These Are 2025’s Biggest Food and Dining Trend Predictions

Every June, the Summer Fancy Food Show takes over Javits Center in New York City for three days of unlimited food samples, masterclasses, panels, keynote talks, and more culinary-centric experiences that make this convention-center-based trade show actually very fun. The bi-level exhibition space gathers supermarket buyers, artisans, agriculture experts, food media, chefs, and more into aisles organized by themes – region, nationality, a debut district for new brands, a plant-based pavilion, a startup row, and more. Booths offer opportunities to taste new food products and new SKUs from familiar brands. As attendees weave through the free sample fest, trends certainly become evident as to what consumers will soon be stocking their shopping carts with.

This year, many of the emerging trends overlapped, and could easily be tied to influences from current events (the economy, the climate, etcetera) and social media. 

“Social media has made food trends even worse,” Top Chef host Kristen Kish said at a fireside chat at Fancy Food Show. “The uniqueness of something gets completely lost as soon as we start following the same trend. What a boring bland world if everyone’s doing the same version of something.” However, trends offer an opportunity to express yourself, add a bit of individuality to the mainstream, and get excited about something new. They’re also a nice way to feel connected in our isolated, screen-addicted society.  

 Of course, trends change as rapidly as the TikTok algorithm serves them up, and good trends also linger, especially as companies catch on. Last year’s big hitters — mushrooms, black garlic, plant-based seafood, and non-alcoholic beverages — continued their popularity at this summer’s Fancy Food Show, along with some new emerging hits that may be here to stay. 

Here are five food trends you’re about to see everywhere.

Next-Level Spicy Foods 

“Swicy” (that’s sweet and spicy) foods may have been everywhere in 2023, but 2024 is all about going higher up that Scoville scale. Whether it’s for the challenge of ingesting multiple ghost peppers or just to feel something, excessively spicy snacks, sauces, and meals are on the rise — all showcasing global heat makers, from habaneros to Calabrian chiles. For a taste of some heat, try new products like Aaji’s Spicy Garlic Tomato Lonsa, Blake Hill Preserves’ Mango Pineapple Habanero Jam, and Behrnes’ Hatch Pepper Salt. For a sip of something spicy, tongue-tingling Bloody Mary mixes, like Barcoop Bevy’s Bloody Mary with Smoked Sea Salt and Chiles and Natural Blonde’s Spicy Blonde Bloody Mary Mix will wake you up at brunch. Pocas’ Hot and Spicy Gummy Bears can be a fun treat — or a mean prank 

Apocalyptic Staples

Remember that time we all hoarded as many dry goods as reasonably possible because the world was shutting down for two weeks? Well, that doomsday mentality hasn’t left us. Plenty of freeze-dried, pickled, and canned staples were on display for meals that could take place in a bunker circa 2028. Of course, those foods are just as good now, particularly for travelers, outdoor explorers, or forgetful grocery shoppers. Try Salsa Queen’s freeze-dried salsa which has a three-year shelf life, Arctic Farms’ freeze-dried ice cream (which certainly won’t melt on a hot day), or Crispy Green’s fruit and veggie snacks. Full meals, like Jane Foodie’s Flash-Frozen Guinness Beef Stew (sold in a very aesthetic can) and Brooklyn Delhi’s Ready-in-90-Seconds Chickpea Tikka Masala will keep your panic pantry well stocked. 

Fancy Groceries

Eating outside of the home is historically more expensive than ever, and we all need a little treat. The past few years have seen plenty of restaurants packaging their greatest hits for supermarket consumers (see: Carbone’s Spicy Vodka Sauce, Taco Bell’s Cravings Dips) and now, grocery items are getting fancy to recreate the special experience of dining out while just raiding your pantry. Similarly, specialty grocery stores and markets are popping up all over for a little splurge-worthy shop, so these products align well with seeking out the finer things in life. 

Indulge in elevated snacks like Quillo Gourmet’s Foie Gras Potato Chips, Flour & Olive’s Almond Scratch Olive Oil Cake Mix, Brooklyn Cured’s Bresaola and Gouda Snack Pack, and, of course, plenty more truffle-flavored everything. Even the Truffle hot sauce brand, Truff, debuted its Buffalo Sauce (Truffalo Sauce), for a luxury take on the game day classic. 

Ready-to-Eat Korean Meals

Tying into the super spicy, fancy, and apocalypse-ready trends, ready-to-eat Korean dishes were everywhere at the festival. While global cuisine is far from a fad, it was evident that Korean food that can be heated in minutes is making an impact on American consumers, perhaps thanks in part to H Mart’s increasing footprint in the U.S. Instant noodles, tteokbokki, kimchi dishes, and more Korean fare was all over the trade show. To get into the trend, try a jar of Heart & Seoul’s Korean Beef Bone Broth, DORO’s Korean-inspired meal kits, Meal of the Moment’s ready-to-eat Korean rice meals and snacks, K Street Food’s frozen kimbap, bibimbap kits, and so much more. For a quick taste of Korea, Kim’C Market offers online shopping for imported Korean foods, easily delivered to your door. 

Honey and Seeds

Cottagecore may be at the heart of this rising trend. Specialty honeys and honey-flavored and infused products were everywhere, as were plenty of seed-based snacks and sauces. Clark and Hopkins District Sauce, a hot sauce made with Ethiopian curry, ginger, and honey, is a new hit. Cypress Grove’s Meyer Lemon and Honey Goat Cheese added some acidity to balance out the sweetness of this flavored cheese, and Honey B’s Sparkling Honey Drink made with 100 percent Natural Australian honey, offers a sweet alternative to soda. Tillamook’s Sea Salt & Honeycomb Toffee Ice Cream Pint offers a refreshing way to enjoy honey.