel protein formats.
Water Lentils (Duckweed)
- FoodNavigator cited EFSA approval as a catalyst for broader commercial adoption in Europe.
- 2025 plant protein market size: approx. $125 million USD, with ~15% projected CAGR (2026–2035).
2025 Mid-Year Update: What’s Trending? (Ranked)
Protein Ingredients
- High-protein claims expanded across bakery, pasta, dairy alternatives, and beverages.
- Pea protein and blended plant proteins maintained strong double-digit growth.
GLP-1 Related Foods & Ingredients
- Rising use of GLP-1 medications increased demand for high-protein, high-fiber, portion-controlled foods.
- Strong alignment with medical nutrition and functional snack formats.
Clean Label & Ingredient Transparency
- Continued consumer demand for recognizable, simple ingredients across all categories.
- Clean label positioning increasingly tied to trust and brand loyalty.
Functional & Personalized Nutrition
- Growth in gut-health ingredients, adaptogens, functional beverages, and plant extracts.
Sustainability
- Environmental impact remains important, though price sensitivity limited faster adoption in some categories.
Global & Fusion Flavors
- Continued product launches featuring za’atar, gochujang, and globally inspired spice blends.
Convenience & RTD Beverages
- Functional RTD beverages grew but faced shelf-space competition and formulation cost challenges.
New & Trending Ingredients in 2025 (Ranked)
Functional Mushrooms
- 2025 market growth: approx. 9.14%, driven by cognitive, immune, and stress-support claims.
Chili Peppers
- Market grew from $1.23B (2024) to ~$1.31B (2025).
- Expanded usage across beverages, snacks, sauces, and RTD formats.
Brown Sugar
- Named Flavor of the Year 2025 by T. Hasegawa for nostalgic appeal and “less processed” perception.
Miso
- Appeared in unexpected applications including confections, yogurt, beverages, sauces, and dressings.
Golden Mango
- Popular in hydration beverages and smoothies, though limited by regional sourcing and seasonality.
Emerging Ingredient Trends (Ranked)
Fiber & Gut Health Ingredients
- Prebiotics and resistant starches identified as top value drivers for functional food innovation.
Seaweed & Aquatic Plants
- The Institute of Culinary Education reported growing interest due to sustainability and nutrient density.
Citrus Ingredients & Natural Colors
- Citrus ingredients grew approx. 3% from 2020 to 2025, with natural colors expanding alongside clean-label demand.
Flavor Improvement of Plant-Based Foods
- Consumer expectations for taste parity continue driving demand for flavor-masking and enhancement systems.
Ingredient Origin & Traceability
- 42% of global consumers associate “quality ingredients” with health benefits and authenticity.
What Do These Trends Mean?
From these developments, several key insights emerge:
- Global flavors and umami depth are now mainstream, showing up across snacks, beverages, and other product formats.
- Wellness and indulgence continue to merge. Ingredients like brown sugar (nostalgic sweetness), chili peppers (spice & heat), and miso (fermented flavor) combine comfort and function.
- Sustainability and ingredient diversification remain essential, with aquatic ingredients, plant-based proteins, alternative sweeteners, and upcycled sources becoming more common.
- Convenience and personalization continue to drive innovation, particularly in RTD and clean label formulations.
- Ingredient layering, combining global flavors, functional benefits, and clean labels, is increasingly central to product development.
- Ingredients with health benefits and authenticity. Forty-two percent of global consumers link “quality ingredients” directly to perceived health advantages.
2025 was a pivotal year for ingredient development in the food and beverage industry. The trends AIFI identified early in the year, such as global flavors, plant-based evolution, and functional nutrition, continue to gain traction. At the same time, emerging ingredients such as brown sugar, functional mushrooms, and miso are reshaping flavor & formulation possibilities.
For formulators and product developers, the opportunity lies in choosing quality ingredients that deliver on multiple fronts: flavor, health, sustainability, and convenience. As we enter 2026, successful innovation will come from food & beverage ingredients that tell a story, meet evolving consumer needs, and perform across multiple product platforms.
About AIFI – A Leading Ingredient Supplier & Distributor
At AIFI, we leverage our deep relationships with the top ingredient manufacturers around the globe to be a high-value partner to our clients. Consumers crave food and beverage products that include proper nutrition as well as delicious taste. We strive to offer our clients a wide range of ingredient options, including non-GMO, gluten-free, organic, and fair trade. We maintain complete documentation for each ingredient we offer, allowing our customers transparency and peace of mind.
For further information about ingredient sourcing, pricing, or general inquiries, please contact AIFI using the link below.