Top Grocery Trends Shaping CPG Brands in 2025–2026: What Retailers Need to Know

Written By George Goodwin

By George Goodwin

The grocery industry is changing faster than ever. Between shifting shopper habits, rising costs, and new digital tools, CPG brands and grocery retailers can’t afford to stand still in 2025–2026. What worked five years ago—or even last year—won’t be enough moving forward. In this guide, we’ll break down the top grocery trends shaping CPG brands in 2025–2026, explain why they matter, and show how retailers can act on them now to stay competitive, profitable, and relevant.

We’ve moved from the "Online Delivery Boom" to the "Inflationary Squeeze," and now, as we look toward late 2025 and into 2026, we are entering the era of The Connected Pantry.

As a 4th generation grocer, I’ve watched trends come and go. But the shifts we are seeing right now aren’t just fads; they are fundamental changes in human behavior. Consumers aren’t just looking for food; they are looking for function, value, and validation from their digital communities.

At Innovar Marketing Agency, we help brands stay ahead of these curves. Here are the top trends shaping the future of Grocery and CPG, and how you can prepare.

Why Grocery Trends Matter More Than Ever

Today’s grocery shoppers are:

  • More price-conscious

  • More health-focused

  • More digitally influenced

  • And less loyal to traditional brands

According to NielsenIQ, over 60% of shoppers say they are more willing to switch brands now than before. That means brands and retailers who adapt quickly win shelf space, attention, and loyalty—while others fall behind.

1. The "Phygital" Loop is Non-Negotiable

We’ve talked about how TikTok is the #1 Growth Engine, but in 2026, the line between "scrolling" and "strolling" will completely vanish.

  • The Trend: Shoppers are entering stores with their phones in hand, not to check a shopping list, but to look up reviews, scan QR codes for recipes, and check social proof in real-time.

  • What You Need to Do: Your physical shelf presence must match your digital persona. If your TikTok says you are "fun and edgy," but your packaging looks like 1990s clip art, you break the trust. Retailers need to embrace Omnichannel merchandising—using digital cues (like "As Seen on TikTok" tags) on physical shelves.

2. The Center Store Renaissance (Shelf-Stable 2.0)

For a decade, we were told "shop the perimeter" (fresh produce, meat, dairy) to be healthy. The center aisles were the "junk food" zones.

That is over. As we discussed in our Shelf-Stable Wellness report, inflation has forced consumers back into the center store—but they refuse to lower their health standards.

  • The Trend: Shoppers want the convenience of a pantry staple with the nutritional profile of fresh food.

  • The Prediction: By 2026, we will see a massive spike in "functional pantry" items—protein-packed pastas, adaptogenic soups, and prebiotic cereals. If you are a CPG brand, stop fighting for fridge space and start innovating for the pantry.

3. Radical Transparency & "Clean" Supply Chains

"Natural" doesn't cut it anymore. That word has lost all meaning. In 2025–2026, consumers are acting like investigators. They want to know the farm, the soil health, and the labor practices.

  • The Trend: Provenance Marketing. Brands that can prove exactly where their ingredients come from (down to the zip code) will win.

  • The Action: Don't hide your supply chain. Make it your marketing. If you source oats from a family farm in Montana, put a picture of the farmer on the box.

4. AI-Driven Personalization (Beyond the Coupon)

We are moving past generic "50 cents off milk" coupons.

  • The Trend: Artificial Intelligence will allow independent grocers to predict what a customer needs before they know they need it.

  • The Reality: Imagine a customer buying diapers. AI should automatically send them a personalized offer for coffee and easy meal kits, knowing they are sleep-deprived parents. This isn't "creepy"; it's helpful. It moves marketing from "interruption" to "service."

"By 2026, 65% of grocery sales will be digitally influenced, meaning the customer decided what to buy online before they ever stepped foot in the store. If you aren't winning the digital battle, you have already lost the physical one." — Innovar Retail Forecast

Key Takeaways for Grocery Retailers (2025–2026)

  • Health-focused CPG brands are no longer optional

  • Social media drives real grocery purchases

  • Private label and small brands are gaining trust

  • Shelf execution directly impacts revenue

  • Data-driven merchandising wins long-term

  • Speed and clarity improve shopper conversion

  • The Pantry is King: Functional, shelf-stable foods are the hottest investment category.

  • Digital Drives Physical: Your social media content is the "entryway" to your physical store.

  • Honesty Wins: In an age of AI and fake news, radical transparency about your product and pricing builds unshakeable loyalty.

FAQs: Grocery Trends & CPG Brands in 2025–2026

Will online grocery delivery keep growing?

Yes, but it is plateauing. The bigger trend is Click-and-Collect (buying online, picking up in-store). It saves the customer on delivery fees and saves the grocer on logistics. Optimize your curbside experience.

How do I handle rising costs without losing customers?

Be transparent. If you have to raise prices, tell your customers why (e.g., "Wheat prices are up, but we refuse to lower our quality"). Customers respect honesty; they hate "Shrinkflation" (sneaky downsizing of packages).

Is "Sustainability" still a priority for shoppers?

Yes, but they are skeptical of "Greenwashing." Focus on tangible changes, like compostable packaging or reducing food waste, rather than vague claims about "saving the planet."

Through better shelf placement, clear pricing, social promotion, and consistent merchandising execution.

What role do scan coordinators and pricing coordinators play?

They ensure price accuracy, tag consistency, and shelf compliance—key drivers of trust and profitability.

How can retailers prepare for 2026?

By investing in better tools, smarter merchandising, stronger digital marketing, and data-backed decision making.

Final Thoughts: Adapt Now or Fall Behind

The grocery industry isn’t slowing down—and neither are shoppers.

Retailers who understand these 2025–2026 grocery trends and act on them now will:

  • Increase sales

  • Improve margins

  • Build shopper loyalty

  • Attract better CPG partners

Those who don’t will struggle to compete.

Future-Proof Your Brand with Innovar

The trends for 2026 are already bubbling up in Southern California. Don't wait until your competitors overtake you. At Innovar Marketing Agency, we combine old-school grocery wisdom with next-gen digital strategy.

If you’re a grocery retailer or CPG brand looking to grow smarter in 2025–2026, Innovar Agency can help.

👉 Visit www.innovaragency.com to learn how we help grocery stores and CPG brands:

  • Increase visibility

  • Improve merchandising execution

  • Win with social and digital marketing

  • Turn trends into real revenue

Let’s future-proof your grocery strategy—starting today.

George Goodwin
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