From viral recipe ideas and comfort-led dishes to chef-driven innovation, food trends are moving faster than ever, and your customers have never been more informed. Hitting the right food trend on your menu doesn’t just resonate with your customers, but by embracing consumer demand, you can also attract new diners and spark fresh engagement right across your service.
With this guide, you’ll find a summary of the trends, ideas and influences shaping menus in 2026 and beyond. It has been developed in partnership with Caterforce and supported by expert analysis from Lumina Intelligence and The Food People, combining national consumer insight with real-world experience from the kitchens and catering teams we work alongside every day.