Ocado reveals its top food & drink trends of 2025 – and ones to watch in 2026

15th December 2025

Feast your eyes on the top flavours of this year and next, as Ocado reveals its 12 Trends of Christmas! 2025 was the year that Korean ingredients went mainstream, we rekindled our obsession with all things cherry-flavoured, low & no drinking surged in popularity, and pantry staples such as tinned fish and beans got a serious glow-up. In 2026, some of the trends set to be on your radar include West African cuisine, a focus on nutrient-dense eating, clean and natural snacking, and the rise of mid-strength wines.

2025 Top Trends

Cherry on Top

Cherry has been one of the year’s big trending flavours. Searches for ‘cherry’ on Ocado.com are up 20% year-on-year (1), and July brought on a full-on cherry frenzy. For two weeks cherries became the number one bestselling product on Ocado.com as customers snapped up 68,500 punnets in just seven days to make the most of this year’s bumper season. Into the cherry hype? Try Fabbri Amarena Cherries & Syrup 600g (£17.80, Ocado.com). Made to an unchanged recipe for more than a century, these wild Italian cherries bring a deep, tangy sweetness perfect for spooning over ice cream, drizzling across cheesecakes and stirring into cocktails. Or, for a festive cherry fix, check out Poppy O’Toole’s Cherry Mulled Wine Glazed Duck.

Fibre Finds Its Fame

Fibre has finally moved into the spotlight, with searches jumping 57% year on year (2). June saw one of the most dramatic uplifts, with searches for ‘fibre snacks’ up by a staggering 2,578% (3) as shoppers sought fibre-filled foods.

And one little ingredient packing a big fibre punch, and another major trend for 2025, is the humble chia seed, with searches for ‘chia seeds’ up 49% year-on-year (4), as shoppers look for simple hacks to up their fibre intake.

Charlie Parker, Senior Nutritionist at Ocado Retail, says: “Fibre has sometimes been overlooked, but the data shows that awareness is growing and more people are looking to increase their intake. This is positive news as only 4% of adults achieve the recommended 30g of fibre a day.”

Our fave fuss-free fibre filled foods? Mister Free’d Tortilla Chips with Chia Seeds 135g (£2, Ocado.com) are a crunchy, gently roasted take on the classic tortilla, vegan and made with simple ingredients – perfect for piling high with dips or enjoying straight from the bag.

Also try: Raise Snacks-Maple Pecan, Clusters of Nuts & Seeds 35g (£1.35, Ocado.com)

Bean Bonanza

The bean boom is continuing to build with sales up 26.5% (5) on Ocado.com And no bean is taking centre stage quite like Bold Bean Co’s Queen Carlin Peas 570g (£3.25, Ocado.com). These British beans are slow-cooked with a soft, delicate texture and nutty flavour, similar to a chickpea. High in fibre and high in protein, these beans are great added in rich tomato and red pepper stew, and creamy coconut and spinach dhal.

Himesh Siyodia, Senior Buyer for Cans at Ocado Retail, says, “Premium beans are on the rise, largely due to challenger brands injecting excitement into the category. As a result, the market offering has expanded, with more beans than ever available for customers to choose from. Organic food consumption is also on the rise with organic beans growing in interest.”

Low and No Levels Up

Moderation is changing the nation’s drinking habits, and Ocado’s low and no alcohol searches are surging. Searches for ‘Botivo’, the bittersweet British aperitivo, are up 225% (6) as customers are increasingly embracing sophisticated botanical flavours without the alcohol. Plus the arrival of ‘BERO’, the new non-alcoholic beer brand from actor Tom Holland, and supermarket exclusive to Ocado, sent searches soaring by 5,575% (7), with customers eager to try a pint crafted for drinkers who want fullness of flavour with none of the after-effects.

Tinned Fish Goes Luxe

The tinned fish renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down. Searches for ‘tinned fish’ are up 57% year on year (8), while ‘sardines’ have seen an astonishing 1,387% increase in searches (9). The range on Ocado continues to expand, now offering the sustainably sourced, hand-packed La Narval Sardines in Spicy Olive Oil, 120g (£4.20, Ocado.com) which delivers the kind of depth and heat that turns this popular pantry staple into a restaurant-quality small plate.

Condiments Get Saucy

It seems Brits just can’t get enough of flavour-boosting sauces, pastes, chutneys and jams, as searches for ‘condiments’ are up 45% year on year (10) – and three in four (75%) 25–34-year-olds say they use sauce with most meals (11). Small-batch, artisanal makers are having a moment, with sales of independent brands rising 22%(12) year on year, as shoppers reach for bottles and jars that bring something special to the table.

K-Flavour Takes Off

No flavour is firing up kitchens more than Korean cuisine, and in 2025 it showed no signs of slowing. Ocado.com launched a dedicated Korean aisle, including the addition of 20 new products. Searches for ‘Gochujang paste’ have rocketed 7,505% year on year on Ocado.com (13), cementing it as one of the year’s standout ingredients. If you’re wondering why everyone’s hooked, why not try BOMBOM Gochujang Korean Chilli Paste 220g (£9.50, Ocado.com) which delivers a deep, savoury heat that transforms everything from noodles and marinades, to roasted veg and even fried eggs.

