Nostalgia

Trend - Black Forest cake, an iconic German dessert layered with chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream, is resurfacing across modern bakeries, cafes, and dessert items. Once viewed as a nostalgic indulgence, it is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity, fueled by consumer interest in retro trends.

Insight - Before the rise of trendy flavors like cheesecake and red velvet, Black Forest cake served as a top choice for Millennial consumers, gracing birthday parties, celebrations, and festive occasions throughout the 90s. Recognizing the desire to return to these warm, simple times, brands are using the classic flavors of black forest to inspire contemporary desserts. These brands understand that these "comfort foods" offer a delicious way to relive fond memories while satisfying modern tastes.

Trend - As economic instability and remote work reshape the workplace landscape, younger generations are paradoxically romanticizing corporate culture. GenZ, who largely missed traditional office experiences, is embracing productivity aesthetics inspired by 80s Wall Street opulence, characterized by a fascination with corner offices, business attire, and stimulant-driven workdays.

Insight - Having grown up during periods of economic uncertainty (Great Recession, pandemic), younger generations are developing a surprising nostalgia for an era of perceived prosperity and workplace stability they never experienced firsthand. These consumers are attracted to the glamorized portrayal of corporate success from films like "American Psycho" and "Wall Street," creating a countermovement to the work-life balance narrative championed by millennials.

Trend - Established food categories tied to Jewish culture and religious traditions are being reinvented through contemporary branding, sustainable practices, and convenience-focused formats. These products maintain authentic flavor profiles while updating ingredients and aesthetics to appeal to younger consumers who value both heritage and innovation.

Insight - Today's consumers, especially Gen Z, are rejecting the assimilation mindset of previous generations in favor of cultural pride and visibility. This shift has created a hunger for heritage foods that fit modern lifestyles—convenient, sustainable, and shareable on social media. By transforming labor-intensive traditional recipes into accessible everyday products with bold branding, companies satisfy younger consumers' dual desires: honoring their roots while living firmly in the present.

Trend - The Shirley Temple, a beloved classic from the early '90s, is making a stylish comeback—this time in canned form for straightforward enjoyment. These new versions put a contemporary spin on the drink, appealing to nostalgia-driven customers and even offering spiked variants for a grown-up twist.

Insight - Consumers often gravitate toward products that remind them of childhood, aiming to replicate and indulge in nostalgic flavors from their youth. In response, brands are making that nostalgia instantly accessible while refining the flavor profile for a more grown-up audience, aiming to simultaneously appeal to long-time enjoyers and new consumers. These brands recognize that their consumer desires a product that brings back childhood joy but feels sophisticated enough for adult social settings.

Trend - Brands in the CPG food industry are releasing honey-based sauces infused with hot peppers. These sauces are intended to capitalize off the "swicy" trend which shows consumers gravitating toward foods that blend sweet and spicy flavors. The CPG format enables consumers to enjoy these flavors at home.

Insight - Food enthusiast are increasingly looking for more adventurous flavors and combinations. Among the foodie, there are various subsets of consumer, such as the health-conscious consumer, sensory eater, or the convenience eater. Each of these consumers overlap on "swicy" products, or those that blend sweet and spicy flavors, leading to a broader trend that shows clear, widespread consumer demand. Brands are appeasing these consumers with hot pepper-infused honey-based sauces.

Trend - Audio hardware brands are now looking to the 90s and 2000s for tech inspiration, rather than the 70s-inspired record players, leading to the revived popularity of both desktop and portable CD players. These devices blend 90s nostalgia with modern features.

Insight - Nostalgia is an evergreen motivator for consumers making purchase decisions. This is due to many consumers seeking comfort, familiarity, and safety rather than taking risks. Combining this motivator with the fact that millennials and Gen Z consumers are now reaching their 30s and 40s, there is a growing market for nostalgic products that harken to the 90s and 200s. In order to market to and appease this subset of consumers, brands are releasing retro-inspired CD players with modernized features.

Trend - Luxury hotels are partnering with popular fragrance brands to launch collaborative, experiential tea activations. These events are intended to blend the intense flavors of the teas with the rich, aromatic notes of luxury fragrances. Combining these offers consumers heightened experiences.

Insight - Higher-income consumers, in particular those who frequently travel for work or pleasure, are often privy to enjoy finer, higher-end experiences. These consumers want premium accommodations, dining experiences, and living conditions, with minimal work required, and are willing to pay for such things. In order to cater to these illustrious consumers, luxury hotel brands are launching multisensorial fragrance-based high tea and afternoon tea experiences.

Trend - QSR and CPG brands are tapping into the popular flavors and ingredients pizza to create unique and exciting snack offerings. These pizza-inspired snacks are designed to capture the essence of everyone's favorite comfort food while providing convenient, on-the-go options.

Insight - Contemporary consumers seek novel and nostalgic flavors, leading to trends such as experiential dining and flavor experimentation, placing pressure on businesses. To meet these desires, QSRs and CPG brands are introducing snacks with unique flavor profiles and formats that appeal to a wide audience. These snacks cater to cravings for fun, familiar tastes and provide a fresh twist on traditional options. Convenient, easy-to-eat snacks fit busy lifestyles, keeping brands competitive.

Trend - Brands are catering to nostalgia-driven consumers by introducing functional, health-conscious versions of classic childhood snacks. These snacks allow consumers to enjoy their favorite treats from youth, but in a way that aligns better with modern dietary preferences and a focus on health.

Insight - The pressures of modern life are pushing consumers to seek comfort in the familiar, yet many avoid nostalgic foods due to concerns about high sugar content and overall nutrition. In response, brands are reimagining age-old snacks with healthier, more functional ingredients, allowing consumers to indulge in childhood favorites without compromising their well-being. By blending nostalgia with wellness, these brands cater to a growing demand for nostalgia-driven joy and enhanced nutrition.

Trend - Social media has sparked a trinket-collecting craze among Gen Z, and food brands are leveraging the allure of these items by pairing their food and drink items with blind box collectibles. Spanning mini figurines to themed keepsakes, these collectibles aim to drive sales and encourage repeat visits.

Insight - Faced with societal pressures and environmental challenges, many younger consumers turn to spending as a coping mechanism, seeking the dopamine hit that micro purchases provide. In response, F&B brands are launching collectible collaborations to appeal to Gen Z's desire for personalization and social sharing while delivering a unique experience. By positioning themselves as unofficial suppliers, brands can foster deeper engagement and encourage repeat purchases of their themed or branded products.