With Spring officially here and warmer climes on the horizon (at last!), it can only mean one thing… our seasonwatching Winter trends roundup is now live on the hub!
So make yourself a hot cuppa (because let's face it, there's still a chill in the air!) and check out our Winter 2026 report where we deep dive into all the ingredients, flavours, techniques and formats that have made an impact this year.
Here are three key takeouts from our report:
- Nouvelle Nostalgia: Comfort and nostalgia often go hand-in-hand, especially during the winter when cold-weather comfort becomes a primary objective. And this year cooks, really stepped things up a notch. Classic British, French and Italian comfort dishes have been reimagined with fun contemporary twists; whilst 'all things Americana' influenced everything from high end pastry to homegrown TikTok hacks. And don't forget breakfast! Perhaps the most comfort-aligned of all meal occasions, it now extends into all-day options that riff on familiar formulae. From posh tater tots to grown-up toasties, 'newstalgia' dominates the season and we're SO here for it!
- Hot Cocktails: Bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "winter warmer," hot cocktails have been making a mark across the bar and foodservice sectors. From Mesoamerican atole -inspired sips to flaming toddies and eggnog coupes - if the liquid itself doesn't warm you, the alcohol content surely will! Hot buttered rum ponche, anyone?
- Wafu Mk.2: 'Wafu', meaning "Japanese-way", and 'Itameshi' both refer to a style of cuisine that sees Italian foods prepared with a distinctively Japanese twist. Originating in Japan, both styles have been embraced through a spate of winter restaurant openings across the US, Australia and the UK, serving up umami-rich, predominantly noodle-based dishes like udon carbonara and 'tiramisu-miso' to an appreciative audience.
Looking for more report insights?
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