thefoodpeople

thefoodpeople Shifting the future of food and drink by turning today’s trends into tomorrow’s opportunities. Proudly employee-owned. thefoodpeople are no ordinary team.

On trendhub, our online community platform, we leverage our unique IP and methodologies, identifying interconnected themes across multi-channels and categories, enabling you to seed the opportunities of tomorrow. Stimulate - We stimulate people and industry to inspire and inform, by bringing trend foresight to life. Interpret - We interpret and distil thousands of data points, turning knowledge into in-depth reports and articles, to create directional clarity. Enable – We enable you to make transformational impact by identifying the trends of today and yesterday, to build opportunities for the future. Turning today’s trends into tomorrow’s opportunities.

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Who are we? From trend analysts and marketeers, to highly experienced chefs, product developers and psychologists, we are uniquely placed to cut through the noise and bring you reliable, digestible and actionable insight, saving you time and enabling you to make transformational impact.

📚 Happy World Book Day! 📚Today feels like the perfect moment to celebrate the power of ideas captured in books - and to ...
05/03/2026

📚 Happy World Book Day! 📚

Today feels like the perfect moment to celebrate the power of ideas captured in books - and to share a little sneak peek of something we've been working on...

Coming soon: our latest e-book, 2️⃣0️⃣ Years in Food & Beverage Trends

Over the past two decades, the world of food and drink has been shaped by major global events, cultural shifts, new technologies, evolving regulations, and the creativity of chefs, brands and innovators.

❓What defined these years?
❓What really changed?
❓And what lessons can we take into the future?

In this new e-book, we explore it all - highlighting the big themes that shaped the industry while also mapping the finer details of the food and drink timeline from 2006 to 2025. From standout products and restaurants to flavours, ingredients, diets, technologies and global moments that influenced what (and how) we eat and drink today.

Using insights from our trend archives, we bring together the key takeaways and signals that will help shape the next chapter of food and beverage.

£24.00 from each sale of the e-book goes directly to the TFP Foundation 💚

👀 Launching soon - watch this space!

05/03/2026

Trend #7 is here… Convenient Store 🏪

Convenience isn’t just a perk anymore - it’s the expectation. From smarter stores to AI-powered checkout and next-gen vending, retail is being redesigned around speed, simplicity, and seamless experiences.

At our Food & Beverage Trend Summit, we explored how convenience food and drink can do more than save time - delivering comfort, balance and mindful moments in everyday routines.

📆 Follow along as we reveal one trend each week
🔮 Get ahead of what’s shaping food & drink for 2026/27
🎥 Watch our speaker sessions now on YouTube

👉 Secure your place at our 2027/28 Food & Beverage Trend Summit by pre-registering here - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sl2Bn0

🥣🍯 Breakfast is a ritual - the toaster popping up, the spoon in the jar, the cereal bowl filled just a little too high.....
04/03/2026

🥣🍯 Breakfast is a ritual - the toaster popping up, the spoon in the jar, the cereal bowl filled just a little too high... But what if that everyday event could feel more indulgent, more intelligent, and more intentional?

👉 Head over to our blog to see our top insights into the report - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sjY__0

If you're not already a trendhub subscriber and would like to see more trend insights from this report, get in touch to book a 30-minute demo with one of our team to see how trendhub can help you make informed decisions, based on trends and future foresight.

We’re excited to share that our Co-Founder, Charles Banks, will be hosting a special workshop at MIDAS on Thursday 5th M...
03/03/2026

We’re excited to share that our Co-Founder, Charles Banks, will be hosting a special workshop at MIDAS on Thursday 5th March.

For 20 years, thefoodpeople has been at the forefront of global food and beverage foresight. From chefs to psychologists, our team is united by one clear vision: to shift the future of food and drink for the better.

In this dynamic session, Charles will explore ‘Food, Culinary and Cuisine Trends & Foresight 2026/27’ — unpacking the cultural shifts, consumer behaviours and innovation opportunities set to define the next era of food.

If you’re ready to think ahead and lead with insight, this is one not to miss 👀

Curious about what's been making waves in the food and drink world? Here’s our roundup of the top must-know headlines th...
27/02/2026

Curious about what's been making waves in the food and drink world? Here’s our roundup of the top must-know headlines that have got the TFP team talking...

