Pizza cupcakes and vivacious vinegar are among the 2025 SFA food trend predictions.
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) revealed its top 7 food and beverage trends for 2025, with SFA trendspotters noting how the specialty food market leads the larger food industry by quickly responding to changing consumer preferences and values.
Here are seven food trends that everyone about to expect next year:
1. Girl dinner 2.0
Trendspotter Melanie Bartelme predicts that in 2025, consumers will become even more flexible with their eating habits. Popular snacks might include pizza cupcakes, jianbing, and dumplings. Expect familiar snacks with a twist, such as Fishwife’s tinned seafood, Poppy Hand-crafted Popcorn, and Acme’s Lox in a Box snack kit.
2. Instant global gratification
Trendspotter Kat Craddock highlights new South Asian brands, like Vermont-made Dosa Kitchen dosa batter and Sun Ghee’s flavored ghee. Expect to see more global foods in heat-and-eat or mix-and-make formats.
3. Yes, chef
Expect more “cheffy kits” for home cooks, offering gourmet meals in easy-to-use formats. With economic concerns, consumers want restaurant-quality meals at home. Examples include Todo Verde’s Al Pastor Seasoning and The Matzo Project Matzo Ball Soup Kit.
4. Functional foods, natural enhancements
Personalized nutrition is gaining popularity, with functional foods that provide health benefits. Consumers can expect ingredients like adaptogens, nootropics, and mood-enhancing botanicals in products such as Taylor Pass Honey Co Reserve Mānuka Honey and Brook37 Wellness Teas.
5. Chili cornucopia
Chilis come in many varieties, with unique types like urfa biber and Carolina reaper. SFA says to look out for chili-forward products like The Spice House’s Aji Amarillo and Madhu Chocolate Mango Chili Bar.
6. Vivacious vinegars
New vinegar flavors are also emerging, balancing the boom of chili crisps and umami with tart and acidity. People can expect vinegar-based condiments like Puerto Rican pique and Filipino sawsawan (dipping sauce). Examples include American Vinegar Works Apple Cider Hot Vinegar and Villa Manodori’s Dark Cherry Balsamic.
7. Gimme (some) sugar
SFA predicts that consumers will favor real sugar, honey, and syrup over artificial sweeteners. Examples include Bumbleberry Farms Sweet Maple Honey Cream and Sunday Night Foods’ Chocolate Premium Sauce. Also, more fruit flavors and sweet dishes are coming in the coming year.
Leana Salamah, SVP of Marketing & Communications at SFA, said these trends will soon appear in more mainstream outlets. “Watch fast-casual restaurants, convenience stores, and other chains adopt these consumer-driven trends, and you’ll understand the value of staying on top of emerging specialty food trends,” she said.
Apart from the 7 major trends, the SFA Trendspotter Panel also named several additional trends they anticipate for 2025, including oil-based sauces, black garlic—described as “all over fine dining, and we’ll see it as a flavor in specialty snacks soon”—lavender, and “fancier and more global” flavored cheeses.