Natural & Organic Trends for 2027 in Food & Beverages

Natural & Organic Trends for 2027 in Food & Beverages –  Keynote Seminar Presentation

2027 Global Trends Presentation from the Natural & Organic Food Show at the London Food & Drink Festival in London, England, September 16, 2026
By Mary Allen, Founder & President, Natural Brand Works, LLC

What a couple of days at the Natural & Organic Food Show, part of the inaugural London Food & Drink Festival at ExCeL London. It was a real pleasure to reconnect with longstanding friends and colleagues, meet so many new people, and see the energy and creativity across natural, organic, plant-based, free-from, artisan food and beverage.

The festival brought several trade events together under one roof, creating a useful cross-section of retail, hospitality, foodservice and brand innovation. The Natural & Organic Food Show itself remains an important meeting point for buyers, distributors, retailers and emerging brands in the sector.

I was also delighted to share my 10 Global Trends in Natural & Organic Food & Beverage for 2027. These are not simply product trends; they reflect what consumers expect from food and drink: more clarity, more nutritional value, more genuine trust and, importantly, more enjoyment.

Identifying the trends for 2027

This presentation draws on my ongoing market research, international travel, trade-show and retail-store visits, and conversations with brands, buyers, distributors, and industry colleagues.

Over the past year, my research has included:

• Natural Products Expo West, Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, SOHO Health Show in the United States.
• Canadian Health Food Association and SIAL Canada.
• Natural & Organic Products Expo in London and the Nordic Organic Food Fair.
• Regular store and supermarket visits in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.
• Reviewing emerging and existing brands, new product launches, category development, packaging, ingredients and claims across natural, organic, specialty and mainstream retail.
• Conversations with founders, retailers, buyers, distributors, importers and other industry leaders about what is gaining traction now—and where demand is likely to develop next.

Together, these experiences provide a practical view of the signals appearing across markets: what is showing up repeatedly in new products, on packaging, what retailers are testing, what consumers are beginning to expect and which ideas are moving beyond niche status toward broader commercial relevance.

The 2027 trends are intended to help food and beverage brands, retailers, and industry partners interpret those early signals and translate them into stronger innovation, clearer positioning, and more relevant products.

The trends for 2027 that I am observing in natural & organic food and beverages include:

1. Trust Reset: Less Processed, More Transparent

Consumers are becoming more discerning about how their food is made. They are looking for shorter, recognizable ingredient lists; clearer sourcing; and brands that can explain both what is in a product and why it is there. Transparency is increasingly the strongest trust signal. Look for certification in Non-UPF, Regenerative Organic, Soil Association and more ways to see trust.

2. Protein Is the Standard

Protein is no longer a specialist claim or a niche sports-nutrition cue. Across snacks, beverages, breakfast, dairy, plant-based and prepared foods, it has become a baseline expectation. The opportunity now is not simply to add protein, but to deliver meaningful levels from sources consumers recognize and trust.

3. Protein’s Partner: Fiber

Protein has dominated the conversation, but fiber is becoming its essential partner. Fiber brings the wider wellness story: gut health, satiety, regularity, and more balanced plant-forward nutrition. The strongest new products will increasingly pair protein and fiber rather than relying on protein alone.

4. Plants Are Food

The next chapter of plant-based is less about imitation and more about food. Think beans, grains, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and familiar culinary formats. Consumers want plant-forward choices that are delicious, recognizable and nutritionally credible—not necessarily products designed to mimic meat or dairy.

5. The Bean Economy: From Value to Nutrition

Beans and pulses are moving from budget staples to nutrition heroes. They offer accessible plant protein, fiber, affordability, and a strong sustainability story. Expect more innovation in beans across snacks, main meals, dips, flours, drinks, and convenient everyday and premium formats.

View the full 2027 trend presentation:

I’ve included a link to my full presentation, 10 Global Food Trends to Watch in 2027.

What this means for brands

For brands, the common thread is clear: successful innovation in 2027 will need to work harder across taste, nutrition, ingredient integrity, value, and story. A protein claim alone will not be enough. A sustainable ingredient alone will not be enough. Nor will a global flavour profile without genuine relevance or credibility.

The strongest propositions will connect a product’s nutritional role with its culinary appeal and its place in people’s everyday routines.

For retailers and buyers, these trends point toward a more considered natural-and-organic assortment: one that balances functional nutrition with familiar food, encourages discovery while maintaining clarity, and gives consumers choices that feel both exciting and trustworthy.

 

Thank you to everyone who joined the session, stopped to chat, or connected on LinkedIn.