Kerry unveils 2026 Global Taste Charts with data-driven flavour predictions for food manufacturers
Kerry, the Dublin-based global leader in taste and nutrition, has released its 2026 Global Taste Charts, providing food and beverage manufacturers with comprehensive flavour intelligence derived from extensive consumer research and product launch data. The annual report, unveiled on 14 January 2026, identifies dominant, emerging and accelerating flavour profiles across eight product categories, offering manufacturers actionable insights for product development.
The 2026 edition represents a significant expansion from previous years, increasing category coverage from six to eight segments. These now encompass refreshing beverages, alcohol and alcohol-inspired beverages, tea, coffee and cocoa, savoury snacks, sweet products, soups, sauces and dressings, meat and meals, and supplements.
Methodology underpinning flavour predictions
Kerry’s insights team analysed hundreds of thousands of products and examined data points spanning menu trends to social media conversations. The research draws upon the expertise of over 1,200 scientists, 100 flavourists, 70 food-craft experts and more than 250 marketing and insights specialists working in collaboration.
The Taste Charts employ a three-tier lifecycle classification system. “What’s Now” identifies dominant flavours representing the top 20 largest flavours over the past five years. “What’s New” highlights trending flavours showing the fastest growth over the past year. “What’s Next” forecasts future flavours predicted to gain momentum in the next 12 months. This methodology enables manufacturers to position products across different stages of flavour adoption.
Dragon fruit emerges as breakout global flavour
Among the most significant findings is the trajectory of dragon fruit, which Kerry first predicted in its 2017 Taste Charts. The fruit has demonstrated a 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in new product launches from 2020 to 2025, with beverage launches increasing from 73 in 2020 to 170 in 2025.
The data indicates that over half of all dragon fruit flavour launches occur within the refreshing beverages category, attributed to its mild, subtly sweet profile. However, the flavour is expanding into confectionery and alcoholic formats. Consumer interest and product launches for dragon fruit and pitaya consistently peak during summer months, with beverages leading category adoption.
Regional analysis shows Latin America, particularly Brazil and the Andean region, at the forefront of dragon fruit innovation. The trend is now expanding into European and North American markets, with the flavour appearing in hot drinks in Latin America, sweet categories in Asia-Pacific and Australia, and beverages across Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council states and North America.
Korean and Asian flavour profiles accelerate in Western markets
The charts document rapid cross-cultural flavour exchange, with Korean profiles demonstrating particular momentum. Gochujang launches in the USA have grown 120% over the past 12 months. Bulgogi has progressed from an emerging flavour in 2025 to become the fourth fastest-growing flavour in the 2026 Meat & Meals chart, showing 1,700% year-on-year growth with 27 new product launches and 33% proliferation across global markets.
In the European meat and meals category, Korean Gochujang ranks as the second fastest-growing flavour, whilst Korean Kimchi, Korean Barbecue and Korean Bibimbap all feature in the trending and future flavour listings. Sichuan peppercorns are moving beyond specialist Asian retail channels to influence mainstream condiments across Europe.
The “Swicy” trend, combining sweet and spicy flavour profiles, continues to develop. Hot Honey appears in both the savoury snacks and soups, sauces and dressings categories as a trending flavour, whilst Sweet & Spicy ranks as the second fastest-growing flavour in the European savoury snacks segment.
Cheese flavour profiles shift toward premium varieties
Kerry’s analysis maps 31 specific cheese varieties across global markets, revealing a consumer shift toward heritage-rich profiles. The data shows 68% of consumers indicate cheese flavours bring comfort with excitement to savoury snacks.
In the European savoury snacks category, Manchego cheese shows 500% year-on-year growth with eight new product launches, whilst Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino feature as future flavours. Regional variations are pronounced: North American markets show Pepper Jack and Gouda emerging alongside dominant Cheddar, whilst European markets indicate Manchego and Romano gaining traction.
Category-specific findings for European markets
The refreshing beverages category shows Apple, Orange, Lemon, Mango and Strawberry as dominant flavours. Black Cherry leads trending flavours with Nectarine showing 300% year-on-year growth. Future flavours include Apricot, Apple Cider Vinegar, Baobab, Mangosteen and Nata De Coco.
In tea, coffee and cocoa, Coffee and Pumpkin Spice maintain dominance whilst Bergamot Orange, Brownie, Maple, Nougat and Marzipan show fastest growth. Cherry Blossom demonstrates 600% year-on-year growth. Ube, the purple yam originating from the Philippines, appears as a predicted future flavour alongside Peanut, Plantain, Hojicha and Chicory.
The sweet category identifies Miso as a future flavour with 300% year-on-year growth, joining Chantilly Cream, Key Lime Pie, Prosecco Wine and Salted Licorice. Cream combinations dominate trending flavours, with Vanilla & Cream, Coconut & Cream and Orange & Cream leading the category. Orange & Cream shows 900% year-on-year growth.
For soups, sauces and dressings, Gherkin, Ponzu, Buffalo Sauce, Fenugreek and Feta Cheese represent fastest-growing flavours. Chilli & Lime shows 800% year-on-year growth. Future flavours include Thai Basil Pesto, Brown Butter, Date Tamarind Chutney, Pistou and Toum, the Lebanese garlic sauce.
Digital platform enables rapid sample access
The 2026 Taste Charts are now integrated with KerryNow™, a digital platform that enables manufacturers to order samples of trending flavours directly. The platform provides access to product details and technical documentation for flavour selection.
Leigh-Anne Vaughan, VP of Product Technologies at Kerry, stated: “The food and beverage landscape is evolving at a breathtaking pace, and manufacturers are under more pressure than ever to meet the changing needs of today’s consumers. Brands cannot afford to simply react; they must anticipate and innovate at pace.”
Vaughan explained the development rationale: “We challenged ourselves this year to truly walk in the shoes of our customers, designing the new Taste Charts digital platform, powered by KerryNow, to allow them to unlock smarter, faster and more radical innovation. We want manufacturers to feel empowered and confident that their flavour decisions will engage target consumers.”
The integration aims to accelerate product development timelines. “By making product information and samples available instantly, we are not just providing a roadmap for innovation—we are providing the fuel to get there faster,” Vaughan added.
Industry implications
The 2026 Taste Charts provide food manufacturers with quantified data to support new product development decisions. The lifecycle classification system offers guidance on flavour positioning, enabling manufacturers to differentiate between established mainstream flavours suitable for reformulation, trending flavours for near-term launches, and emerging flavours for longer-term innovation pipelines.
The regional analysis across 13 global markets, including North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, allows multinational manufacturers to tailor flavour strategies to specific geographic consumer preferences. The cheese evolution data, for instance, shows distinct regional trajectories that would require different product approaches across markets.
Kerry positions itself as partnering with manufacturers to bring science-backed innovation and food-craft expertise to product development, with all flavours featured in the charts available as samples through the KerryNow platform.
- For more information, visit: https://explore.kerry.com/taste-charts-2026.html
- Download the report: Taste Chart 2026 – Future Ready (Kerry, Europe)