1️⃣ Spanish crisp connoisseurs Torres are shaking up Easter with a creation that blurs the boundary between sweet indulgence and savoury crunch. Available at Selfridges, the Torres The Crisp milk chocolate with Mediterranean salt chips Easter egg is exactly what it says on the box: smooth milk chocolate generously studded with shards of salty crisps 🐣

2️⃣ The After School Cookie Club is proving that small swaps can make a big impact with the launch of the UK's first sustainable edible spoon. Partnering innovation with indulgence, the brand's biscuit-based spoons are designed to be dunked, devoured and ultimately disappear - no bin required 🥄

3️⃣ Seafood giant Princes Group has announced it has achieved 100% MSC-certified tuna sourcing, marking a significant moment for sustainable supply in the UK ♻️

4️⃣ US fast-casual favourite Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has made its Senior Meals a permanent addition to the menu, following strong customer response. Designed to offer smaller portions at a wallet-friendly price, the meals cater specifically to older diners looking for classic comfort without the oversized servings 🍔

5️⃣ Soft drinks stalwart Dr Pepper is expanding its flavour playbook with the launch of Cream Swirl, a limited-edition variant formulated to be HFSS compliant. The new release promises the brand's signature cherry-almond notes layered with a smooth, dessert-inspired twist, while meeting increasingly important nutritional guidelines 🍒

👉 Click here to check out our full weekly news round-up on our blog - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0s6C8g0

Whilst you're there, you can join our community to be notified of any new articles that we post!

26/02/2026

Trend #6 is here… Bread & Batter 🍞🥖

From nostalgic French toast to chef-driven bread courses with bold pairings - humble dough is the hero again! Proof that the simplest ingredients make the most unforgettable bites...

At our Food & Beverage Trend Summit, our experts explored how brands and operators can elevate everyday bread-based staples - turning simple ingredients into comforting, memorable food experiences.

📆 Follow along as we reveal one trend each week
🔮 Get ahead of what’s shaping food & drink for 2026/27
🎥 Watch our speaker sessions now on YouTube

👉 Secure your place at our 2027/28 Food & Beverage Trend Summit by pre-registering here - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0s74g20

🗽🇺🇸 There’s no denying America’s long-standing culinary influence across the globe, and with the country’s 250th year o...
25/02/2026

🗽🇺🇸 There’s no denying America’s long-standing culinary influence across the globe, and with the country’s 250th year of Independence fast approaching, the hyper-fixation with All Things Americana is looking set to reach even greater heights. What’s behind its popularity?

👉 Head over to our blog to see our top insights into the report - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rY1qr0

If you're not already a trendhub subscriber and would like to see more trend insights from this report, get in touch to book a 30-minute demo with one of our team to see how trendhub can help you make informed decisions, based on trends and future foresight.

Curious about what's been making waves in the food and drink world? Here’s our roundup of the top must-know headlines th...
20/02/2026

Curious about what's been making waves in the food and drink world? Here’s our roundup of the top must-know headlines that have got the TFP team talking...

1️⃣ US chicken giant Chick-fil-A is finally spreading its wings in the capital, with its first permanent London restaurant landing in Kingston in the first week of March 🍔

2️⃣ Not one to let a rival steal the spotlight, KFC has unveiled its new Cheesy Melt burger to much fanfare. Positioned as a serious contender in the ongoing fast-food burger wars, it's oozing with cheese and designed to tempt even the most loyal customers away from their usual order 🧀

3️⃣ Great news for chocolate devotees: Ferrero has revived the much-missed Kinder Bueno Dark after a seven-year hiatus. The darker, richer twist on the classic bar has long held cult status among snack aficionados, and its return is already stirring up excitement 🍫

4️⃣ High street favourite Marks and Spencer is getting playful with its new Sunny Side Up Whips - a chocolatey treat that shoppers are already comparing to a certain iconic crème-filled egg. With their gooey centre and thick chocolate shell, they're shaping up to be a serious Easter contender 🐣

5️⃣ Crisp titan Walkers is causing a stir with two limited-edition Sensations flavours: Chilli and Cocoa, and Slow-Roasted Lamb and Mint Sauce. Bold, slightly cheffy and definitely conversation-starting, they're aimed at adventurous snackers looking to shake up their usual crisps routine 🌶️

👉 Click here to check out our full weekly news round-up on our blog - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rWqx70

Whilst you're there, you can join our community to be notified of any new articles that we post!

