From news media and grocery retailers to food experts and restaurant reviewers, there’s no shortage of food trend reports being published as we ramp into the new year. It can be overwhelming to keep up and track all trends, so the Zeno Foodie Team has done it for you! 

And to wrap things up, Zeno explored how we feel news media will respond to the new foodie landscape, as well as what reporters and outlets will spark the most conversation. 

LET’S START WITH FLAVORS + FOODS OF 2024 

Pickles  

Still sweet on this trend 

The Era of "Swicy"  

Sweet and spicy flavors are up 38% + 53 million Americans request extra spice  

Catch of the Day: Tinned Fish 

Tinned fish sales increased to $2.7 billion in 2023 – and only continue to grow

Asian & Mexican Influence  

Gen Z's favorite cuisines 

Hail, Caesar 

Caesar seasoning expands to veggies, snack aisles and more 

 Pumpkin Spice is Here to Stay  

20+ year trend continues to grow  

The Milky Way  

Sweetened condensed milk transcends desserts and enters the beverage category

THE (GEN) Z’S  

• Very Vegan + Prominently Plant:  Plant protein is popping up in labels where white meat used to be 

• Weariness of Processed Foods: It’s not old news 

• Girl Dinner + Aesthetic Dynamics: Enjoying and balancing indulgent foods  

• Climate Issues Take a Seat at the Table: Over half Gen Z consumers base purchases on environmental issues 

TWO DIFFERENT “AI” TRENDS 

A(rtificial) I(ntelligence) + A(ppetite) I(nhibitors) like Ozempic   

AI: From agile new product development to cheeky campaign creative 

AI: Think – low calorie, pre-portioned snack packs and high protein shakes + appetite interveners

GAME CHANGER: FOOD AND GAMING COLLABS 

Gamers worldwide report increased ordering habits from quick-service restaurants  

CAFFEINE FREE IS THE NEW SOBER 

39% of coffee drinkers are looking to decrease caffeine consumption. 

THIS IS SO EXTRA: EARNED MEDIA 2024 

Food media continues to evolve and change – and we’re hungry to breakthrough. Here are a few tips and tricks for winning media engagement in 2024. 

The Snowball Effect 

Data helped define the top food outlets publishing stories that aggregate and are typically syndicated by aggregators like Yahoo! and MSN – creating awareness nationwide. These are the top outlets that spread food news across the country, get the conversation going and potentially drive widespread awareness nationwide. Listed in order of influence:  

• Parade 

• The Takeout  

• Food & Wine 

• Allrecipes 

• Better Homes & Gardens 

• Eat This, Not That! 

SEO: Fixed on Clicks 

More than ever, reporters are looking to SEO tactics to inform what they’re covering. We analyzed food news in the top aggregators above and uncovered that Google Search data is picked up and often leads stories. It’s becoming more important to reinforce social (TikTok anyone?) or Google search data as backing. 

Think (affiliate) links  

The role and rise of affiliate links: a must-have for CPG coverage. Outlets are getting creative beyond ad revenue. Many require Amazon, Target or Walmart links to cover CPG products. E-commerce beat reporters only consider CPG products that have a link to buy the product or LTO within the story – to track the article’s traction. Yahoo! was the outlet that most referenced Amazon affiliate links.