PAGE HEADER


HOW FLAVOR AND CULTURAL SHIFTS WILL INFLUENCE DAIRY, DELI & BAKERY EXPERIENCES IN 2026 (CONT.)


Implications for Dairy, Deli, and Bakery Innovators


For dairy, deli, and bakery developers, 2026 is about creating flavor experiences that address real needs for comfort, self- expression, participation, connection, and increasingly, thoughtful use of technology.


The four flavor experiences gaining momentum in 2026 provide a roadmap for innovation that highlights the importance of the following:


Authenticity and Craft Matter: People want products that feel substantial, rooted, and real. From rustic breads to aged cheeses, highlighting provenance, heritage, and craftsmanship builds credibility and trust.


Occasion-Based Innovation Can Boost Growth: Aligning product design with evolving food moments, like solo indulgence, interactive experimentation, or celebratory gatherings, creates stronger emotional connections than novelty alone.


Balancing Tech with Tradition Offers Reassurance: Framing AI as an enabler of better baking, curing, or dairy production rather than a replacement for human expertise will stand out. Anchoring brand stories in human craft and transparency remains essential.


Format and Packaging Support Flavor Experiences: In categories where packaging and presentation influence experience, structure becomes a key lever. Interactive kits, shareable trays, or single- serve indulgences turn format into part of the flavor story.


Dairy, deli, and bakery live at the intersection of everyday staples and celebratory moments where authenticity, connection, and trust matter most.


Final Thoughts


2026 presents rich opportunities for dairy, deli, and bakery brands willing to think expansively about flavor. Rustic traditions, solo indulgences, interactive formats, and shared celebrations all highlight the various ways people want to experience food. At the same time, the arrival of AI in kitchens and shopping journeys adds both excitement and unease, prompting brands to strike a balance between innovation and reassurance.


Product success resides in taste experiences that feel meaningful and mindful, rooted in craft and culture, with appropriate use of tools that make food fresher, more personal, and more accessible. For categories as deeply woven into daily life as dairy, deli, and bakery, balancing tradition and technology will define which brands earn lasting trust and connection in the year ahead.


About the Author


Lisa Jackson, Director of Marketing at FlavorSum, brings more than 30 years of market and consumer research experience to IDDBA members. She has supported innovation activities for major CPG and private brand organizations by providing insights that help create connections and build brand loyalty. Her goal with this presentation is to help IDDBA members identify relevant and targeted flavor trends in the dairy, deli, and bakery categories.


WHAT’S IN STORE | 2026 © 2026 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association


Industry Landscape


23

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176