FOMO (fear of missing out) has become very real for food and beverage developers. Especially when it comes to trending tastes and flavor innovation.
While we can blame social media algorithms for the never-ending cascade of viral trends hitting our collective feeds, that doesn’t change the reality companies now face.
To put it simply, “what’s trending” seems to change on a monthly or even weekly basis. Brands are left scrambling to keep up or fear that they’re falling behind.
It doesn’t help that many major CPG and food and beverage chains, flush with resources, are seemingly keeping pace. Afterall, they have the ability to throw trending tastes at the wall until something sticks. One might be a passing fad, but a single big hit could make up for all of the misses.
Not every company has that luxury. This makes choosing which trending tastes make it to your trending pipeline so crucial. Wait too long, and your product might get lost in a sea of similar products on the shelf that arrived first. Choose wrong, and you’re left scrambling to pick up the pieces, missing out on other flavor innovations.
“It’s very easy for developers to experience FOMO. They might feel like they’re constantly chasing trends, missing out, or you just feeling overloaded because there’s so much going on,” says Silvia Schnicker, Director of Marketing at Edlong
“While trend pressure can create decision paralysis, companies should remember that with consumer loyalty more fragile than ever, it’s okay not to chase every trend.”
“It’s important to remember we’re not just developing a product, or an ingredient, it’s the emotion behind it. Algorithms might make trending tastes go viral, but it’s not just algorithms making consumer decisions.”
Turning trending tastes into winning flavor innovations is about finding what resonates with people and is actionable in applications.
Filtering out the Noise: Finding The Top Trends That Matter
“We’re always in a cycle of looking at what’s happening today, what’s happening six weeks from now, and what’s happening six or 12 months from now that we could react to if we need to,” says Angie Lantman, NA Applications Manager at Edlong.
“Of course we can’t guarantee any trend is going to stick. But with over a century of combined experience and through incredibly strong collaboration between marketing and research, applications, and our flavor creation teams, we’re able to help guide our customers and filter out the noise.”
According to Lantman,one thing that makes this easier is the transition certain trends have made in recent years.
“We’re seeing some major trends that have started to settle in as overarching macro trends. There are little changes that happen within them, but they’re still filling in in these bigger, broader categories. This is where brands should look for flavor innovation inspiration.”
Schnicker echoes this, adding, “That was our aim with this recent flavor report. We wanted to focus squarely on long-lasting major trends rather than chasing micro ones. Trends that are already shaping the market, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Sounds easy, but hunting down and identifying them isn’t enough. That’s why it’s important to frame each trend and the consumer narrative around it. This is how we can turn it from an innovative flavor idea into a trending taste that resonates long term.”
These top trends highlighted in our top ten flavors report are shaping the tastes of today and are poised to define the direction of the market for years to come.’
NEXTalgia and Global Influence
Nostalgia is still hot, but novelty is what drives the conversation.
This trend highlights the need for next-level nostalgia. Where tradition meets discovery, the comfort of the familiar gets an unexpected twist, and global inspiration is setting a new standard for indulgent flavor experiences.
Sensory Maximalism
Predictable products are a thing of the past.
From Instagram-worthy aesthetics to bold and layered taste and textures, consumers want to savor the sights, sounds, smells, and, of course, the flavor of immersive experiences.
This is taste redefined.
Personalized Nutrition
The quest for clean labels, better-for-you, and tailored nutrition won’t be satisfied with just low-no-reduced HFSS (High Fat Salt Sugar) claims, protein fortifications, and functional ingredients.
No, consumers are demanding nutrient density and tailored health benefits without compromising the sensory experience. They want personalized nutrition that’s powered by taste, and won’t accept anything less.
Cultured Craftmanship
From snacks to sweets and everything in between, people are looking to explore flavors with depth and sophistication.
Whether it’s the savory satisfaction of umami, the mouth-coating richness of kokumi, or the tangy brightness of fermentation, flavor innovation offers new levels of crafted complexity.
The Refined Label
The definition of “Clean Label” has expanded way beyond natural ingredients.
From natural colors and organic ingredients to ethical sourcing and sustainability, consumers are shining a spotlight on transparency at all stages. But as developers continue to adapt to these changes, one thing remains the same: taste is king.
Yet, all of this knowledge is only power when you can turn it into action and innovation. Edlong’s team of experts can help you do just that and get your trending products to market fast.
Ready for Action: Turning Trending Tastes into an Advantage
Helping our partners turn trending tastes into an advantage starts with understanding how to best apply them in an application.
As Lantman puts it, “Even if you’ve found a trending taste that has success written all over it. It doesn’t mean that the customer has the right audience for it.”
“For example Dubai chocolate would probably have never reached the heights it has if it was called ‘creamy pistachio chocolate crunch’”
Still, she notes that despite the international intrigue of its name, it was the familiarity of the ingredients that led to lasting success.
“Rooting trending tastes with something familiar, can make a product more approachable, and appealing,” explains Lantman.
“We saw this done very successfully with an ingredient like dragon fruit. A couple years ago most people couldn’t tell you what it tasted like. But when you pair it in a beverage with something like strawberry or mango, people can be more adventurous with less perceived risk. And again, that’s absolutely marketing, but that’s also part of our job as product developers, to design the right flavors for each product.”
Schnicker adds to this, “Validating trending tastes with marketing isn’t enough. We also have to verify feasibility through a technical lens to help get products on store shelves as fast as possible.”
That’s why, for Edlong, identifying the trends isn’t the goal; it’s just the starting line.
Be What’s Trending: Making it to Market Fast
“It’s really become second nature that when we see something’s trending and believe it’s going to hit, we get working on it right away,” says Lantman.
“In the case of Dubai chocolate, the moment we saw people were paying $15 for a small chocolate bar, we began dialing in our chocolate and pistachio flavors and experimenting with different applications. After all, we know when a customer does come to us, they’re going to want to move quickly.”
But Lantman explains it doesn’t stop at being one step ahead with flavor development.
“We’ll do what we need to do up front to commercialize that flavor, to get the regulatory documents put together and speed up the process so that they can get it into their production facilities as quickly as they possibly can.”
Moreover, with a unique rapid iteration process, Edlong’s experts work side by side to achieve products with the perfect balance of trending taste and flavor innovation, fast.
“When we’re working with a marketing/brand manager or a product developer, we will offer our advice on whether something is too sweet, too salty, needs more acid, etc to help guide them in making the best tasting product possible. We also lend our expertise and advice when it comes to scaling and overcoming taste challenges to help accelerate their timeline and speed to market.”
Learn how Edlong’s custom solutions can help you cure your FOMO and take advantage of the top trends shaping the market in 2026 and beyond.