Speciality Food Jan/Feb 2026

4 @specialityfood How to cash in on food to go in 2026 Market researcher IGD has shared its predictions for the away fromhome and food to go markets for 2026. The four key trends highlighted are: • Affordable and accessible As economic pressures persist, value remains a top priority. Consumers will continue to seek the best value for money, but this doesn’t alwaysmean the lowest price. Retailers and operators will be challenged to keep improving their value proposition, improving range and quality while still being affordable. Convenience and accessibility for consumers will also play a key role as the expectation for instant gratification grows. • Elevated experiences While food to gomissions are primarily quick and convenient, the experience encompasses all Veena Giridhar Gopal, an experienced FMCG leader investor and operator, shares her thoughts "Heritage brands retain an advantage in recognition and repeat purchase, which continues to matter in a cautious market. However, the Budget maintains the fiscal pressure created by frozen tax thresholds, which affects a significant part of their customer base. Higher income buyers remain resilient, but the broad middle will continue to watch discretionary spending closely. Rising wage and property costs will also weigh on heritage brands with smaller scale or larger physical footprints. “In this environment, focus becomes more important. Heritage brands will need to concentrate on their strongest lines, protect margin on core products, and deepen direct engagement with loyal customers. Storytelling and consistency remain strengths, but operational efficiency will be just as important. Some founder led or family-owned heritage brands may also reassess succession plans, since the fiscal environment offers no new incentives to hold ownership longer." touchpoints the consumer has with the brand. Price still matters but in a world of choice, experience is increasingly a differentiator. People will be drawn to brands and eating out establishments that offer something memorable, whether through service, environment, or digital engagement, creating opportunities to build deeper emotional connections. • Health as a lifestyle driver Health is evolving froma goal to a way of life. Consumers are increasingly integrating wellness into everyday choices, prompting retailers and operators to rethink how they support holistic health acrossmenus, formats, and communications. • Sustainability simplified Consumers expect the government, operators andmanufacturers to lead on sustainability, not only in packaging. Back-end investment remains vital as legislation evolves, but making sustainable choices visible and their benefits clear is key to driving engagement. Consumers want help choosing healthier options therefore, transparency will be essential to help themmake informed choices. Shannon Goldsmith, senior insight analyst at IGD, said, “The trends shaping the UK food to go and away fromhomemarket will demand agility, innovation and deep consumer understanding for growth. While they are the key trends for 2026, their longer-term impact on business operations and consumersmust be considered.” International cuisines overtaking traditional British food on UK plates Research conducted by HelloFresh has highlighted that over half (55%) of British consumers only eat British cuisine once a month at most, and only 22% consider traditional British food their favourite. The Plate of Nations report stated that cooking as a form of exploration is an increasingly important trend, with 40% of respondents saying that recreating dishes they enjoyed abroad has inspired them to be more adventurous in their own kitchen, and 64% of British families use cooking specifically to experience new cultures. This reflects a global trend, with 70% of families worldwide doing the same. 79% of Gen Z and 81% of Millennials are curious about bolder flavours compared to 58% of Baby Boomers, but every age group is increasingly experimental when it comes to trying foods from overseas. Over 40% of British consumers cook internationally-inspiredmeals at least once a week, and 43% stated in the research that Indian cuisine is their first choice. 45% of shoppers surveyed named foods from Japan, Thailand, Korea and Malaysia as their top choice. Alix McCaffrey, senior director of product at HelloFresh UK, said, “Brits are embracing a new kind of food tourism, one that starts in their own kitchens. As traditional favourites fall out of rotation, we’re seeing a clear shift toward global flavours, particularly Asian- inspired dishes. With families cooking more internationally than ever before, HelloFresh is proud to help households travel the world through flavour, all from the comfort of their homes.” Study states three fifths of retail jobs could be affected AI by 2035 According to the Retail Workforce Reimagined study, conducted by research agency Retail Economics and law firmEversheds Sutherland, up to three fifths of retail jobs could be augmented or automated by AI by 2035. 250 retail businesses with revenues over £10 million were surveyed for the study. It is thought that AI will take over tasks covering stockmanagement, website content and supply, withmanagement roles being less affected – by one third – as tasks are less suited to AI. According to the research, UK retailers have assigned 30% of their annual digital budget to AI and this is set to increase in the next few years, as 94% of retailers believe that AI adds value to their operations. Heritage businesses must work hard to retain their position following latest Budget, advises expert