Episode 99: 2026 Food and Beverage Trends with Brian Choi of The Food Institute

Feb 5, 2026

What will value really mean for food and beverage in 2026?

On the latest episode of Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton sit down with Brian Choi, CEO of The Food Institute, to unpack the forces reshaping the industry, including deeply value‑obsessed consumer to the rise of challenger brands and experience‑led innovation.

🎙️ Key takeaways from the conversation:

• Consumer confidence remains historically low, forcing brands to clearly justify price through either affordability or unmistakable quality
• Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and older shoppers are fragmenting demand, making one‑size‑fits‑all strategies obsolete
• Premiumization isn’t disappearing, but it’s migrating to value‑oriented retailers like Walmart and Costco
• 2026 is shaping up to be the Year of the Challenger Brand, with speed, authenticity, and flavor‑forward innovation winning
• Health, policy pressure, and global flavors are converging to redefine what “winning” products look like

If you’re leading strategy in CPG, retail, or food service, this episode is a must‑listen.

Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast.

Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn

Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn