The Weekly Wrap: End of July Food and Beverage Trends from Mini Bites to Retro Desserts

Looking to stay ahead of the curve? Our food and beverage trends roundup highlights the most compelling shifts in consumer behavior and foodservice innovation. These weekly insights, grounded in real-time data and work with leading brands, reveal what’s gaining traction, from flavor innovation to emerging restaurant menu trends.

Each edition explores the food and beverage trends driving momentum across menus, social platforms, and home kitchens. Whether you’re refreshing a menu, ideating a new product, or refining brand messaging, these trends are crafted to spark new ideas and accelerate execution in a rapidly evolving market.

1. Nostalgic Desserts 🇺🇸🇬🇧

(+13.12% YoY in the U.S., +15.4% for Gen Z, +16% in the UK)

Nostalgic desserts like banana pudding and pineapple upside-down cake are climbing back onto menus in the U.S. and UK. These sweet, familiar comforts resonate especially with Gen Z food trends, tapping into a desire for warmth and emotional connection.

This shift in consumer behavior is more than a passing moment, it’s a reminder that feelings are flavor’s best friend. For food innovators, leaning into retro appeal is one of the most meaningful food and beverage trends happening now.

2. Mini & Premium Bites 🇺🇸

(+38% YoY in social mentions; 38X relevance for potato bites)

Small plates, big momentum. From steak bites to cauliflower pizza crusts, restaurant menu trends show that miniature formats are thriving. These fun, snackable dishes align with consumer behavior favoring personalization and low-risk exploration.

This is where flavor innovation meets function — and a smart spot for brands to test, iterate, and scale successful bite-sized offerings fast.

3. Dirty Soda 🇺🇸

(+360% YoY in social buzz)

This viral sensation, soda spiked with syrups and cream, is dominating TikTok feeds and Gen Z fridges. The rise of dirty soda highlights a wider shift in food and beverage trends, especially among the sober-curious crowd.

As sugar-free versions gain traction, this trend merges indulgence with evolving health consciousness. For brands, it’s a chance to rethink what refreshment looks like through the lens of Gen Z food trends.

4. Coconut Water x Matcha 🇺🇸

(+194.7% YoY social growth)

The newest visual darling of the wellness world? Coconut water blended with matcha. With hydration, calm energy, and major Instagram appeal, this duo ticks all the boxes for today’s flavor innovation game.

Perfect for cafés, functional beverage lines, and on-the-go consumers, especially those driven by visual culture and trending food and beverage trends.

5. Gewürztraminer’s Fade 🇫🇷🇺🇸

(–55.4% YoY wine mentions on menus in France, –53% in the U.S.)

Once the star of Alsace, Gewürztraminer is falling out of fashion. Menu mentions are plummeting across France and the U.S., reflecting deeper shifts in restaurant menu trends and wine culture.

Fewer consumers are seeking it out, especially younger drinkers, a reminder that even the most established formats can fade without fresh relevance. This is one area where consumer behavior speaks loud and clear.