Expo West 2026: 7 Mintel Predictions Realized in Food & Health

Expo West 2026 provided a transparent reflection of a number of long-running shifts Mintel has been monitoring throughout well being, vitamin, and client expectations. What stood out most this 12 months was much less about taste innovation and extra a couple of reorientation towards how the physique feels—bodily, emotionally, and even metabolically. Most of the dominant themes on the present mapped on to Mintel’s forecasts, now rising in commercially related methods.

Under are seven areas the place our predictions have been seen throughout classes, codecs, and types. 

Fiber was probably the most seen by traces of the present, validating Mintel’s longstanding view that fiber is among the most underleveraged dietary property for each wellness and satiety.

Three developments stood out:

The totality of those alerts signifies that fiber has moved from compulsory to aspirational, creating alternatives for classes lengthy neglected.

Mintel has reported for a number of years that digestive well being would proceed to broaden past probiotics and turn into extra elevated. Expo West demonstrated simply how far that evolution has come. The present embraced digestive consolation brazenly, signaling that taboos round bowel habits are dissolving and shoppers are more and more keen to debate the realities of digestion.

A number of examples illustrate this shift clearly:

Expo West additionally confirmed a transfer towards deeper client curiosity in digestion as a course of. Anticipate improvements to get much more comfy with intestine well being, taking the dialog past “intestine well being” as a catch-all to growing target-specific phases—gasoline, bloating, transit time, and stool formation. This units the stage for extra refined product improvement throughout fibers, gradual carbohydrates, digestive enzymes, and postbiotic compounds.

Notably, GLP1 messaging was muted in contrast with 2025. Its absence, nevertheless, shouldn’t be interpreted as a decline. As an alternative, manufacturers seem like integrating GLP1–suitable dietary patterns, similar to protein, fiber, hydration, and low glycemic choices, with out explicitly referencing the drugs. This aligns with Mintel’s steerage that manufacturers ought to give attention to behaviors fairly than prescription drugs. Whereas weight administration stays related, Expo West 2026 revealed that the business dialog has shifted towards energy, muscle preservation, and metabolic resilience.

Protein remained ubiquitous, spanning a variety of classes. The extra telling improvement was the prominence of creatine, now showing in codecs far past sports activities vitamin.  

Creatine was featured in bars, hydration drinks, ready-to-drink protein codecs, and “stacked” formulations pairing creatine with electrolytes or collagen. 

The demand for protein was additionally seen in new dairy improvements, similar to cottage cheese-based dips (Cotto), pizza crusts (The Tattooed Chef), and ice lotions (Cottage Creamery by DFA). Digestively pleasant dairy choices, together with Fage’s Greatest Self lactose-free yogurts and A2 milks, addressed tolerance issues with out sacrificing protein density.

Refined modifications that cut back glycemic load, similar to utilizing decrease glycemic sweeteners or gradual fermented pizza dough, spoke to metabolic well being with out shouting about it.

The MAHA (“Make America Wholesome Once more”) motion continues to have notable cultural and business affect. Whereas various in interpretation, the core ideas of complete meals, recognizable components, and a reevaluation of conventional fat have been prevalent.

At Expo West 2026, this confirmed up by: 

Whereas no dominant taste development emerged this 12 months, texture clearly formed product improvement. crisp, ethereal, whipped, puffy, and layered textures appeared throughout classes, from confections to snacks to dairy options. This emphasis means that sensory novelty, fairly than taste experimentation, is guiding formulation selections for 2026.

Stand-out textures included:

Textural improvements that have interaction a number of senses assist shoppers break from routine and create memorable, experience-led moments. Manufacturers used new and thrilling textures to spark pleasure and pleasure.

The present mirrored early recession-related patterns. Pizza, noodles, and different consolation codecs have been outstanding, usually positioned as an reasonably priced indulgence. These cues usually seem when shoppers anticipate tightening budgets however nonetheless search small, satisfying trade-offs.

As beforehand said, no dominant taste development emerged this 12 months, which alerts restraint from manufacturers. Mintel beforehand predicted that financial pressures would drive shoppers to be extra conservative about their taste selections. Easy flavors can enchantment to shoppers who’re searching for methods to stretch their greenback and preserve their pantry stocked with versatile meal necessities.

Curiosity in nostalgic flavors will stay robust as a result of nostalgia supplies consolation and reduces the perceived danger related to attempting new merchandise. The consolation of easy-to-recognize flavors could be reassuring to shoppers who’re in search of a break from more and more unpredictable present occasions.

One of many clearest themes rising from Expo West this 12 months was the business’s deliberate shift towards temper as each a useful profit and a model expertise. Power, calm, focus, and pleasure confirmed up not simply in beverage formulations with magnesium, adaptogens, or nootropics, but additionally in all the method manufacturers expressed themselves on the present flooring. This straight speaks to the necessity for human authenticity and emotional resonance within the period of AI, as a lot because it does to the necessity to give people an edge over their AI counterparts.

Throughout cubicles, the strongest impressions weren’t tied to taste as a lot as they have been tied to feeling. Manufacturers used sensory cues, immersive activations, and playful aesthetics to sign emotional states, usually extra loudly than the ingredient decks themselves. From GOODLES’ attraction amassing scavenger hunt to aura readings at Merely Pop, Slice merchandising machines, and the maximalist Poppi funhouse, the present leaned right into a shared cultural want for levity.

Purposeful beverage examples: 

Expo West 2026 revealed the temper of the second: folks need meals that helps them really feel good, emotionally and bodily. The tendencies on the ground, together with digestive transparency, the elevation of fiber, the affect of actual meals frameworks, a sensory emphasis on texture, and tapping into feelings by branding aesthetics, nootropics, and adaptogens, all replicate deeper client wants which have been constructing for years.

For manufacturers, the chance now lies in connecting these themes by merchandise that steadiness readability, perform, and emotional resonance whereas staying grounded in credible, evidence-based vitamin.

In the event you’re a foods and drinks model attempting to maintain up with altering client habits round well being and vitamin, contact us as we speak for insights tailor-made to your model’s challenges and alternatives.

Alternatively, discover Mintel’s newest Wellness Platform for insights, recent concepts, and sensible recommendations on find out how to strengthen client engagement within the Well being and Wellness panorama.