FETA

The UK Greek food scene has moved from old-school taverna style to cutting-edge elevated Greek food, with places like Oma, PYRO, Myrtos and Bottarga all opening in the last two years.

This new wave is opening people's eyes to Greek provenance, regionality and quality. One cheese in the spotlight is feta, a well-known cheese currently moving away from cheap "Greek-style" appropriations into the more premium end of the supermarket.

But what's even more interesting is the 100% sheep or 100% sheep & goat feta products hitting the shelves that reference traditional recipes and techniques.

These references demonstrate the consumer's desire for sincere product stories. We expect to see more product launches that move further into Greek diversity.

Look out for Tirokafteri (Spicy Feta Dip) and feta's cousins Manouri and Galomizithra, currently appearing on menus across the UK.

WHIPPED

Whipped cheeses are another recent phenomenon that has gone from restaurant menus to supermarkets to people's homes in the last few years.

Whipped feta kicked off this craze, but chefs are now whipping all manner of other cheeses; burrata, ricotta, labneh and cottage cheese.

On that point, we were really interested to see the amount of whipped ricotta on menus.

By whipping this usually overlooked cheese, chefs elevate it to the restaurant level and create centrepiece small-plate dishes - adding chef-led embellishments such as Calabrian hot honey, bee pollen, and citrus.

With 'restaurants at home' a key trend in retail, retailers have been quick to jump on the whipped cheese trend, offering their consumers easy versions of these restaurant's dishes.

We've seen small plate-style whipped feta and labneh in retail; next, brands will add value through more elevated flavours, toppings, and whipped ricotta products.

As consumers continue to seek new, meaningful ways to elevate their everyday experiences, the food and drink sectors are responding with innovative solutions that blend quality, sustainability, and indulgence. From hyper-local ingredients to premium at-home dining experiences, these emerging trends highlight an exciting shift in how we approach food and drink. As these trends develop, they will shape the landscape of the industry, offering new opportunities for brands to engage with consumers seeking authenticity and indulgence in every bite and sip.