Culinary Compass – March 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

Circana: Refrigerated plant-based alternatives faced a significant 22.9% decline in dollar sales, with total pound sales in January falling to 3.1 million, a stark contrast to the 62 million pounds recorded in 2020

IWSR: The share of American drinkers opting for non-alcoholic beverages increasing from 6% to 13%, surge was primarily fueled by millennials and Gen Z, who are 45% and 17% of consumers in this category

Regulatory Ripples: Government Updates

USA: FDA postpones the implementation of new “healthy” food labeling requirements in response to President Donald Trump’s regulatory freeze on agency rulemaking

USA: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to remove several members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee due to perceived conflicts of interest

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 ~ Turning Up The Heat: Crafting Bold & Fiery Flavors

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:

Grateful to Be Featured in Food Business News!

Honored to be featured in Food Business News following my RCA presentation, “The Ozempic Revolution: How Obesity Drugs are Redefining Consumer Food Behaviors.” A big thank you for spotlighting this vital insight in his article, “Caution advised when making GLP-1 labeling claims.” As the food industry navigates this Ozempic-fueled shift in behavior, there is tremendous opportunity to innovate with empathy, responsibility, and foresight. Let’s not just react—let’s lead.

Beyond Your Bubble: Why Looking Outside Your Industry is Key to Trend Foresight

Relying only on internal and industry data is like navigating with blinders on. External forces—consumer behavior shifts, global events, policy changes—shape demand in ways industry trends alone can’t predict. COVID-19 was a prime example of this. If you’re only watching competitors, you’re already behind. True trend foresight means looking beyond your industry to anticipate shifts before they happen. Where are you looking for your next big insight?

Anchored Insight: Tech Launches

Culinary Tides in the News

• 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
• 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

Culinary Tides’ Next Conference Appearance

• March 2025: Tea Summit – Las Vegas, NV
• March 2025: RCA – St Louis, MO
• March 2025: Airport Experience – Washington DC
• April 2025: Craft Brewers Conference – Indianapolis, IN
• April 2025: SCIP – New Orleans, LA
• May 2025: IDDBA Webinar
• May 2025: NRA – Chicago, IL
• May 2025: CFX – Denver, CO
• June 2025: IDDBA – New Orleans, LA
• June 2025: SCIP Workshop Webinar
• August 2025: IDDBA Webinar
• September 2025: IBIE x2 – Las Vegas
• October 2025: Fast Casual Executive Summit – Austin, TX
• December 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 Dukkah! Have you tried this?

Free Downloads!

6 MUST Ask Questions to Make Your Next Workshop A Success

🚨 Coming March 10th!

🚨 Big News for Food & Beverage Innovators! 🚨

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

✅ 241 trusted sources analyzed
✅ Searchable database across food, beverage, health, tech & consumer trends
✅ Trends tailored for every innovation personality — from bold Trendsetters to cautious Followers
✅ Bonus: 5 hours of expert support to help you apply the insights with confidence 

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: