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- Major food and beverage trends to watch in 2026
- Why protein sodas and functional coffee remain popular
- Seed oils under scrutiny and the shift to alternative fats
- All-in-one routines: combining supplements with daily drinks
- How the MAHA movement is reshaping product development and marketing
- What Expo West signals for the year ahead
The latest episode of the Modern Retail Podcast unpacks what’s capturing attention in food and drink for 2026. After Expo West, editors Melissa Daniels and Gabriela Barkho map out the flavors, formats and ingredients that brands are pushing — and those falling out of favor. Expect a snapshot of bold moves in product design, ingredient claims and convenience-driven innovation.
Major food and beverage trends to watch in 2026
- High-protein products are expanding beyond bars and shakes into sodas, snacks and ready-to-drink formats.
- Fiber-forward formulations or “fibermaxxing” appear across categories to boost satiety and gut health claims.
- Functional beverages, including enhanced coffees and fortified sodas, are being marketed as daily performance boosts.
- Consumers and media are scrutinizing oils and fats, creating demand for alternatives to certain seed oils.
- Brands are merging supplement routines with daily rituals, offering multi-benefit, portable packaging.
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Why protein sodas and functional coffee remain popular
New product launches show a clear push for convenience and function. The rise of protein soda blends familiar refreshment with macros consumers seek. Meanwhile, functional coffee continues as a vessel for added ingredients like nootropics, collagen and electrolytes.
- Manufacturers aim for taste parity with traditional sodas while adding protein or fiber.
- Functional coffee often combines caffeine with scientifically backed supplements.
- Portable formats let consumers fold wellness into hectic mornings.
Seed oils under scrutiny and the shift to alternative fats
Across better-for-you aisles, conversations around seed oils are getting louder. Some brands now highlight substitutions such as avocado oil, olive oil or even animal fats on labels.
- Claims like “made without X oil” are increasingly used in marketing.
- Alternative fats change formulation, flavor and shelf-life requirements.
- Brands must balance transparency with science to retain trust.
All-in-one routines: combining supplements with daily drinks
Consumers want fewer steps in their wellness regimens. That trend fuels products that bundle benefits. For example, adding creatine to morning coffee answers the need for convenience and efficacy.
- All-in-one drinks reduce the number of cans, scoops and pills people use daily.
- Packaging innovations focus on single-serve and on-the-go formats.
- Clear dosing and safety messaging become essential when multiple actives are combined.
How the MAHA movement is reshaping product development and marketing
The so-called MAHA movement continues to influence how consumers judge food and beverages. Brands face heightened examination of sourcing, processing and label language.
Practical impacts for brands
- Ingredient transparency: Shoppers expect clear origin stories and fewer ambiguous terms.
- Claims verification: Unsupported marketing can trigger backlash in social channels and reviews.
- Packaging honesty: Labels that explain benefits and trade-offs generally perform better.
What Expo West signals for the year ahead
Exhibit floors showed an appetite for hybrid products that marry taste with targeted benefits. The event highlighted how fast CPG moves when retail and consumer narratives align.
- Early adopters of bold formulations gain attention from media and retailers.
- Retail buyers are watching for repeatable supply and clear consumer demand.
- Smaller brands push innovation while larger players adapt formats that scale.
