Food Manufacturing Industry Themes for the New Year

It’s no overstatement or exaggeration to say that the food manufacturing industry is moving quickly. With new technologies advancing and growing emphasis on practices like safety and sustainability, the food manufacturing industry is moving at a record pace.

What was cutting edge yesterday is standard practice today, and outdated tomorrow. The industry is in a constant state of innovation, as evolving customer preferences and novel technologies spur competition and creativity. As we move into 2025, food industry professionals aren’t just riding waves but predicting where those waves will go. With an expected annual growth rate of 8.7%, experts predict that the food and beverage manufacturing industry is expected to grow to $8.9 trillion before we reach 2026.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve and your competitors in 2025, you need to keep an eye on the trends shaping the market. In this article, M&F Talent explores new food manufacturing industry trends such as upcycling, protein, food safety, and smarter, more streamlined operations.

1. Upcycling and Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore—it’s a necessity.

Consumer demand for eco-friendly products continues to rise, with studies indicating that they’re willing to pay an average of 9.7% more for sustainably produced or sourced goods, even amid cost of living and inflationary increases.

In response, businesses are finding new ways to integrate upcycling into their food manufacturing processes. Upcycling refers to the practice of turning food byproducts into high-value products, helping to significantly reduce food waste. Think spent grains from beer production being turned into protein powders or leftover vegetable scraps transformed into flavorful broths. Examples are popping up everywhere, and in 2025, upcycling will become embedded within the framework of food manufacturing.

The beauty of all this is that upcycling supports the environment and produces a more loyal customer base, but it also brings cost efficiencies. As the Upcycled website explains, “Globally, we lose around $1 trillion USD per year on food that is wasted or lost. Upcycled food captures that value, and leverages it to create a sustainable and resilient food system.”

You can save significant money on waste disposal and gain new revenue streams, making upcycling an excellent choice for your brand and your budget in 2025 and beyond.

2. High Protein Formulations

Protein is experiencing a significant surge in demand, and its prominence is projected to grow even further by 2025. Customers are getting busier and more active than ever before, and they’re searching for high-protein ingredients to fuel their goals.

Whether they’re hitting the gym, switching to plant-based diets, or managing health challenges like diabetes, high-protein products have solidified their place in shopping carts. In fact, studies show that “the worldwide market for protein ingredients is set to grow to over 47.4 billion US dollars by 2032.”

Beyond traditional sources like whey and soy, manufacturers are leaning toward innovative protein sources (though whey and soy will likely continue to be popular in 2025 as well). Consider pea protein revolutionizing dairy-free ice cream, insect protein emerging in energy bars, and single-cell proteins gaining traction in the alternative meat industry.

Food brands that catch this trend early stand to gain market share and consumer loyalty for catering to health-conscious preferences. The key? Continuing to innovate while labeling products transparently to maintain trust.

3. A Return to “Real”

A key trend shaping the food manufacturing landscape for 2025 is a renewed emphasis on real, recognizable ingredients. Consumers are increasingly gravitating away from complex, synthetic additives in favor of natural, straightforward components that align with their desire for transparency and authenticity in food production.

By 2025, the food manufacturing industry is expected to embrace a back-to-basics approach, prioritizing simplicity and authenticity in product formulations. Consumers want food they can

pronounce and ingredients they can visualize, not a science project. Labels like “just five ingredients” or “kitchen-friendly recipes” resonate with shoppers.

Manufacturers are reformulating recipes to focus on heritage ingredients while ensuring products meet modern taste and nutritional value demands. This trend creates opportunities for brands to revive traditional recipes, experiment with artisanal flavors, and market “handcrafted” goods at scale.

4. Food Safety Taking Center Stage

When it comes to food manufacturing, trust is non-negotiable. While food safety has always been a priority, the stakes are higher than ever. Over the past few years, high-profile recalls have heightened public awareness, leaving manufacturers under intense scrutiny.  2024, in particular, saw the highest number of food recalls since 2019.

One of the most high-profile cases of food poisoning in 2024 was an E. coli outbreak at the popular fast food chain McDonald’s. As CNN reports, the company spent “$100 million on marketing and to help franchises most heavily affected by a recent E. coli outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people and damaged sales.”

2025 will bring a wave of stricter food safety standards and increased investment in technology designed to mitigate risks throughout the supply chain. New tools, like blockchain technology, are being implemented to track products from farm to fork to ensure transparency at every production stage. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are helping manufacturers pinpoint and address potential problems before they arise.

These innovations will set a new standard for food safety in 2025, giving consumers peace of mind and companies a competitive edge.

5. Data Utilization and Analytics

As seen in most areas, data and analytics are changing the game in the food manufacturing industry. AI, advanced analytics, and IoT technologies are creating smarter, more efficient production lines by offering new ways to monitor, predict, and enhance food manufacturing at every stage.

For instance, AI-based analytics can predict market demand with eerie precision, helping manufacturers minimize waste and optimize inventory levels. Additionally, machine learning tools identify weak points along the production chain, highlighting inefficiencies or equipment that is likely to fail before it happens.

Other AI innovations empower manufacturers to conduct large-scale recipe testing in half the time, gain deeper insights into changing consumer sentiment, and create new product lines that better align with buyer behavior.

By 2025, data won’t just be an asset, it will be a necessity. Investing in smarter, scalable solutions now will make all the difference tomorrow in the food manufacturing industry.

6. Streamlined Labor

The labor challenges of the past few years have reshaped how food manufacturers think about efficiency. Automation, once considered a nice-to-have, is becoming an essential component of modern production facilities as companies look to streamline processes and make better use of existing resources.

From robotics-powered packaging to autonomous quality testing, automation is helping manufacturers maintain high-quality output with fewer manual interventions. Automation in food manufacturing isn’t solely about replacing workers with machines. By automating repetitive tasks, companies enable their human workforce to focus on higher-value activities, such as creative product development and strategic planning.

A renewed focus will accompany advancements in automation on training programs to help workers upskill and thrive in increasingly tech-driven work environments. The result? A more efficient and satisfied workforce with the tools to keep pace in a competitive market.

Hire Top Talent for 2025 with Mac & Fulton

The food manufacturing industry is moving quickly and 2025 promises to deliver both challenges and opportunities. The businesses that succeed will be those that anticipate trends, invest in forward-thinking initiatives, and embrace new technologies while staying true to consumer needs.

Whether you’re reconfiguring your supply chain to meet sustainability goals or scaling production with AI, Mac & Fulton Talent Partners will help you find talented food manufacturing professionals who can push your business forward.

Contact us to hire top food manufacturing industry talent!