The UK food industry is in flux. Economic pressures, lifestyle changes, and new expectations around health and sustainability are shifting shopper and consumer behaviours and redrawing the food landscape.

To help businesses navigate this transformation, we’ve released four reports exploring the trends driving choice and growth across key UK food sectors:

• Grocery: understand how value, health, and sustainability trends will reshape retail. 

• Shoppers: gain insights into how cost, sustainability, experiences, trust, and wellness are driving choices.

• Away From Home: discover the forces shaping dining out, from cost pressures to sustainability and tech-driven experiences. 

• Food To Go: learn how convenience, health, and elevated experiences will define on-the-go eating.

Together, they deliver a complete, data-led view of the opportunities and challenges shaping the UK food industry.

Each report explains the actions to take for a competitive 2026, based on four trends:

• Affordable and accessible

• Enhanced experiences

• Sustainability simplified

• Health as a lifestyle driver

Grocery retail: rethinking loyalty in an age of choice

Customer expectations are higher than ever. They want affordable options that don’t compromise on quality, and they expect businesses to make sustainability simple, health guidance clear, and availability consistent.

Our grocery retail report explores how these priorities are driving choices, from the growing importance of value and wellness to the role of memorable experiences in driving trade-up.

For retailers and brands, success will come from balancing cost and convenience with clarity, resilience, and emotional connection.

Download ‘UK trends 2026: the grocery retail perspective’ 

Non-subscribers can read a summary in the Highlights

Shoppers: understanding the new choice drivers

Shoppers will remain cautious in 2026 but expect quality and value. They are savvy and experienced, prioritising affordable options that don’t compromise on experience.

Our shopper report explores how value, sustainability, health, and resilience are shaping behaviour.

Consumers want businesses to make sustainable choices simple, provide clear health guidance, and ensure consistent availability.

For retailers and manufacturers, success in 2026 means balancing cost, convenience, and conscience, while delivering experiences that resonate.

Download ‘UK trends 2026: the shopper perspective’ 

Non-subscribers can read a summary in the Highlights

Away From Home: redefining value, experience, and purpose

The UK’s away from home sector faces a cautious but opportunity-rich 2026. Consumers are dining out, yet their choices are shaped by tighter budgets and higher expectations. Value now means more than price as it emphasises quality, convenience, and experiences that feel worth it.

Our away from home report shows demand for affordable options that don’t compromise on enjoyment, alongside a growing appetite for health and sustainability as standard.

Operators that combine smart pricing with agile menu design, tech-enabled efficiency, and memorable experiences will win loyalty in a challenging economy. The next phase of growth will come from delivering experience-led value.

Download ‘UK trends 2026: the away from home perspective’ 

Non-subscribers can read a summary in the Highlights

Food to go: convenience with a conscience

The UK’s food to go market remains resilient and fast-moving, shaped by economic pressures, changing work patterns, and evolving consumer expectations.

Our food to go report explains that consumers will want more than low prices in 2026. Health and sustainability have become non-negotiable, with demand for clear nutritional information, responsibly sourced ingredients, and packaging that makes sustainable choices simple.

At the same time, technology is redefining convenience, from self-serve kiosks and automated retail to loyalty apps and digital touchpoints that enhance speed and engagement.

Winning in this market means balancing value with innovation, delivering quick, accessible options that meet health and sustainability goals, while creating experiences that connect.

Download ‘UK trends 2026: the food to go perspective’

Non-subscribers can read a summary in the Highlights

Each of these four reports stands alone as a deep dive into its sector. But viewed together, they provide a holistic view of the modern UK food industry and the consumers shaping it.