May 16, 2025 – Today’s economic environment is putting strains on the budgets of consumers globally. The realities of the economy are causing consumers to seek higher quality in the food and beverage products they choose. Quality is showing up in food and beverage launches in several different ways – quality improvements in private label products; chef-inspired flavors, ingredients, dishes, and innovation; food preparation methods; and innovation across food and beverage categories.
Quality Becomes More Important
When the economy tightens up, consumers focus on a number of factors to improve value. They cut back by dining more at home and less often in restaurants. Quality for the food dollar becomes important. Consumer trends research conducted by Innova Market Insights shows that a sizable proportion of consumers are looking for food and beverage products that are high quality and can be enjoyed at home.
What is interesting is that a proportion of participants in consumer trends research studies say they do not trust the quality of products from large global brands. In contrast, a solid majority are interested in restaurant-brand private label foods and beverages, as well as products that are inspired by restaurant menus. Chefs are key players because they are all about quality and storytelling regarding the quality of the dishes they create.
Flavors Become More Important
In its tracking of global food and beverage product launches, Innova finds that products created or inspired by chefs show steady growth. Not surprisingly, key categories are sauces and seasoning and ready meals and side dishes because these categories are known for delivering flavor.
Cuisine trends show that certain chef-inspired flavors are standing out. Over the past 50 years, the most common chef-inspired flavors have been classic and familiar – chicken, cheese, mushroom, tomato. Other prominent flavors are garlic and chili, which deliver a bold flavor. Ethnic flavors are emerging and offer chefs an avenue for creativity.
Chef Inspiration Includes Clean and Plant-based
In the cuisine market, several positioning claims are most prominent on food and beverage product launches that are inspired by chefs. The top claim, no additives/preservatives, is associated with clean label products. Vegans and vegetarians point to growing consumer trends toward plant-based and meat-free meals. Chef-inspired meals also are tied to special occasions, and label language helps consumers find items that are out of the ordinary.
Consumers Move to Supermarket Brands
A notable proportion of consumer trends research participants globally – nearly one-third – report buying more store brands or supermarket brands over a recent 12-month period. Also, about one-quarter say they are buying fewer name brands. However, consumers will buy name brands if the products offer better quality. The food and beverage industry is seeing more chef-inspired private label products. That is why all types of brands should consider working with chefs on product development.
Tradition Leads to Novelty
Cuisine trends show that traditional flavors in global cuisine continue to be popular. Characteristics of tradition that resonate with consumers and can be seen in food and beverage launches are local ingredients, traditional production and cooking techniques, artisanal, and hand-crafted. Local chefs can have value because they know how to prepare traditional dishes, where to find traditional ingredients, and how to find quality. Local chefs are an asset to brands that can tap into the chef’s experience and expertise to create new and exciting products.
Fusion Adds the Wow Factor
One of Innova’s Top 10 Trends for 2025 is Wildly Inventive. This trend captures the excitement and creativity in extraordinary food experiences that deliver the wow factor. Consumer trends research respondents globally are highly interested in various forms of fusion, including flavor combinations, snack-main course, sweet-savory, and dessert mash-ups. An ingredient for successful infusions is the expertise of professional chefs.
What’s Next in the Global Cuisine Market?
In the cuisine market, quality is likely to continue improving in supermarket brands, with help from high caliber chefs. The involvement of chefs can help elevate consumer perception of supermarket brands for delivering both high quality and good value for the money. This could force name brand products to work toward enhancing quality to stand out against supermarket and private label brands. One way to do this could be by working with high-end chefs.
Consumers will continue to seek products on the supermarket shelves that are local, heritage, and traditional. When Innova asked consumers about the most important aspects of traditional food and beverage products, containing local ingredients, employing traditional elaboration techniques, and being artisanal or craft-made emerged among the most highly valued aspects. “Old” recipes and traditional recipes for food and beverage products, as well as old and traditional flavors, could capture the attention of consumers. Traditional flavors are expected to continue their appeal.
Local chefs will be the most qualified expert sources for local and traditional quality ingredients and working with traditional recipes. They also are most qualified to create new and exciting dishes that feature traditional and cultural flavors.
Companies in the cuisine market must offer ingredients and products that meet consumer expectations for excitement, innovation, and the wow factor. But given today’s challenging and uncertain economic environment, budget-conscious consumers will seek extraordinary, awe-inspiring products that represent affordable ways to be indulgent. These can include flavor and meal course mash-ups and fusions.
This article is based on Innova’s Chef-Inspired Cuisine – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
