As we approach the festive season, everyone’s starting to look ahead to what the new year will bring us—particularly major food companies. In the last few weeks, Whole Foods Market, Kroger, and Bidfood are among the leading brands to start making predictions for what we’ll all be eating in 2025. And it’s looking like plants are going to feature on people’s plates more than ever before.
Adobe
“This year, we’re especially excited to celebrate how far we’ve come by spotlighting trends for 2025 that not only reflect growing consumer preferences but also push the boundaries of what’s possible for the world of food,” Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Whole Foods Market, said in a statement. “We’re eager to see these trends take shape and inspire our customers in the year ahead.”
Why plants are rising in popularity
For a variety of reasons, more Americans are starting to look towards meat-free food. Many are following a flexitarian approach or simply increasing their intake of plant-based foods. Last year, for example, one report from Supermarket News found that around 72 million US households are choosing both plant-based and animal products when they shop.
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It’s not surprising that plant-based foods are rising in popularity. Earlier this year, a plant-forward Mediterranean diet was named the number one diet for health by the US News & World Report for the seventh year in a row. The publication consulted with more than 40 experts before releasing its findings.
“The Mediterranean diet focuses on diet quality rather than a single nutrient or food group,” noted the publication. “Numerous studies have shown that it reduces the risk of chronic health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes while promoting longevity and improving quality of life.”
Reducing meat is also good for the planet, of course. Animal agriculture is responsible for around 14.5 percent of global emissions, and it’s a leading driver of deforestation, too. An abundance of research confirms that plant-based diets, on the other hand, are far better for the planet. In 2022, one study from the University of Bonn in Germany concluded that Western nations must cut their meat consumption by 75 percent to help the environment.
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“If all humans consumed as much meat as Europeans or North Americans, we would certainly miss the international climate targets and many ecosystems would collapse,” study author Matin Qaim, a professor at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, said in a statement at the time.
That’s why healthy and sustainable plant-forward eating habits will take center stage next year, according to multiple reports.
What are major food companies predicting for 2025?
According to Bidfood’s food trends report for 2025, “proactive practices” are going to be big next year. The UK wholesaler highlights research that claims nearly a quarter of 18 to 44-year-olds will pick where to eat out based on eco-friendly options, while 41 percent of people said they would pay more for low-carbon options.
“They are on the lookout for more sustainable dishes, ingredients, and what venues are actively doing to support charities and local communities as well as to reduce their emissions,” it notes.
Across the pond in the US, Whole Foods Market agrees that consumers will be prioritizing the environment with their purchases next year. Alongside trends like “hydration hype,” which will see a rise in water with electrolytes and the rising popularity of tea, it highlights “more-sustainable sips” as one of its biggest trends for 2025. These are products like organic wines, as well as beers and whiskeys, that are made with more regenerative practices or ingredients.
Nutrition, and an emphasis on healthy plant-based protein, will also be on the up, reports US grocery store giant Kroger. “While popular staples like chicken, yogurt, and cottage cheese have staying power, the retailer predicts a growing interest in collagen and a greater incorporation of plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, and hemp seeds into daily diets,” reads a press release.
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Kroger also predicts a rise in gut-healthy fermented ingredients, like sauerkraut and kimchi, while Whole Foods Market is expecting to see a rise in sourdough. “During the pandemic, we saw a sourdough resurgence with at-home bakers trying their hand at the classic fermented bread,” reports the grocery chain. “Now we’re seeing this trend move into grocery aisles in both traditional and innovative ways.”
Whole Foods Market also expects to see a rise in “plant-based aquatic ingredients,” like seaweed, water lentils, and sea moss. “With the continued popularity of seaweed and the increasing interest in harvesting readily available aquatic plants for more sustainable sources of protein and nutrients, the tide is turning toward foods made with more sea and freshwater greens,” it reports.
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Beyond health and the planet, most people make their food and drink choices based on taste, of course. And all three food companies are expecting bold flavors to have a moment in 2025.
Whole Foods Market predicts that dumplings are going to be big, with more fusion flavors “and unexpected mash-ups” hitting the market. It also sees a big future in crunchy foods, like crispy grains, mushroom chips, and dehydrated fruits. It even declares that crunch is the “texture of the moment.”
Bidfood is expecting global cuisines, like Greek, Turkish, Argentinian, and Portuguese, to take off in the UK, while Kroger predicts the same for the US. In 2025, it notes that people will be seeking out spicy foods, in particular. “2025 is all about flavor,” it declares.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
