The food industry's biggest trend-spotters have had their say on what we will be eating and drinking in 2027. Natural Products Expo West unveiled its annual trends forecast on October 21, identifying 17 trends set to shape the natural products industry next year, from heritage dairy traditions to a revival of ancient grains.
Leading the list is heritage dairy: yogurt and cheese traditions from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia — Vietnamese-style yogurt, Hungarian túró and Middle Eastern labneh — bringing bold flavor and time-honored processes to American shelves. The Nutrition Business Journal projects the dairy category will grow 7.3 percent in 2027 on the back of such additions, according to the forecast carried by GlobeNewswire.
Ancient grains are also widening their footprint, with brands drawing from a broader global pantry — Southeast Asian adlai, emmer farro, amaranth and heritage blue corn — as shoppers look for minimally processed ingredients with transparent sourcing and ties to regional food traditions. Beef is leading growth across meat, fish and poultry, projected to climb 10.9 percent, as interest in regenerative and pasture-raised production and whole-animal eating converges with curiosity about how food is raised.
Sour flavors are another trend to watch, alongside small everyday indulgences and a new generation of third places where people gather to eat, drink and socialize. The forecast notes that economic pressure and digital fatigue are reshaping how consumers eat and socialize, pushing demand for products that combine tradition, transparency and precise benefits. FinancialContent, which also carried the announcement, notes the market is looking simultaneously backward and forward — heritage on the plate, innovation in the process. The forecast also highlights globally inspired dairy beyond the headline trends, with time-honored processes meeting demand for bold flavor and nutrient-dense foods. As the natural products industry digests the findings, the message is that tradition and transparency — not novelty for its own sake — will define what lands in shopping baskets in 2027.