Studio H, one of South Africa’s pioneering food design and trend forecasting studios, is set to release their Future Food Report 2026/7 this January. Now in its eighth year, the annual food trends report has become an essential tool for brands, retailers and creatives who want to understand where food and food culture are heading next. Pre-orders are officially open here.
This year’s edition introduces Recess Mode, a new cultural mood shaping the future of how we eat, drink, shop and come together. Built on extensive research, global observation, and Studio H’s blend of forecasting and cultural analysis, Recess Mode captures a shift in how people want to feel in their everyday food lives, and how brands should respond.
All imagery courtesy of Studio H
The 2026/7 report unpacks the major forces reshaping the food world – from the flavours set to define the coming years to the emerging rituals influencing how we gather, eat solo, shop differently, and seek new forms of comfort and creativity. It offers a look at the micro-movements bubbling up globally, the objects and aesthetics shaping our tables, and the behaviours that will influence hospitality, retail, and product development.
Readers can expect insight into:
• What’s quietly rising in flavour, design, ingredients and formats
• How cultural exhaustion is giving way to a new kind of softness and ease
• Where consumers are looking for comfort, surprise, and connection
• How emerging generations will reshape expectations around food and experience
But the details, and the full strategic implications, are reserved for the report itself.
All imagery courtesy of Studio H
As consumers redefine what “good”, “comforting”, “fun”, and “meaningful” food looks like, brands who understand this shift early will be best positioned to build products and experiences that resonate. The 2026/7 report gives organisations the language, direction, and foresight needed to navigate a cultural mood that will influence menus, packaging, retail, hospitality, and brand behaviour for years to come.
Studio H’s Founder and Creative Director, Hannerie Visser, shared “The Future Food Report is Studio H’s way of helping the industry zoom out and see what’s really shifting beneath the surface. It’s about understanding the cultural moods that will shape how people eat, gather, and connect in the years ahead.”
The Future Food Report 2026/7 is available for pre-order now and will begin shipping in January 2026.
Shop the report here
Visit Studio H’s Website here
Press release courtesy of Studio H
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