Future Food Trends - Protein, Gut Health, Nostalgia & Precision-Fermented Skincare Dominate Expo West 2025

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Carbs are out. Protein is in. Gut health is non-negotiable. And if your brand isn’t flaunting nostalgia, “ugly” aesthetics, or cutting-edge sustainability, good luck standing out. Here’s what’s shaping the future of food and wellness straight from Natural Products Expo West 2025

Protein Over Carbs is The New Nutrition Standard

If a product isn’t flexing its protein content front and centre, does it even count? High-protein everything is dominating the snack world, with brands like Mosh with brain-boosting bars from Maria Shriver and. Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Lesser Evil with high-protein popcorn, ensuring consumers hit their daily macros in style.

Source: Mosh -  Patrick Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

Gut Health is the New Holy Grail

Probiotics, prebiotics, and “de-bloating” claims are now standard across all categories. Leading the charge? Olipop and Poppi - prebiotic sodas, Mayawell - digestive tonics, and Mid-Day Squares - functional chocolate bars, all proving that gut-friendly food isn’t just for the kombucha aisle anymore.

Nostalgia Branding A Retro Revolution

Bright colours, diner-inspired fonts, and old-school bodega aesthetics are giving brands serious shelf appeal. Chamberlain Coffee’s retro tins, Bobo’s hand-drawn oatmeal bar packs, throwback designs showing comforting visuals equal instant consumer trust.

Regenerative Farming Verses Organic

Sustainability storytelling is evolving. Brands like Force of Nature regenerative farmed products meats, Alexandre Family Farm (carbon-neutral dairy), and White Leaf Provisions (biodynamic baby food) are ditching generic “organic” claims in favour of deeper environmental narratives about soil health, biodiversity, and carbon capture.

Source: Various - Poppi-Chamberlain_WhiteLeaf Provisions

Pistachio Obsession From Chocolate to Plant Milk

Blame Dubai’s pistachio-stuffed chocolates, pistachio-everything is taking over. Expect to see pistachio butter from NutsÓla, pistachio protein bars from Rise Bar, and pistachio milk from Táche popping up in premium grocery aisles near you.

“Ugly,” “Pretty,” and “Batch” Branding is Hot

If your packaging embraces imperfection, small-batch charm, or quirky aesthetics, you’re winning. New Zealand's No Ugly Wellness drinks caught alot of attention, Pretty Peas (snacks), and Batch Organics (smoothies) are proving that consumers crave authentic, unpolished branding that feels real—not mass-produced.

Source: Various - NoUgly -Tache - Dubai Pistachio Chocolate - Batch Organics

Tallow vs. Precision-Fermented Oils is The Ethical Skincare Battle

Tallow, aka animal fat in skincare, is suddenly trendy again, with brands like Aussie Tallow Co. and The Grassfed Beauty Co. making old-school skincare cool. But here’s the problem: major retailers are still prioritising vegan and cruelty-free beauty.

Enter precision-fermented oils, lab-grown, molecularly identical alternatives to tallow delivering the same skincare benefits without the cow. Expect major moves in bio-identical sebum oils and fermented lipid technology, offering a high-tech, ethical upgrade to traditional animal fats.

Hydration Hype: Electrolytes Take Over

Forget plain old water because electrolytes are the new caffeine. LMNT, Cure Hydration, and Liquid IV are leading the charge, proving hydration is big business, with consumers demanding faster, smarter, longer-lasting solutions.

What’s Next? Brain-Boosting Gummies & Chia Caviar

Next-gen wellness is heading into new territory with brands like Mud\Wtr (functional mushrooms), Odyssey Elixir (nootropic drinks), and Chia Caviar (chia seed-based “caviar” for gut health) proving that brain food is the future.

Source: Various - Chia Caviar - Mud/Wtr - Odyssey - LMNT

No-doubt about it the trend is towards functionality for the human body aligned with Planetary health.

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