Charley Belinis, World Foods Buyer at Ocado Retail says, “We’ve seen searches and sales for Korean food continue to grow over the last year, which is why we’ve launched an authentic Korean range to meet this demand. Our data also revealed a trend towards our customers cooking Korean dishes from scratch and shopping and searching for ingredients such as Korean noodles and condiments.”

2026 Ones to Watch

West African Cuisine Breaks Through

West African flavours and cuisine are poised for widespread discovery in 2026. Searches for ‘African’ food are up 93% year on year (14), reflecting rising curiosity and interest from customers. Fonio is emerging as a star ingredient, the ancient grain being hailed as “the new quinoa”. Biona Organic Fonio 350g (£4.70, Ocado.com) is naturally gluten-free, rich in nutrients and ready in just three minutes, making it a simple swap for rice or quinoa in salads.

Nutrient-Dense Eating

2026 is set to see an increase in people seeking out portion-controlled, nutrient-dense foods that pack in more benefits in smaller bites.

Brindisa Perello Salted Marcona Almonds 150g (£8.30, Ocado.com) pack a natural punch thanks to their fibre and protein content. Grown in Catalunya and roasted by a family who have perfected the craft over two decades, these almonds offer a buttery richness that lifts everyday snacking.

Charlie Parker, Senior Nutritionist at Ocado Retail, says: “As more and more people adopt GLP-1-influenced lifestyles, we’re seeing a real shift towards nutrient-dense snacking. Customers want foods that deliver great flavour and meaningful nutrition, even in smaller servings and the demand for these simply satisfying snacks is only set to grow.”

Natural Snacking Moments

Focus on ultra-processed foods is redefining snack time, and simple, whole ingredient-led fixes are in demand. Searches on Ocado.com for ‘healthy snacks for kids’ are up 30% YoY and ‘apple crisps’ 27% YoY (15), with the ‘Nuts and Fruit’ category seeing a huge 93% overall sales increase year on year (16). Spare Snacks Apple Fruit Crisps 22g (£1.15, Ocado.com) are becoming a favourite thanks to their ingredient list of just 100% whole fruit with no added sugar, salt or oil. Better yet, they’re made using ‘wonky’ apples, cutting down on food waste.

The Return of Tallow

Heritage fats are back in and tallow is making a modern comeback, with searches up 119% year on year (17). Hunter & Gather Organic British Grass-Fed Beef Tallow 300g (£10, Ocado.com) is leading the trend, valued for its nutrient content, suitability for high-heat cooking, and alignment with ketogenic and paleo diets. With more home cooks revisiting rendered fats, tallow is set to become a staple in savoury cooking and roasting.

Mid-Strength Wine Demand

Forget all-or-nothing drinking, 2026 is set to be about balance. Mid-strength wines are perfectly placed to satisfy this shift. La Felicite 9% Organic Rosé 75cl (£15, Ocado.com) is crafted from grapes harvested at night to preserve its delicate aromatics. It’s the first mid-strength wine produced by Domaine Royal de Jarras, the largest estate in the Camargue. With lighter wines offering a more relaxed drinking experience, this emerging category is tipped for significant growth in 2026. Shop the wider range of mid-strength drinks here.

Vanessa Pearson, Ocado Retail’s Trading Manager for BWS, says “We’ve seen a huge increase in customer interest in mid-strength wine, with sales surging 4000% compared to last year (18). Also driving this demand is the growing drinking trend of ‘coasting’ – where consumers moderate their alcohol intake during social occasions by enjoying mid-strength alcoholic drinks throughout the event, rather than alternate between full-strength and no-alcohol options.”

Date References:

(1) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(2) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(3) Ocado.com search data: 24/06/2023-24/06/2024 – 24/06/2024-24/06/2025

(4) Ocado.com search data: 27/11/2023-27/11/2024 vs 27/11/2024-27/11/2025

(5) Ocado.com sales data: 28/10/2024-24/11/2024 vs 27/10/2025-23/11/2025

(6) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(7) Ocado.com search data 29/09/2025 – 05/10/2025 vs 22/09/2025 – 28/09/2025

(8) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(9) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(10) Ocado.com search and sales data: 19/06/2024 vs 19/06/2024 – 19/06/2025

(11) Research among a nationally representative survey of 2126 UK adults, conducted by Savanta in May 2025.

(12) Ocado.com search and sales data: 19/06/2024 vs 19/06/2024 – 19/06/2025

(13) Ocado.com search data: 11/10/2024 – 11/11/2024 vs 11/10/2025 – 11/11/2025

(14) Ocado.com search data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(15) Ocado.com search data: 03/12/2023-03/12/2024 vs 03/12/2024-03/12/2025

(16) Ocado.com sales data: 04/12/2023-01/12/2024 vs 02/12/2024-30/11/2025

(17) Ocado.com sales data: 06/11/2023-06/11/2024 vs 06/11/2024-06/11/2025

(18) Ocado.com sales data: 28/11/2023-28/11/2024 vs 28/11/2024-28/11/2025