19/02/2026

Trend #5 is here… All-day dessert! 🍰

Pastries, puddings and desserts are fast becoming the go-to comfort food; bolstered by their cost credentials, since sweet snacks are more wallet friendly than big blowout meals 💰🍴

At our Food & Beverage Trend Summit, our experts explored how brands and operators can tap into the comforting power of desserts - creating affordable moments of indulgence that support emotional wellbeing and small everyday treats.

📆 Follow along as we reveal one trend each week
🔮 Get ahead of what’s shaping food & drink for 2026/27
🎥 Watch our speaker sessions now on YouTube

👉 Secure your place at our 2027/28 Food & Beverage Trend Summit by pre-registering here - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rTjJ40

💕💌 Valentine's Day might be over, but we're still feeling the love! Probably because our seasonwatching Valentine's Day ...
18/02/2026

💕💌 Valentine's Day might be over, but we're still feeling the love! Probably because our seasonwatching Valentine's Day 2026 report is live on TrendHub now, and makes for some seriously delicious, loved-up reading.

Indeed, despite all the news of tightening consumer purse strings – brands and operators went the extra mile for Valentine's launches and LTOs this year, to ensure the day (or should that be 'month'?) of love is suitably celebrated 💝

👉 Head over to our blog to see our top insights into the report - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rTczb0

If you're not already a trendhub subscriber and would like to see more trend insights from this report, get in touch to book a 30-minute demo with one of our team to see how trendhub can help you make informed decisions, based on trends and future foresight.

🏆 From new Michelin stars lighting up kitchens across the country, to Birmingham claiming the crown for the UK's best ba...
13/02/2026

🏆 From new Michelin stars lighting up kitchens across the country, to Birmingham claiming the crown for the UK's best bar, and dozens of brilliant coffee spots earning national recognition, it's been a seriously big few days for Britain's hospitality scene...

🌟 Michelin Guide UK & Ireland 2026: Stars Announced

The latest Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland awards were revealed in Dublin - and while there was no shake-up at the very top, it was a big year for rising talent and new entries.

🍸 Top 50 Bars in the UK 2026

The 2026 Top 50 Cocktail Bars list (compiled by industry panel and organisers of the Morning Advertiser rankings) has just dropped - and there's a new number one.

☕ Best Coffee Shops in the UK 2026

A new ranking of the 44 best coffee shops in Britain has also been unveiled, celebrating the booming specialty coffee scene across the UK.

👉 Head over to our blog to see the key highlights - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rLVQ_0

12/02/2026

Trend #4 is here… with plant-based now part of mainstream parlance, many are turning their attention back to the butcher’s counter 🥩

BUTCHER'S CUT - This time round, no-frills formats and value cuts get their time to shine. Neck, collar, belly, wings and more are elevated to gastronomic heights using time and technique – think char siu, pastrami, pibil, or croquetas. And good old minced mea tis lauded at last; used to make anything from sausage to steak haché.

At our Food & Beverage Trend Summit, our experts explored how brands and operators can elevate value cuts and overlooked ingredients - using time, technique and creativity to turn humble cuts into standout dishes.

📆 Follow along as we reveal one trend each week
🔮 Get ahead of what’s shaping food & drink for 2026/27
🎥 Watch our speaker sessions now on YouTube

👉 Secure your place at our 2027/28 Food & Beverage Trend Summit by pre-registering here - https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0rJGQT0

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Our Story

We’re shifting the future of food & drink by harnessing the power of trends.

Why? Because food and drink unites us all and by working with our community, industry and our collaborators, shifting the future of food and drink can shape a better future for all.

Stimulate - We stimulate the food and drink industry and people, by bringing to life trends and foresight

Incubate - We incubate to flip trends & foresight into seed ideas to inspire our community to deliver future opportunities today