Food trends Autumn/Winter 2025
- Bold flavours: Regional and textured taste experiences
- Indulgence: Comfort foods and festive-treat sales surge
- Sweets & snacks: Healthy, functional, and global snacks rise
- Flexitarianism: Balanced eating gains mainstream appeal
- Health & Wellness: Functional foods drive health-conscious choices
Is time speeding up?
It feels like only five minutes ago we were singing Auld Lang Syne and making New Year’s resolutions as we welcomed in 2025.
Now Autumn’s just around the corner, with Winter hot on its heels.
And with the changing seasons come exciting new food trends
So, what does Autumn/Winter 2025 have in store? We’re glad you asked. Here’s our rundown of the top five food trends set to dominate the colder seasons.
Bold flavours
Consumers are going big on taste this year. Strong and exciting flavours are set to dominate, as shoppers are increasingly experimental.
According to Grand View Research, a key trend is the increasing demand for ethnic and regional flavours, driven by globalisation, increased travel, and a willingness to explore new tastes.
Consumers are no longer content with simply trying “Italian” or “Mexican” food, they’re actively seeking out nuanced tastes and regional specialties like Sichuan peppercorn, Peruvian ceviche, or specific Indian curries.
This trend is further fuelled by social media, cooking programmes, and food blogs that expose individuals to a wider range of global cuisines, creating a desire to replicate them at home.
Consumers are also keen on foods that combine exciting flavours with different textures, including crunch and chew, to add extra depth.
Indulgence
The festive season, starting with the ghosts and ghouls of Halloween, and ending with New Year’s Eve celebrations, is a time of pure indulgence.
And 2025 is really leaning into this trend, taking it to new levels.
According to Innova Market Insights, 15% of consumers say that indulgent food has been an important source of pleasure in the past 12 months.
French and German consumers especially, see indulgence as an important part of their day.
And globally, ‘mood boosting’ is listed as the number one reason for indulging with food.
As a result, sales of chocolates, cakes and sweets are set to soar.
Added to this, rich and cosy foods, such as pies and casseroles will dominate savoury sales in the colder months.
Sweets and snacks
Consumers are increasingly eating little and often. Where once, three square meals a day was the norm, now a treat here and a snack there is a much more popular style of eating. What’s more, this trend is set to grow significantly during the festive season.
According to Statista, the confectionery and snacks market is experiencing remarkable growth globally. This is fuelled by heightened consumer demand for convenience, evolving shopping habits, and an increasing variety of products available online, enhancing overall access and choice.
And it’s not just the style of eating that’s changing, the types of foods eaten are changing too. Shoppers are increasingly prioritising healthier snack options and sustainable products, reflecting a broader awareness of health and environmental issues. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger demographics, who favour snacks, which offer nutritional benefits without compromising on taste.
Functionality is also increasingly important to consumers, leading to a rise in demand for snacks fortified with vitamins and minerals.
But while many of these trends are reflected across the globe, there are some regional differences.
In Europe, interest in organic and sustainably sourced ingredients is growing. In the United States, demand for low-sugar and protein-enhanced products dominates.
Meanwhile, in China, rapid urbanisation and a burgeoning middle class are driving interest in premium snack offerings that align with social status, while digital platforms facilitate impulse purchases.
And in India, increasing internet access and a youthful population are fostering a preference for fusion snacks that blend traditional flavours with modern convenience, reshaping the market landscape.
Flexitarianism
It wasn’t so long ago that the plant-based trend was the talk of the town. But, though the plant-based industry continues to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% (Markets and Markets), there’s been a noticeable shift in opinion, as consumers increasingly return to animal-based products.
This is giving rise to the previously misunderstood ‘flexitarian diet’. Once seen as the diet where consumers could pretty much eat whatever they wanted, it’s now widely accepted as a potential solution for consumers who don’t want to cut out meat altogether.
Flexitarianism is a primarily vegetarian way of eating that incorporates meat and fish on an occasional basis, and it’s catching on fast.
In fact, research shows that that 72 million households are flexitarian in the US alone. (Numerator).
The future of food may not be strictly plant-based or animal-based, but something more nuanced.
Health and wellness
The health and wellness trend continues to dominate the food industry, and Autumn/Winter 2025 will be no different.
The global health and wellness food market is now worth an estimated $858.8bn, and is projected to reach $1.5tn by 2030 (Grand View Research).
Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of diet on overall health. This awareness has led to a surge in demand for foods that provide functional benefits, such as enhanced immune support, weight management, and digestive health.
The ageing global population is also driving demand for healthier food options, as older adults seek to maintain their health and vitality through better nutrition.
Added to this, rising disposable incomes in emerging markets are enabling more consumers to invest in premium health-oriented products.
The prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, has further prompted consumers to seek healthier food options.
In short, this trend is powerful, and it’s going nowhere.
As Autumn/Winter 2025 approaches, the food industry is poised for a season of bold innovation and evolving consumer expectations.
From indulgent treats to functional snacks and flexitarian choices, brands that tap into these trends will be best positioned to meet demand and drive growth.
The future of food is not just about what’s on the plate, it’s about how it makes consumers feel, and the values it reflects.
