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Intro to the Modern Foodie Movement

Instructor: Blaine Aberdeen
Modern Foodies
Download the Modern Foodies Trend Report
In this course, Senior Trend Hunter Account Executive Blaine Aberdeen will introduce you to the Modern Foodie and the Megatrends impacting their lives. Food is something that all of us have in common. It’s something deeply connected to tradition, nostalgia, and culture, but the way consumers are thinking about food today is very different. As a global community, the world has become increasingly connected through the internet and social media, and because of this, more interesting, Instagram-worthy food is being demanded. The virality of content is possible in ways that were never previously possible and today, almost anyone can be a foodie.


Throughout this course, we will be exploring the Modern Foodie through the lens of Trend Hunter's Megatrends; Prosumerism, Experience, and Authenticity.
Related Trend Report: Modern Foodies
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Taste Pursuit
Travelers explore local food cultures to shape immersive travel experiences
Trend - Travel brands are building food-led journeys that submerge travelers in local culinary systems through market visits, farm expeditions, chef collaborations, and regional food trails—positioning cuisine as a central lens for discovering place and identity within travel.
Workshop Question - How might your brand transform everyday interactions into more meaningful, culturally rich opportunities?
6.2
Score
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Activity
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Megatrends
Local-Led Culinary Experiences
Local-Led Culinary Experiences
Intrepid Offers a Diverse Range of Food Tours for Curious Travelers
A diverse range of food tours offered by Intrepid Travel provides opportunities for meaningful cultural engagement through cuisine. Food plays a significant role in fostering human connection and... MORE
Ten-Day Culture Tours
Ten-Day Culture Tours
Trafalgar's Travel Guide Features Curated Music and Cuisine Destinations
The Tastes and Sounds of the South tour from Trafalgar is a ten day program that traces key cultural, musical, and culinary landmarks across Nashville, Memphis, Natchez, and New Orleans. The... MORE
European Food Tours
European Food Tours
Air Canada Offers Curated Food Tourism Packages and Guides
Air Canada Vacations highlights three European culinary tour packages that combine regional food traditions with guided cultural experiences. The Italy itinerary focuses on pasta making, wine... MORE
Culinary-Focused Travel Experiences
Culinary-Focused Travel Experiences
EF Go Ahead Tours Launches the Food Tours Collection
EF Go Ahead Tours has introduced an expanded portfolio of culinary journeys under the title 'Food Tours.' This culinary adventure-focused collection was developed in collaboration with America's... MORE
Global Cocktail
Cocktail culture expands beyond traditional hubs into emerging markets worldwide
Trend - The global cocktail industry is experiencing unprecedented geographic diversification as premium cocktail bars thrive in cities like Bangkok, Mexico City, Athens, and other historically overlooked markets. Expertise and innovation are no longer concentrated in a handful of established Western centers, with bartenders worldwide earning international recognition for their craft.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage globalization and cross-cultural exchange to introduce innovative and authentic experiences in emerging markets?
