Culinary Compass – July 2025

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.

Let us help you jumpstart your strategy plan for 2025! 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

CouponFollow: 69% have tried an AI shopping assistant, and an even larger share (74%) believe AI can secure better deals than they can find on their own, 45% are comfortable allowing AI to make purchases for them, with Gen Z at 54%, millennials (46%), baby boomers (45%), Gen X (38%) 

Intouch Insight: 85% of shoppers having tried made to order food at a convenience store, and hot-meal purchases increasing from 29% in 2024 to 35% in 2025, 72% viewing c-stores as alternate to QSR, up from 56% last year

Regulatory Ripples: Government Updates

USA: White House’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report singles out ultra-processed grains, sugars, and fats as drivers of chronic disease in children, linking them to obesity, diabetes, and nutrient deficiencies

USA: HHS disbanded the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), removing all 17 members to “restore trust” in U.S. vaccine science

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 that impacts the food industry.

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:

1) 🚦 Color Ban Today, Flavors & Preservative Ban Tomorrow?

A federal bill aims to ban several approved food dyes, starting with Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B this year, and others like Red 40 and Yellow 5 by 2026. But this is just the beginning. Preservatives and flavors are likely next in line as ingredient bans gain momentum, often without new research disproving safety. Brands need to watch regulatory signals closely, align natural color strategies now, and prepare for a broader sweep on additives—whether the science demands it or not. Do you have a system in place to watch this – you will need a method that watches government regs, new technologies to address the issues, and consumer research showing response. We can show you how to do that.

2)🚨 New Flavor Trend Alert: Meet SWANGY 🚨

The next evolution in sweet flavor fusion has officially joined the ranks.

You’ve seen:

✅ Swicy (Sweet + Spicy)

✅ Swokey (Sweet + Smokey)

✅ Swalty (Sweet + Salty)

Now introducing:

💡 Swangy – Sweet + Tangy

This emerging trend spotlights the bright acidity of ingredients like citrus, vinegars, and fermented elements—creating a bold, craveable contrast to sweetness. Think honey-lemon sauces, grapefruit glazes, and pickled fruit condiments.

🔍 Why it matters:

Swangy plays into consumer demand for bolder, more complex flavors with a health-forward edge—leaning on natural acids instead of fat or salt to create balance.

👀 Keep an eye on:

• Beverages with citrus-vinegar blends
• Sauces and dressings with fruit-forward acidity
• Desserts exploring tangy layers like yuzu, tamarind, and kombucha glazes

Swangy isn’t just a flavor—it’s a signal of where food innovation is headed next. 

Anchored Insight: Tech Launches

Culinary Tides in the News

• Culinary Tides, Buona Companies, Roll Mobility leaders to give executive perspectives at Fast Casual Executive Summit – fastcasual.com
• Economic stressors altering 2025 food trends – foodbusinessnews.net
• Caution advised when making GLP-1 labeling claims – foodbusinessnews.net
• Asian Cuisine and Flavors Dominate Global Foods – todaysdietitian.com
• What’s Currently Trending in Tea? – worldteanews.com
• Forecasting flavors: The taste of 2025 – fastcasual.com
• Flavor Trends: What to Expect in ’25 – supermarketperimeter.com

Culinary Tides’ Next Conference Appearance

• August 28 & 29, 2025: SCIP Workshop Webinar

• August 7, 2025: IDDBA Webinar

• September 13 &14 2025: IBIE x2, Las Vegas

• September 25: IFT Philadelphia, NJ

• October 7, 2025: Fast Casual Executive Summit, Austin, TX

• December 4, 2025: IDDBA 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 Mocktails! Have you tried this?

Free Downloads!

6 MUST Ask Questions to Make Your Next Workshop A Success

Big News for Food & Beverage Innovators! 🚨

The 2025/26 Shifting Sands Yearly Trends Report from Culinary Tides, Inc. & Menu Matters is here — and it’s more than just a trend list. 

🚨 Ready to Make Smarter Moves in 2025? 🚨

The 2025/26 Shifting Sands Yearly Trends Report from Culinary Tides, Inc. & Menu Matters is your unfair advantage for food & beverage innovation.

✅ Save Time & Money: We’ve analyzed 241 trusted sources so you don’t have to. Focus your resources on what matters most.
✅ Find the Trends That Fit You: Our searchable database helps you pinpoint the food, beverage, health, tech, and consumer trends aligned with your goals.
✅ Move at Your Pace: Whether you’re a bold Trendsetter or a cautious Follower, discover trends that match your risk comfort and help you navigate change confidently.
✅ Action, Not Just Insights: You get 5 hours of expert support to translate insights into strategies, so you can launch products with confidence and reduce guesswork.

Get ready to future-proof your next move.
The Shifting Sands report doesn’t just track trends—it helps you win with them.

Watch the video for a preview of the report:

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.

Culinary Tides, Inc. is booking meetings now for those curious about our services: