Thought for Food™

And what it means for your business

20 Extravagant Foods in Times of Restraint

Just as comfort food is used to bring joy, curb anxiety and feed the soul, could extravagance do the same? We’ve found many examples of expensive or exclusive experiences via food, even while households are feeling food inflation. Here are some ways people are using premium food as a reward in times of restraint.

Food’s Role in Healing (or Celebrating) After Divorce

From “Divorce Chicken” recipes to break-up party spreads, marriage endings are creating new relationships with food. Here’s a collection of what we’re seeing around the growing trend of separation-sustenance and how food or beverage brands can help feed the healing—or the relief.

Get Inspired by the World of Culinary Tourism

There’s big opportunity in the pursuit of unique, immersive eating and drinking experiences: i.e., culinary tourism. Here are some of our top picks from the U.S. and around the world, giving you a look at where to draw inspiration for your own business.

The Overseas Brands & Products Succeeding in the U.S.

While the U.S. once held a monopoly on innovative ideas, overseas chains are moving on missed opportunity in restaurants, grocery aisles, liquor stores, and even retail. Here, we highlight some noteworthy brands and suggest ways to position yourself for success.

Nourishing the Mental Health of Your Consumers

From burnout to loneliness, nearly half of consumers cite mental health as a top issue. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we’re sharing ideas for both our industry and our personal lives—like sensorial experiences, functional ingredients and finding joy in cooking something weird!

Home-Run Stadium Food Trends

The MLB regular season opener on March 25 heightens our collective anticipation of spring, and with it, our craving for stadium food. To get an idea of the common denominators, we took a look at venue trends, noteworthy concessions across the globe, and opportunities to play.

The Foods and Trends Behind the Year of the Horse

February marks the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, defining 2026 as a year of action, energy and movement, where the overall spirit is about blazing a trail and taking bold risks. Let’s look at how food-oriented brands are participating in the festivities.

Exploring the Possibilities within Small-Plate Culture

The demand for smaller portions is becoming a space for menu-makers to play in. To spark inspiration, we’re putting a spotlight on small-plate culture, highlighting the uniqueness of dishes along with possibilities for interpretation.

Navigating the Evolving U.S. Food System

As the U.S. food system evolves and consumer behavior continues to shift, the effects on the food industry are becoming clearer by the day. Let’s explore the key topics that the country—and the world—currently have eyes on.

A Comprehensive Look at 2025 Alcohol Trends

In honor of summer fun, we’re exploring trends in the alcohol space. We’ll take you on a tour of global flavors, expose you to the next coffee drink craze, prove that good things come in small packages, touch on eco-friendly developments, share our favorite finds across the industry, and give 10 business-building ideas that span drink branding, food pairings, sponsorships, LTOs, exclusives, collabs and targeting.

Celebrity Chefs [Part 2]: How Kid Chefs Are Cooking Up Creativity

This month, we continue what we started in May: a deep dive on celebrity “chefs.” This time, we’re focused on famous kids who cook, and/or are pursuing a culinary path, whether they are the kid next door, or have a famous parent in the field.

Celebrity Chefs [Part 1]: Professionals and Amateurs

This month, we trace the celebrity chef from its roots in the 1500s to present day, acknowledging the contributions of both the classically trained and the amateur. Learn about their role, impact on consumer attitudes and behavior, and shocking claims from industry analysts. Plus, we’ll introduce you to our favorite “normies.”

The Growing Avenues of Coffee

This month, the buzz is around coffee: who’s drinking it, what’s driving it, and where we see innovation. So pour a cup and sit back as we introduce you to a YouTube coffee superstar, instant coffee paste, coffee for kids, coffee alternatives, and ideas to leverage coffee as an ingredient in…well, anything.

Getting Inspired by Mainland Hawaiian Fare

This month, we’re offering an island escape, sharing buzz on the restaurant concepts, chefs, cookbooks and flavors of Hawaii, especially those found on the mainland. Learn about proteins, cocktails, snacks, sauces and spice blends that could inspire your product pipeline—or home kitchen.

A Look into Responsible Food Packaging

This month, we revisit responsible packaging, and the demand created by new legislation, as well as controversy surrounding recycling. Take inspiration from recent innovations in the U.S. and overseas and consider our four recommendations to focus efforts.