Key food retail trends in 2025

With the Autumn Budget causing disruption for retailers and online shopping demanding increasing proportions of consumer spend, the world of retail in 2025 is a challenging one – but opportunities are rife, particularly for Speciality Food readers.

While many shoppers are cautious of spending excessively, they are often recognising a holistic value in what they buy. The value of an item isn’t simply a transaction – this product costs this much – it can also incorporate the experience of the purchase, connections and memories made, and the care and investment that went into the production of the items they’re purchasing. 

“Retail in 2025 is defined by cautious yet conscious consumerism,” explains Matt Hopkins, founder of IND!E. “While cost-of-living pressures remain, shoppers are seeking quality over quantity, investing in products that offer authenticity, provenance, and exclusivity.” 

According to Jess Kaye, director at CHILLI (part of IMA), fine food consumers are a valuable audience well worth investing in. “Fine foods are ripe for innovation because their consumers are engaged, early adopters and actively seeking out new,” she begins. “The good news for all of us is that demanding consumers create a market of innovation, and in fine foods this just keeps raising the bar and driving change.”

Invest in your USPs

Key to indie success is making the most of what makes you stand out from the mainstream sphere. Small-scale retailers will never compete with the likes of Amazon and Tesco, so rather than playing them at their own game the opportunity lies in uncovering and maximising your USPs. “Technology is playing a bigger role, but rather than competing with e-commerce giants, independent retailers are leveraging hyper-personalisation, in-store experiences, and community-driven retail to stand out,” says Matt.

It pays to take a step back and assess your arsenal. You might not have the almighty size and power of the retail behemoths, but you have agility and flexibility they can only dream of. “Unlike supermarkets, fine food retailers can respond quickly to trends, season and customer feedback,” explains Matt. Indeed, creating a community by building a bond with your customers can reap long-standing benefits. “A community driven approach creates deep customer loyalty,” he says, “as do knowledgeable staff and tailored recommendations.”

Stock smart

Similarly, don’t downplay the power of product knowledge and smart stocking decisions. By providing a foodie cornucopia for customers to explore, you’ll not only increase customers’ time in-store but build a reputation for doing things differently – and so begins the path to destination status. 

Make it personal

Of course, for a truly bespoke offering nothing beats personalisation. “Personalisation used to be a novelty, but consumers now expect personalised goods and plans: from individualised packs to tailored skincare and health food plans,” says Jess. Small-scale businesses are at the forefront of this – so do check with existing suppliers to see if they can offer a personalisation service – and indie retailers can easily adopt the trend by providing build-your-own hampers (with expert guidance close to hand, of course). “Niche and start-up brands are the winners in this environment, but the next few years will likely see them become the norm, thanks in no small part to AI,” says Jess – so now is the time to act.

Emphasising the quality and holistic value of what you sell is of great importance. “Multiples may be cheaper, but they can’t match the depth of flavour, freshness or craftsmanship found in specialist stores,” says Matt. They also can’t compete on the community front, so smart indies can reap the rewards of their hard-earned connections by “hosting supplier tastings, partnering with local businesses, and using social media to amplify their brand story.”

Matt Hopkins, founder of IND!E, highlights the forces evolving retail this year

1. Experiential retail: Tasting events, chef collaborations, and product storytelling are key to driving footfall and engagement

2. Sustainability-driven spending : Shoppers are scrutinising sourcing, packaging, and ethical credentials more than ever

3. Premiumisation in everyday purchases: Consumers are trading up for small indulgences, making fine food retailers the perfect place to shop for ‘affordable luxuries’

4. Local-first loyalty: The shift towards supporting independent, local businesses continues to grow, especially in the fine food sector