As we approach the holiday season, everyone is starting to look at what the new year will bring us, especially the big food companies. In the past few weeks, Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Bidfood are among the top brands that have started making predictions for what we’ll all be eating in 2025. And it looks like plants will be showing up on people’s plates more than ever before. .

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“This year, we’re especially excited to celebrate how far we’ve come by highlighting trends for 2025 that not only reflect growing consumer preferences, but also push the boundaries of what’s possible for the food world,” Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Head of merchandising and marketing officer at Whole Foods Market, said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing these trends take shape and inspire our customers in the coming year.”

Why plants are growing in popularity

For a number of reasons, more Americans are beginning to look to meatless foods. Many follow one flexitarian approach or simply increasing their intake of plant-based foods. Last year, for example, one report from Supermarket news found that approximately 72 million US households choose both plant and animal products when they shop.

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RELATED: Why Millions of Americans Want to Eat Less Meat and Dairy: Report

It’s no surprise that plant-based foods are growing in popularity. At the beginning of this year, a Mediterranean plant-based diet it was named the number one health diet by US News & World Report for the seventh year in a row. The publication consulted more than 40 experts before publishing its findings.

“The Mediterranean diet focuses on the quality of the diet rather than a single nutrient or food group,” the publication noted. “Numbers of studies have shown that it reduces the risk of chronic health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, while promoting longevity and improving quality of life.”

Cutting back on meat is also good for the planet, of course. Animal agriculture is responsible for about 14.5% of global emissions and is also a major driver of deforestation. An abundance of research confirms that plant-based diets, on the other hand, are much better for the planet. In 2022, a study from the University of Bonn in Germany concluded that Western nations need to reduce their meat consumption by 75% to help the environment.

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“If all people consumed as much meat as Europeans or North Americans, we would certainly miss international climate targets and many ecosystems would collapse,” study author Matin Qaim, professor at the Development Research Center (ZEF) of at the University of Bonn. , said in a statement at the time.

That’s why healthy and sustainable plant-based eating habits will take center stage next year, according to several reports.

What do the big food companies predict for 2025?

According to Bidfood’s Food Trends 2025 report, “proactive practices” will be big next year. The UK grocer points to research which claims almost a quarter of 18-44 year olds will choose where to eat based on green options, while 41% of people said they would pay more for options with low carbon emissions.

“They are looking for more sustainable foods, ingredients and what places are actively doing to support charities and local communities, as well as reduce their emissions,” it notes.

Across the pond in the US, Whole Foods Market agrees that next year consumers will prioritize the environment in their purchases. Alongside trends such as the ‘hydration hype’, which will see an increase in electrolyte water and the growing popularity of tea, it highlights ‘more sustainable sips’ as one of the biggest trends for 2025. These are products such as organic wines , as well as beers and whiskeys, which are made with more regenerative practices or ingredients.

Nutrition and an emphasis on healthy plant-based proteinwill also be on the rise, reports US grocery giant Kroger. “While popular staples such as chicken, yogurt and cottage cheese have staying power, the retailer predicts growing interest in collagen and greater incorporation of plant-based proteins such as beans , lentils and hemp seeds in daily diets,” reads a press release. release.

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Kroger also predicts an increase in gut-healthy fermented ingredients like sauerkraut and kimchi, while Whole Foods Market expects to see an increase in doughs. “During the pandemic, we’ve seen a renaissance of sourdoughs, with home bakers trying their hand at the classic sourdough bread,” reports the grocery chain. “Now we’re seeing this trend move into grocery aisles in both traditional and innovative ways.”

Whole Foods Market also expects to see growth in “plant-based aquatic ingredients” such as seaweed, duckweed and sea ​​moss. “With the continued popularity of seaweed and growing interest in harvesting available aquatic plants for more sustainable sources of protein and nutrients, the tide is turning toward foods made with more sea and freshwater vegetables,” they report.

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Beyond health and planet, most people make their food and drink choices based on taste, of course. And all three food companies expect bold flavors to have a moment in 2025.

Whole Foods Market predicts that the dumplings will be largewith more fusion flavors “and unexpected mash-ups” hitting the market. He also sees a big future in crunchy foods such as crunchy cereals, mushroom chips and dried fruit. Crunch is even declared to be the “texture of the moment”.

Bidfood expects global cuisines such as Greek, Turkish, Argentinian and Portuguese to catch on in the UK, while Kroger predicts the same for the US. In 2025, it is observed that people will seek out spicy foods in particular. “2025 is all about flavor,” it says.

Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.