Weekly Roundup – Week of 1.5.26
January 9, 2026
Happy New Year, readers! The outlook for 2026 is colored with positivity and opportunity. We’re covering this week’s most important food and beverage news and events – curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
CES 2026: Focus on Innovation, Accessibility & Community
Day one of CES 2026 kicked off with major keynotes and product reveals that showcased how AI is becoming foundational across industries. The show emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity, with the launch of a dedicated Accessibility Stage and the AgeTech Collaborative spotlighting tech that enhances quality of life for all ages. Overall, the first day underscored both community and big-picture innovation as CES continues to set the tone for the tech year ahead. For the food industry, CES 2026 signals how rapidly advancing AI, robotics, and accessibility tech will accelerate smarter kitchens, personalized guest experiences, and more efficient, automated back-of-house operations. Read Article
Experts Discuss What’s Ahead For Food Manufacturers & Operators In 2026
In this first Food for Thought Leadership installment of 2026, listeners get a comprehensive forecast of the major trends shaping the food and beverage industry, including early signs of a potential foodservice rebound and the emergence of fiber as a wellness priority following the protein-centric boom. The discussion highlights how GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumer behavior and menu strategy, while non-alcoholic beverages, clean labels, and transparency continue to influence product innovation and consumer demand. Experts offer a forward-looking perspective for operators, manufacturers, and marketers navigating 2026. Listen Now
New Food Pyramid Opens Opportunities For Food & Restaurant Brands To Innovate
The revamped 2025–2030 dietary guidelines reset the traditional model with an inverted food pyramid that places high-quality protein, full-fat dairy, healthy fats, and plenty of vegetables and fruits at the top, while pushing refined carbs and ultra-processed foods to the margins and encouraging reduced added sugars. For food brands and the foodservice sector, this opens opportunities to innovate and market menus rich in diverse protein sources, healthy fats, and vegetable-centric dishes while reformulating products to cut sugars and highly processed ingredients. Learn More
The Out-of-Home NA Beverages Boom: What You Need to Know
The beverage category is exploding, driven by consumers’ desire for connection, personalized wellness, and adventurous flavor experiences. Brands that lean in now can ride a massive wave of growth. Community-focused concepts, health-forward customization, and playful flavor innovation are redefining how younger diners sip, socialize, and share their experiences online. The operators and marketers who pair trend-driven innovation with sharper insights and an optimization toolkit will be the ones who turn this beverage boom into real, incremental outcomes. Read Story
TikTok Culture Pushes Brands To Creator Speeds
TikTok has effectively become the “new food R&D lab”, with viral creator-driven trends now shaping what consumers crave, what lands on menus, and how brands innovate product pipelines at unprecedented speed. Instead of slow, traditional trend cycles, dishes and ingredients that go viral on TikTok can translate into real menu growth and retail products within weeks as brands learn to operate at “creator speed.”
- Viral menu items see significant short-term growth, e.g., Nature’s Cereal +567%, cloud bread +200%, pasta chips +192%.
- Over 90% of TikTok-trending menu items can be priced higher than regular items, and viral limited-time offers (LTOs) often outperform standard ones.
Welcome to a new year of weekly roundups. Don’t miss important news related to your business. From weekly posts to monthly thought leadership articles, make sure to visit our blog every week.
