Thanksgiving, Chanukkah and Christmas: Using AI to connect with tradition

As the holiday season kicks off, using AI to connect with tradition is a powerful opportunity for brands. Consumers are set to spend an estimated $1,638 on gifts, meals, and experiences—a 7% increase from last year​. With this surge, the opportunity to connect deeply with consumers during the holidays is immense, especially for brands that can creatively combine tradition with modern innovation.

Millennials, who represent a core consumer group, are eager to experiment with traditional recipes. 45% have adapted family recipes with new, unique ingredients​. How do AI-driven holiday traditions enable brands to blend beloved customs with AI-enhanced personalization? They need to create the next generation of holiday experiences that are meaningful, memorable, and relevant.

Trends in consumer demand for tradition

Consumer preferences for the holidays have shifted significantly in recent years, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Economic pressures, health-conscious choices, and sustainability concerns are reshaping holiday tables and gift lists. Here are key trends shaping the 2024 holiday season

Experience Over Material Gifts

64% of holiday shoppers now prefer experiences, such as immersive dinners or DIY kits, over physical gifts​.AI platforms like Tastewise help brands identify experience-focused consumer interests, creating curated recipes and dining ideas that appeal to this growing trend.

Plant-Based and Eco-Friendly Options

A rise in demand for eco-conscious and plant-based holiday meals reflects broader dietary shifts and environmental awareness. Tastewise data shows a surge in seasonal recipes like vegan latkes or fusion dishes like pumpkin miso soup for, capturing these evolving preferences​.

Heritage Meets Fusion

Fusion dishes that incorporate traditional holiday flavors with global influences have gained traction. Younger generations are more open to dishes like a Matcha and White Chocolate Yule Log or Hawaij Spiced Apple Pie, showcasing their willingness to explore the unexpected while honoring tradition.

Brands that leverage these insights can shape campaigns that meet consumers where their preferences, positioning themselves as both traditional and forward-thinking.

Top AI applications in holiday F&B marketing

AI is transforming holiday F&B marketing by creating personalized, data-driven experiences that resonate. Here’s how major brands leverage AI in the holiday season, providing a glimpse into what AI-powered tools like Tastewise can offer:

Personalized Recipe Suggestions

Using AI, Carrefour and Talabat Mart offer tailored recipe recommendations to shoppers based on real-time purchases, dietary preferences, and holiday themes​. For brands, incorporating AI recommendations can enhance in-store and online shopping by helping consumers select complementary products.

Real-Time Promotions and Campaign Testing

Brands like Instacart use AI to adjust in real-time, running two-for-one deals or recommending festive items based on seasonal demand. For Tastewise users, AI-enabled campaign testing allows for A/B testing seasonal product launches, maximizing impact during key holiday shopping weeks​.

Creative AI Recipe Development

At Tastewise’s Generative AI Food Pioneers Summit, Bell Flavors showcased unique, AI-inspired campaigns, such as the “mermaid flavors” concept, demonstrating how AI sparks new product ideas that bring something unexpected to the table. For holiday marketing, these AI-driven recipes meet consumer demand for novelty and tradition alike.

Bringing tradition to life with AI tool

With Tastewise’s AI-powered tools, brands have the opportunity to adapt traditional holiday recipes while infusing them with modern, globally inspired flavors. Below, we’ll explore how brands can utilize these tools to make Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, and Christmas meals both familiar and fresh:

Adapting traditional recipes with AI

Tastewise’s AI tools analyze consumer sentiment around traditional recipes, making it easy to create AI-optimized dishes for the season. For instance, the Hawaij Spiced Apple Pie adds a Middle Eastern spice mix to a Thanksgiving favorite, while Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes bring an autumnal twist to a classic dish​. Brands can tap into this innovation to create exciting dishes that respect traditional flavors while adding a contemporary appeal.

Tastewise allows brands to further adapt these recipes by testing variants and exploring trends within specific target demographics. Consumers might discover recipes like the Matcha and White Chocolate Yule Log, ideal for brands aiming to blend French and Japanese influences into a Christmas favorite. For a unique, personalized recipe experience, brands can craft these dishes based on Tastewise’s data-driven insights into regional trends and flavor preferences.

Customizing festive marketing strategies

Brands can customize holiday campaigns to reflect the most sought-after flavors and ingredients. Insights from our Holiday F&B Excitement and Trends for Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, and Christmas survey reveal that social media, particularly platforms like TikTok, significantly influence Millennial and Gen Z recipe inspiration.

AI and holiday retail strategy

Holiday retail strategies are evolving, and AI offers new ways for brands to seamlessly connect with consumers’ holiday traditions. Through personalized recipe recommendations and seasonal product suggestions, AI can help retailers respond dynamically to shifting preferences during Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, and Christmas. 

Brands can identify trending ingredients and flavors for the season, and then translate these insights into promotions, displays, or online content that resonates with what shoppers are actively seeking. This approach allows brands to be both timely and relevant in their holiday offerings.

Enhancing consumer loyalty through tradition

Traditional flavors and dishes are central to the holidays, but today’s consumers also seek variety—whether it’s through plant-based options, global flavors, or healthier ingredients. AI tools make it possible to study these evolving tastes in real-time, helping brands craft tradition-inspired offerings that reflect current trends.

By Using AI to track interest in fusion recipes or alternative ingredients, brands can create options that feel both comforting and contemporary. In this way, brands can connect more deeply with consumers, who appreciate the balance of honoring tradition while offering something new.

AI’s role in seasonal product development

For seasonal product launches, AI enables brands to move quickly, from trend spotting to product development. By tracking shifts in consumer interest around specific holiday flavors or ingredients, AI helps brands make informed choices in real-time.

If demand rises for innovative holiday desserts like spiced cocktails or fusion flavors, brands can leverage this data to refine product offerings that meet the season’s most popular tastes. Using AI to connect with tradition in this way allows brands to align their products with real-time consumer interests, blending the familiar with the novel. In a competitive retail landscape, this agility gives brands a distinct edge during the holiday rush, offering consumers a modern twist on beloved holiday flavors.

FAQs

How can AI help brands personalize traditional holiday experiences for consumers?

AI gives brands access to data-driven insights that enable them to personalize holiday recipes and products to align with specific consumer preferences. By understanding which traditional flavors resonate with target demographics, brands can offer experiences that feel familiar yet exciting, balancing nostalgia with novelty.

How can AI-driven insights improve holiday product launches?

AI insights allow brands to monitor real-time trends and preferences, making it easier to refine seasonal products in response to evolving consumer demand. This dynamic approach ensures that holiday products are not only aligned with tradition but are also highly relevant to current consumer tastes.