2026 MorganMyers Food & Flavor Trends Report
Rising Flavors & Their Journey from Consumer Buzz to Basket
From bold spices to craveable comforts, explore 10 research-backed flavor trends set to dominate 2026 – and how brands can turn their flavors into pantry staples.
The Report: A Playbook for Food Trends and Adoption
Flavor is more than what meets the taste buds. It’s cultural. It’s psychological. It evokes nostalgia and cues comfort. Flavor is preferential and individualized, yet can move us as a collective whole, connecting us around the dinner table, through the latest viral video, and the many moments in between.
MorganMyers’ inaugural 2026 Food & Flavor Trends Report examines how up-and-coming flavors will shape the food and beverage scene in the next year and beyond. The report, based on a national consumer survey, pressure tests these emerging flavors against different generational cohorts to understand flavor influences and discovery, and how they earn repeat space in pantries and refrigerators.
Beyond flavor preferences, we explore how consumers – from Gen Zers to boomers – want these flavors and other ingredients served up. Whether it’s word of mouth, on social or at the grocery store we analyze what works, what doesn’t and share actionable insights into optimizing how we market food to today’s consumers.
In the field or at the table, the food marketing expertise at MorganMyers runs deep. For 40+ years we’ve been helping great brands that feed the world – like Fairlife, Post Consumer Brands, Bob Evans Farms, Red Star Yeast, Iowa Premium and more. Comprised of foodies, chefs (both certified and self-described), strategists and creatives, we’re passionate about telling the stories behind our food in ways that build trust and have a lasting impact.
What’s Included in the Report
Food and Flavor Insights by Generation
Gen Z wants spice, boomers want butter, and other insights you’ll find:
73%
73% of Gen Zers surveyed say they almost always or often try new flavors, well above Gen X and boomers. Their strongest curiosity is around spicy and global flavors.
Over 70% of Gen Z and millennials are likely to share new flavor experiences online or in person, while boomers are far less likely to spread the word.
Across age groups,
family and friend recommendations
consistently rate higher than influencer endorsements – but the gap widens with age.