Welcome to the Culinary Tides’ monthly Culinary Compass, where we chart the course of the food industry’s latest trends, data, and developments. Each month, we’ll be sharing our top research picks, breaking news, and favorite industry insights, alongside all the latest from Culinary Tides, Inc.—including trend insight research, upcoming speaking events, and expert navigation advice. We are excited to bring you these curated highlights and exclusive content, designed to keep you ahead of the curve in our ever-evolving industry.
Kick off 2025 right– let us help you jumpstart your strategy plan for the year! Consider partnering with Culinary Tides, Inc. as your personal Think Tank, or for White space identification & navigation, Trend origin, longevity & trajectory reports, Concept development & refinement, or Ideation, Concept review & Strategy workshops.
Anchored Insight: Research
Popmenu: Each 10-percentage-point increase in daily energy intake from ultra-processed foods associated with 9% higher risk of all-cause mortality
Chobani: 85% of respondents expressed a desire to increase their protein intake, 24% acknowledged they currently do not consume enough, less than half of Americans understand the differences between complete and incomplete proteins (42%) or fast-, medium-, and slow-digesting proteins (41%)
Regulatory Ripples: Government Updates
White House: Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan could severely impact the U.S. food supply chain, with 2.1 million immigrants working in farming, processing, and food retail, immigrants constitute 21% of the U.S. food workforce, deportations could lead to labor shortages, price hikes across dairy, meat, and produce
FDA: Finalized its rule on the use of the “healthy” label for food packaging, to qualify for the “healthy” label, foods and beverages must meet limits for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, outlined in the DGA 2020-2025, products must include a certain amount of food from at least one recommended food group or subgroup, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, or protein foods
The Best of Future Bites: Conference Insights
What were the most interesting and exciting trend topics from recent conferences? Take a quick educational break from your day and enjoy this 5-minute look at a trend from the National Restaurant Association conference that impacts both CPG and foodservice.
Click Below to Watch ~ Beyond the Counter: Shaping the Future of Deli Items
Best of News Comments
Every weekday we post news items and cutting edge research which impact the food and beverage industry. If you missed them, check out a few of our favorites from the past month:
Why McDonald’s Had No Choice but to Bring Back Value Deals
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal is making waves, but there’s more to the story. After losing some lower-income customers and experiencing a rare same-store sales dip in Q2, the deal aims to win them back—and it’s showing early signs of success. With consumers walking away from high prices and low quality at QSRs, many are opting for fast-casual or retail and c-store food service instead. To stay competitive, QSRs had no choice but to bring back value deals. The battle for share is on, and it’s all about balancing price and quality. 🍔💸
GLP-1 Drugs and Shopping Habits: The Full Picture Matters
GLP-1 drugs are definitely making headlines, but let’s pump the brakes on some of the claims. While a KFF poll suggests 12% of U.S. adults have used these drugs, it doesn’t mention the 65% drop-out rate within the first year due to unpleasant side effects. Claims about improved taste perception also fall short—many users report the opposite, with the joy of eating often diminished. As we assess the impact on shopping baskets, it’s important to dig deeper into consumer experiences, not just the stats. 🛒🔍
I will be speaking on GLP-1 drugs at RCA 25, don’t miss!
Anchored Insight: Tech Launches
Milkadamia: Introduced oat milk in sheet form with its new Flat Pack Oat Milk sheets, enabling consumers to prepare oat milk in customizable portions
Green Planet: Introduced biodegradable, plant-based straws made from Green Planet, a biopolymer derived from plant oils
Culinary Tides in the News
- Flavor Trends: What to Expect in ’25– supermarketperimeter.com
- Look Beyond Your Industry: The Key to Anticipating and Navigating Trends– preparedfoods.com
- Charting the Future: Mastering Trend Trajectories to Drive Bold Business Decisions – preparedfoods.com
- Flight of Flavors: Tea Through the Millennial and Gen Z Lens– worldteanews.com
- Flavor Forward– nacsmagazine.com
- R&D Strategy: Seeing the Complete Picture– preparedfoods.com
Culinary Tides’ Next Conference Appearance
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March 2025: NPA – National Pasta Assoc. – Amelia Island, FL
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March 2025: RCA – Research Chef Assoc. – St. Louis, MO
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March 2025: Tea Summit – Las Vegas, NV
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March 2025: AXC – Airport Experience – Washington DC
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April 2025: CBC – Craft Brewers Conference – Indianapolis, IN
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May 2025: IDDBA – International Dairy, Deli, Bakery, Assoc. – Webinar
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May 2025: CFX – Convenience Foodservice Exchange – Denver, CO
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May 2025: NRA – National Restaurant Assoc. – Chicago
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May 2025: IDDBA – International Dairy, Deli, Bakery, Assoc. – New Orleans, LA
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August 2025: IDDBA – International Dairy, Deli, Bakery, Assoc. – Webinar
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September 2025: IBIE – International Baking Industry Expo – Las Vegas, NV
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October 2025: Fast Casual Exec Summit – Austin, TX
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December 2025: IDDBA – International Dairy, Deli, Bakery, Assoc. – Webinar
Culinary Snapshot
Tide’s Table
Each month, Culinary Tides is taking you on a flavorful journey with our recipe feature! Inspired by the tides of trends, these recipes are crafted to bring a touch of charm to your table. From bright beverages and delicious desserts to hearty dishes and sides, there’s something fresh and exciting waiting for you in every edition. Dive in and make waves in your kitchen!
This month we celebrate Spanish food! Have you tried this dish?
Free Downloads!
3 Ways to Successfully Navigate Trends: How Foresights Shape the Future of Your Business
6 MUST Ask Questions to Make Your Next Workshop A Success
COMING SOON! Shifting Sands 2025/26 Trend Report
Release date February 2025
Enjoy our Video from the 2024/25 edition by clicking the picture below!!
We recognize that you’re inundated with data and information, without the time or resources to sort through it all. Your main objective is to craft impactful solutions that resonate and succeed. Culinary Tides, Inc. streamlines this process by combining deep expertise, focused research, a fresh way of thinking, and a strong commitment to every client relationship, enabling your organization to move from overloaded to equipped.
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