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The latest Innova top food trends Insights data cements 2026 as the year when protein innovation must intersect with lifestyle relevance.

Innova Market Insights has named digestive health, protein, and mental wellness as the leading food predictions for 2026, marking a global consumer shift toward holistic functionality and authentic nutrition.

A new “functional-natural” wellness boom is gaining momentum under the radar of the alt-protein noise. Instead of mimicking meat, these brands are harnessing fermentation, plant prebiotics, and caffeine-free stimulation to feed both body and brain. The mood-regulating and gut-nourishing niches are rapidly converging, led by small-scale producers leveraging native and regenerative agriculture.

Anuga 2025 has just wrapped up and revealed an industry maturing beyond novelty. Plant-based and alternative proteins remain central, but the spotlight has shifted to integration: hybrid systems, fermented and microbial inputs, as well as nutrient-dense whole foods. Clean-label transparency and climate resilience now drive procurement, while personalised nutrition and functional benefits re-shape NPD briefs. The consumer signal is clear: “make it natural, make it traceable,