4.1
Score
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Megatrends
South Asian Canned Cocktails
South Asian Canned Cocktails
Junglee Cocktails Come in Three Flavors
Junglee cocktails are a series of canned cocktails inspired by South Asian tradition and flavor to offer consumers an alternative option to try out that's completely different from the existing... MORE
Hawaiian Heritage Hospitality Experiences
Hawaiian Heritage Hospitality Experiences
Romer Waikīkī Debuts 'The Lei Stand' Cocktail Bar
Boutique hotel Romer Waikīkī has opened 'The Lei Stand,' a new cocktail bar celebrating Hawaiian heritage and local hospitality. Unveiled on Lei Day (May 1), the venue revives a beloved Chinatown... MORE
Fried Chicken Cocktails
Fried Chicken Cocktails
Japanese Cooking Techniques Inspired Shinji’s Savory Karaage Cocktail
Shinji’s debuted a menu organized by flavor profile and style, and in the Savoury and Spirited category, there's the Karaage cocktail. Inspired by the Japanese cooking method, this cocktail is... MORE
Izakaya-Style Whisky Events
Izakaya-Style Whisky Events
The Toki Whisky Silence Please Event Recreates Tokyo Izakayas in Nyc
The Toki whisky Silence Please event took over a hi-fi listening café in Lower Manhattan to deliver a vivid izakaya-inspired night, blending music, food, and whisky rituals. Guests were immersed... MORE
Indian Cashew Fruit Brews
Indian Cashew Fruit Brews
Big Boss' Cashew Fenny is a Liquor with a Pungent Fruity Flavor
Big Boss Cashew Fenny is a brand of cashew fenny produced by Goa Distilleries and Breweries Pvt. Ltd. It is distilled from selected cashew apples and aged in oak barrels for a smooth and mellow taste.... MORE
Reduced Pet
Pet food brands are embracing eco-friendly nutrition for pets and the planet
Trend - Pet care brands are increasingly introducing sustainable pet foods and snacks developed with eco-friendly, ethically sourced ingredients. These products prioritize organic, plant-based components, responsibly sourced proteins and recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
Workshop Question - How can we innovate our products to align with the growing consumer demand for sustainability and eco-friendly practices?
4.4
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Megatrends
Reduced-Carbon Dog Foods
Reduced-Carbon Dog Foods
Globe Buddy Brown is Formulated with Insect Protein
Sustainable pet food startup Globe Buddy debuted Globe Buddy Brown as a super-premium dog food made with insect proteins and it's backed by a third-party verified carbon footprint—a rarity in the... MORE
Cultivated Protein Dog Treats
Cultivated Protein Dog Treats
Dr. Clauder’s Trainee Snack is Made with FeedKindPet Vegan Protein
The market for vegan pet products continues to heat up as consumers seek out healthy, sustainable options for their furry friends which is seeing new options like the Dr. Clauder’s Trainee Snack... MORE
Shelf-Stable Raw Pet Foods
Shelf-Stable Raw Pet Foods
Red Dog Blue Kat's GentleDry Technology Preserves 95% of Nutrients
Canadian raw pet food manufacturer Red Dog Blue Kat launched Everyday Raw Anywhere, a shelf-stable raw pet food using GentleDry technology to preserve 95% of nutrients and cut carbon emissions by... MORE
Sustainable Modern Pet Brands
Sustainable Modern Pet Brands
PawCo Foods Received the Pet Sustainability Coalition Accreditation
PawCo Foods’ recent accreditation by the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) underscores its role as a trailblazer in environmentally conscious pet care. This certification highlights PawCo’s... MORE
Sustainably Sourced Kelp Treats
Sustainably Sourced Kelp Treats
Baja Naturals' Kelp Dog Treats are Nutrient-Dense & Carbon-Neutral
Baja Naturals' Kelp Dog Treats are all-natural, limited-ingredient bites fueled by a superfood from the sea to nourish dogs, especially ones with sensitivities and allergies. Suitable for dogs with... MORE
Automated Clip
Tools are being created to help creators repurpose content for other platforms
Trend - Content creators are increasingly using AI-powered tools to repurpose long-form video into short-form content. These tools analyze the source material to identify key moments, generating clips or vertical video formats optimized for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage the growing creator economy for its own benefit?
