2025 Holiday Food Trends: Shaping the Future of Meals, Drink, and Retail

Every holiday season, Americans gather around tables that reflect more than just what they eat or drink. These moments capture how people are feeling, spending, and connecting. The Holiday Table 2025 Report reveals that these celebrations offer early signals of emerging holiday 2025 trends, from evolving food and beverage choices to shifting shopping behaviors and wellness priorities that will influence consumer life in 2026.  

The holidays act as a powerful test of consumer behavior. It is the time when emotion, indulgence, health priorities, and budgets all come together. 79% are likely to try new food products and 73% are open to trying new beverages during the season. Younger generations are leading this spirit of experimentation, with Gen Z and Millennials especially open to new global flavors, plant-based options, and convenient prepared foods. These weeks become a launchpad for innovation, helping brands see which products and flavors can grow beyond the holidays. 

Beverages continue to play a central role in celebration, yet the culture around them is shifting. 70% believe having alcohol-free options improves socializing during the holidays, and 42% say these options help non-drinkers feel included. Younger generations are leading this charge, with more than half of Gen Z and Millennials likely to include or gift non-alcoholic beverages this year. What people drink has become a reflection of inclusion and identity as much as taste, signaling a broader redefinition of what it means to celebrate together. 

The holidays remain a time of indulgence, but the meaning of indulgence is changing. Consumers are almost evenly split between those who fully embrace treating themselves and those who try to balance enjoyment with healthier choices.

Among households using weight loss medications such as GLP-1 treatments, 72% say their GLP-1 usage will influence what they serve at holiday gatherings. Portion-controlled desserts, low-sugar options, and functional foods are becoming part of how people manage enjoyment and wellness at the same time.

Holiday grocery shopping is becoming a blend of inspiration and efficiency. Shoppers want festive variety, eye-catching displays, and packaging that makes the season feel special, but they also expect a seamless and stress-free experience. Elements like helpful staff, easy checkout, and smooth online ordering now matter as much as holiday sampling or limited-edition products. At the same time, the season opens the door for discovery. While many shoppers continue to reach for trusted brands, they are also drawn to unique flavors, premium offerings, and promotions that make the holidays feel new. This combination of excitement and ease is setting the tone for how consumers will shop year-round.

These retail moments allow shoppers to curate experiences that help them express care and create connection through food, gifts, and shared moments. What happens in the store becomes part of the story they hope to tell around the table. 

The reason food and drink matter so deeply during the holidays is emotional. Three in five consumers say holiday meals bring family and friends together, and many describe their ideal gatherings as joyful, special, and cozy. These moments connect people to love, tradition, and care. In a time when life feels fast and fragmented, consumers are looking for products and experiences that restore that sense of togetherness. 

The holiday table is more than a celebration. It is a reflection of how people want to live, eat, and connect. The 2025 season reveals a culture that is balancing joy with mindfulness, embracing new rituals, and seeking both inspiration and simplicity in how they shop and share. As we look to 2026, the choices made at the table today will shape the food, drink, and retail experiences of tomorrow. 

Explore more findings from The Holiday Table 2025 Report to see how the season’s choices are shaping the year ahead. Connect with our experts today.