News and Trends

      Our latest Eating & Drinking Out Panel data highlights a cautious consumer mindset during the festive period, as mixed economic signals shape participation, channel choice and menu preferences.   Cautious consumers amidst mixed signals Inflation remains higher than last year, despite lower interest rates, while consumer confidence shows little movement. This has resulted in softer overall participation, with consumers approaching eating-out occasions more selectively during the festive period.   Value-led channels gain share Quick service restaurants have recorded the strongest growth in channel share, reflecting demand for convenient and...

  At Healy Group, it is incredibly important for us to keep a close eye on everything happening across the food and drink market. Our role goes far beyond supplying ingredients. We work closely with our customers to interpret what is really happening in the market, understand how and why consumer behaviour is changing, and make sure we have the right solutions in our portfolio to help manufacturers respond with confidence (rather than scrambling to catch up). Over the past year in particular, one thing has become very clear. Consumers are no longer buying into vague ideas of health, sustainability or functionality. They are buying into outcomes, and they expect those outcomes to be noticeable and  actually  deliver against the promises they’re making. Shoppers are under sustained pressure, from rising food costs to health concerns, mental fatigue and constant information overload. As a result, food and drink is being judged more critically than ever before. Products are e...

Source: Tom Ellis, Linkedin   If 2025 was the year GLP-1s grabbed the headlines, 2026 is the year they go mass market. The Economist has already flagged "Ozempic, but better" as a top 10 trend for the year. At Brand Genetics we believe 2026 is the tipping point where this evolves from a Western luxury into a global commodity. Here are five reasons why 2026 changes the rules of the game: 1. The Friction is Vanishing Barriers to entry are collapsing. We are moving from needles to pills, shifting GLP-1 from a "medical procedure" to a "daily vitamin". Crucially, patents are expiring in key markets like Brazil, China and India. With generics set to slash prices by up to 80%, access will democratise overnight 2. The "Godzilla" Effect The next generation of drugs are terrifyingly effective: Eli Lilly’s so called "Godzilla" drug (retatrutide) is showing ~24% weight loss in trials. But the real shift is quality: new treatments are designed t...

Source: https://www.mayinsight.co.uk/post/grocery-insights-2026   As things ramp up again, here are 10 grocery insights already shaping 2026, the shifts that are gaining momentum now and will matter most over the next 12 months and beyond. 1. Retailers are reshaping the definition of value 💷 Inflation pressure has eased, but household costs remain elevated, keeping value a priority even as confidence improves. Retailers now embed value through own label tiers, loyalty pricing and deal mechanics, not just shelf price. Brands must fit the retailer’s value architecture or risk looking poor value, even when competitively priced. 2. Aldi & Lidl set the grocery benchmark 🛒 Aldi and Lidl are no longer secondary shops. They are now main-shop credible retailers for a large majority of UK households. Their scale puts real pressure on traditional big four supermarkets, not just on price but on quality, range and execution. Store expansion and rising shopping frequency mean Aldi ...

Introducing our new Nutrient Dense range which launches in stores today. Every product packs a nutrient punch! A collection of nutrient-rich meals, snacks, bread and drinks all designed from a range of ingredients chosen for being rich in nutrients per calorie. Developed with the British Nutrition Foundation, each product is packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals and holds our Eat Well seal of approval. Not only that, but they are also free of white refined carbohydrates, if we used oil, we chose olive oil, plus the ingredient lists are only ingredients you would find in your kitchen cupboard. The products are ideal for those following the ‘fibremaxxing’ trend, people eating for optimum wellness, plus offer support for the 3-4% of the UK who are currently on GLP-1 weight-loss injections, and may find it harder to achieve their daily nutrient requirements. Launching with the range is the H5O shot. This little powerhouse of goodness is made with coconut water – a source of natural e...