4.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
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Patterns
Megatrends
Stream Clip Automation
Stream Clip Automation
'Saved' Turns Twitch VODs Into Edited, Captioned Short-Form Clips
Saved is a content automation tool built specifically for Twitch streamers aiming to grow their audiences across platforms. It leverages an emotion-based algorithm to identify the most engaging... MORE
AI Video Summarizer
AI Video Summarizer
Highlighter by Augie Turns Full Videos Into Shareable Highlight Reels
Highlighter by Augie Studio is a video editing tool that uses AI to generate short-form social media content from longer videos. Designed for speed and simplicity, users upload a video, input a... MORE
Content Sharing Automation
Content Sharing Automation
With SyncPost, Users Publish Once, Share Everywhere with AI Automation
SyncPost is a content automation tool designed to help bloggers and content creators streamline their publishing process. By syncing with major social media platforms, SyncPost allows users to... MORE
AI Video Clippers
AI Video Clippers
Choppity Uses AI To Search, Find & Clip Social Moments From Long Videos
Choppity is a video clipping tool powered by a multimodal AI model designed to help users efficiently locate and extract moments from long videos using natural language prompts. Instead of manually... MORE
Revived Analog
Audio hardware brands are releasing nostalgia-inspired CD players
Trend - Audio hardware brands are now looking to the 90s and 2000s for tech inspiration, rather than the 70s-inspired record players, leading to the revived popularity of both desktop and portable CD players. These devices blend 90s nostalgia with modern features.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate nostalgia into our products with a specific respect to the generations currently seeking nostalgia the most?
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Contemporary Portable CD Players
Contemporary Portable CD Players
The FiiO DM13 is a Portable Music Player Joining the CP13
Chinese audio gear company FiiO presents a look at its new FiiO DM13 device, which is a portable CD player. It is joining the FiiO CP13, which is a portable cassette player. Both of these are... MORE
Millennium-Inspired CD Players
Millennium-Inspired CD Players
The Conceptual 'Orion' CD Player Has a Minimalist Design
The conceptual 'Orion' CD player has been designed by Vladimir Dubrovin as a minimalist take on the humble tech product that's imagined as Millennium-era solution that's still ultra-modern. The... MORE
play_circle_filledRefreshed Modern CD Players
Refreshed Modern CD Players
Teenage Engineering Designs the New CD Player Concept
Teenage Engineering has presented the new CD player concept, which aligns with the sleek and minimal aesthetic of the brand language. It is inspired by a minimal and industrial style with the... MORE
Nostalgic Retro Music Capsules
Nostalgic Retro Music Capsules
KICKBACK Blends Retro Design with the DIY Mixtape Kit
Tech imprint KICKBACK shines a spotlight on a retro design aesthetic with the new DIY Mixtape Kit. It is comprised of a portable, retro style shoebox cassette recorder and speaker. This is appealing... MORE
Retro-Inspired Music Systems
Retro-Inspired Music Systems
The Victrola Century 6-in-1 Record Player Works with Most Sources
The Victrola Century 6-in-1 Record Player is a robust piece of audio equipment for consumers to choose as an option that won’t skimp when it comes to versatility for the modern listener. The... MORE
Upcycled Broth
Food manufacturers are repurposing excess waste food into usable broths
Trend - Brands in the CPG space are partnering with farms and factories to launch upcycled vegetable and bone broths. These broths take excess food byproducts that would typically be wasted, and instead turn them into consumable, usable broths to focus efforts on sustainable practices.
Workshop Question - How could your brand reformat aspects of its supply chain to improve overall sustainability efforts?
4.7
Score
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Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Savory Superfood Broths
Savory Superfood Broths
Māla Girl's Premium Broth Superpowders Feature Functional Ingredients
Māla Girl's Premium Broth Superpowders take inspiration from global flavors and tap into the power of functional ingredients to do more than just add flavor to recipes. These versatile broths can... MORE
Value-Driven Bone Broths
Value-Driven Bone Broths
Clarkhill Farms Turns Beef By-products Into a Collagen Bone Broth
Northern Ireland's Clarkhill Farm is turning beef by-products into premium products, demonstrating its proficiency in sustainable food production. In partnership with the College of Agriculture,... MORE
Upcycled Vegetable Broths
Upcycled Vegetable Broths
Matriark Foods Offers Vegetable Concentrate Made from Excess Produce
Matriark Foods’ ‘Upcycled Vegetable Concentrate’ is a flavorful broth made from fresh vegetable remnants that would otherwise go to waste. This low-sodium concentrate is highly... MORE
Farm Vegetable Upcycling
Farm Vegetable Upcycling
Matriark Makes Surplus Sustainable for a Food System Solution
Matriark is turning surplus farm vegetables and fresh-cut remnants into nutritious, low-sodium products like broths and bases, revolutionizing waste reduction in foodservice sectors such as schools,... MORE
Carbon-Neutral Shelf-Stable Meals
Carbon-Neutral Shelf-Stable Meals
Matriark Vegetable Harvest Stew Uniquely Supports Food Banks
Matriark Vegetable Harvest Stew is a new release from upcycled food company Matriark Foods, and it supports food banks with a first-of-its-kind carbon-neutral, shelf-stable meal. This stew is made... MORE
Alt Red
Startups are launching alternative food coloring in light of FDA's ban of Red Dye No. 3
Trend - The FDA's ban on Red Dye No. 3 is accelerating innovation in natural and fermentation-based food colorants, as manufacturers face a 2027 deadline to reformulate products containing the synthetic dye. As a result, startups with biotechnology and sustainable production methods are capturing market share in this evolving space.
Workshop Question - How could your brand leverage the shift toward natural ingredients to drive innovation?
6.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Fermented Yeast Colorants
Fermented Yeast Colorants
Phytolon Transforms Baker's Yeast Into Natural Food Pigments
Israeli biotechnology firm Phytolon is redefining natural food coloring through an innovative precision fermentation process that converts baker's yeast into vibrant betalain pigments. The Yokneam... MORE
Plant-Based Color Systems
Plant-Based Color Systems
Exberry Crafts Natural Food Pigments From Garden-Fresh Sources
GNT Group's brand Exberry is leading the natural colorant movement with its extensive collection of fruit, vegetable, and plant-derived food dyes. Operating from its Dallas, North Carolina... MORE
Fungal Protein Pigments
Fungal Protein Pigments
Michroma Engineers Dual-Purpose Colors With Nutritional Benefits
Argentina-based Michroma is disrupting the food colorant industry by creating multifunctional ingredients that serve as both natural dyes and protein enhancers. Through an inventive precision... MORE
Natural Fermentation Colorants
Natural Fermentation Colorants
Chromologics Creates Insect-Free Red Food Dye Through Fungi
Danish biotech firm Chromologics is revolutionizing the food coloring industry with its precision fermentation technology that produces natural red pigments. The company's flagship product,... MORE
Trend Campaign
Brands are encouraging consumers to post in campaigns to start widespread trends
Trend - Brands are taking to social media platforms to launch interactive campaigns that encourage users to post unique content to enter. These post-based campaigns are intended to start wider spread trends where consumers boost the reach of the campaign far beyond its original audience.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage interactive and participatory elements in our marketing campaigns to inspire user-generated content that catalyzes new trends on social media?
4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Pumpkin-Inspired Community-Themed Campaigns
Pumpkin-Inspired Community-Themed Campaigns
Danone North America Debuts the Tri Pumpkin Campaign
Danone North America has introduced a unique promotional campaign named Tri Pumpkin. This marketing initiative sees the brand partnering with STōK Cold Brew, International Delight, and Dunkin’... MORE
Brand-Boosting Social Media Contests
Brand-Boosting Social Media Contests
Iconic Beverage Group Debuts the Iconic Agua Challenge
Iconic Beverage Group has introduced the Iconic Agua Social Media Challenge, a global competition aimed at boosting awareness of its beverage brands. Starting on June 4th, this monthly challenge... MORE
Interactive Family-Friendly Holiday Campaigns
Interactive Family-Friendly Holiday Campaigns
Bolthouse Fresh Foods™ Runs Are You Reindeer Ready?
Bolthouse Fresh Foods™ has introduced the ‘Are You Reindeer Ready?’ campaign to infuse holiday festivities with family-friendly fun and creativity. Running on Facebook and Instagram,... MORE
Authentic Ambassador Campaigns
Authentic Ambassador Campaigns
BeReal is Looking for "The Realest Person on Earth"
BeReal, the social media app that asks users to post unfiltered photos of themselves once a day, is on the hunt for “The Realest Person on Earth.” In its search for the face of its... MORE
Cheeky Father's Day Promotions
Cheeky Father's Day Promotions
Panera Celebrated Father's Day by Accepting Dad Jokes as Payment
Panera — a restaurant chain known for its unique and humorous marketing initiatives — marked this year’s Father’s Day in a unique way by accepting dad jokes as a form of payment.... MORE
Trinket Marketing
Brands are using blind box collectibles as a way to market to Gen Z
Trend - Social media has sparked a trinket-collecting craze among Gen Z, and food brands are leveraging the allure of these items by pairing their food and drink items with blind box collectibles. Spanning mini figurines to themed keepsakes, these collectibles aim to drive sales and encourage repeat visits.
Workshop Question - How can your brand turn its core products and services into an immersive consumer experience?
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Plush Monster Boba Promotions
Plush Monster Boba Promotions
Chatime Canada Launches a LABUBU Giveaway Promotion for Patrons
Chatime Canada recently launched a fun and engaging promotion, offering customers the chance to win a highly sought-after LABUBU – a cute, quirky monster toy with serrated teeth capturing social... MORE
Dish-Inspired Plushie Pop-Ups
Dish-Inspired Plushie Pop-Ups
Jellycat's 'Fish & Chips' Pop-Up is a Uniquely British Experience
Jellycat’s ‘Fish & Chips’ pop-up has arrived exclusively at Selfridges London within The Toy Shop which showcases plushies and items themed around Fish & Chips and iconic... MORE
Collaborative Bubble Tea Collectibles
Collaborative Bubble Tea Collectibles
Gong cha Australia and POP MART Debut PINO JELLY Merchandise
Gong cha and POP MART recently teamed up to roll out a special collection of PINO JELLY-themed merchandise. As part of the collaboration, Gong cha Australia will offer customers exclusive PINO... MORE
QSR-Backed Collectible Deals
QSR-Backed Collectible Deals
KFC China Introduces a Blind Box Collaboration with POP MART's Dimoo
KFC China has partnered with POP MART to provide customers with blind box toys when purchasing a meal. The collaboration includes seven unique figurines of Dimoo, a POP MART original character, and... MORE
Culinary Connection
Cookbook stores increasingly operate as community hubs for food enthusiasts
Trend - Cookbook stores now operate as community-centric “third spaces” to help consumers bond over the culinary arts through events like cooking classes and book signings. This speaks to a deepening interest in food as more than sustenance; it is now a means of social engagement and personal expression.
Workshop Question - How can your brand inspire collaboration in unexpected or unconventional spaces?
4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Literary Community Shops
Literary Community Shops
Bold Fork Books Houses an Extensive Collection of Culinary Books
Bold Fork Books, located in Washington, D.C.‘s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, is a community-focused hub dedicated to culinary literature. Specializing in cookbooks and food-related books, the... MORE
Community-Oriented Cookbook Stores
Community-Oriented Cookbook Stores
Foodies Cookbook Shop Acts as a Culinary Hub in Stratford
Chef Corey Reilly, a seasoned culinary professional with a deep passion for vintage and rare cookbooks, turned his longtime hobby into a business when the pandemic disrupted the restaurant industry.... MORE
Community-Centric Brooklyn Bookstores
Community-Centric Brooklyn Bookstores
Archestratus Hosts Events Focused on Food and Friendship
Archestratus, a unique bookstore named after the ancient Sicilian poet and early food writer, has become a celebrated destination for food literature enthusiasts. Founded by Paige Lipari in 2015,... MORE
Philly-Based Cookbook Stores
Philly-Based Cookbook Stores
Binding Agents Opens in the Philadelphia Italian Market
Opening this October in Philadelphia’s Italian Market, Binding Agents, a new 350-square-foot bookstore by Catie Gainor, will offer a warm, community-centered space for book and food enthusiasts... MORE