BIOFACH trend overview: five responses to current consumer needs

Current market research, like Mintel’s Global Food and Drink Trends 2025 underline this organic food trend. Consumers are increasingly willing to question learned health dogmas. They are comfortable with their day-to-day habits, even if these are not always perfect. Instead of proselytising, brands should pick up on this attitude: Those who offer products with unusual textures, surprising flavours, or emotional added value are seen as relevant and empathetic.

BIOFACH trend Culinary Ease, where quick meals meet high quality

High-quality organic foods are extremely popular, even when speed is of the essence. This is what the organic food trend Culinary Ease is all about. In their hectic everyday lives, people are increasingly resorting to quick, uncomplicated meals but don’t want to forego good organic quality. There’s a demand for products that satisfy hunger and taste delicious while giving you a good feeling.

Bauck – the manufacturer of the BIOFACH trend product VeggieMix Kofta Couscous – shows how the segment is evolving. Meike Sültemeier, Head of Product Management, describes the shift: “We realize that when it comes to convenience products, consumers now expect far more than just ‘quick and easy’.” Although practicality and saving time are still key requirements: “At the same time there are growing expectations about quality, health, transparency and organic ingredients.”

Julius Palm, Deputy Managing Director of followfood – the manufacturer of the BIOFACH trend product Cheesy+Creamy Carbonara Style Noodles, stresses that the growing demand for fast but high-quality products needs to be considered strategically: “We want to bring sustainable foodstuffs to a wider public, so we have to ask ourselves who and what that wider public is. The ongoing trend towards convenience and snackification continues.” The company’s response is to rethink existing product categories to make them consistently organic and sustainable. “We want to provide better alternatives, so that we combine pleasurable eating with a good conscience in the wider community as well.”

BIOFACH trend Cheers to Every Moment brings fresh inspiration to the organic drinks offering

With its aperitifs, pick-me-ups or healthy thirst quenchers, the organic beverage segment is more diverse and innovative than ever. The organic food trend Cheers to Every Moment has the right drink for every occasion: alcohol-free, low-alcohol or fermented, but always with a special twist.

The young company Kollektiv IV, which offers a conscious alternative to the traditional spritz with its BIOFACH trend product Røsabel Rosé Aperitivo, is driven by a similar mission. As co-founder Johannes Schubert emphasises: “With the Røsabel Rosé Aperitivo we wanted to create an authentic organic aperitif as a contrast to the large, established, conventional brands.” It is based on organic German wine obtained directly from the wineries. “An alternative to Aperol spritzes can therefore also be based on organic wine straight from the growers. Not only can it taste better; it is also more sustainable.”

Neumarkter Lammsbräu shows that community-driven product development can also work in the beverage segment. CEO Johannes Ehrnsperger tells of his company’s interactive campaign ‘Mix your thing!’ “Our fans really can get involved in creating our mixes.” More than 5,300 lemonade creations were submitted during the campaign. The result is this year’s BIOFACH trend product: “In the subsequent ‘vote for your favourite’ process, the now Mate Granate came out on top as the fan favourite.” Combined with high-quality pomegranate juice, a fruity variation of the Latin American classic emerged that was completely in line with the community’s tastes.

BIOFACH trend Functional Finesse as a response to individual nutritional needs

Functional foodstuffs are enjoying a resurgence, as reflected in the organic food trend Functional Finesse. More and more consumers are interested in products that offer added health benefits over and beyond the usual nutritional value, whether through added protein, fermented ingredients, or special active ingredients like mushroom extracts.

The trend towards functionality goes hand in hand with a desire for information. According to the Mintel Global Food and Drink Trends 2025 survey, consumers want clearly identifiable, reliable information about the health benefits of foods. Products that clearly communicate their ingredients and efficacy create trust, and this can be done, for example, by providing details about protein content, fibre, vitamins or minerals.

This also resonates with the brands represented at BIOFACH: “We are seeing a growing awareness about nutrition, especially in respect of origin, natural ingredients, and added health benefits,” says Renate Ladner, CEO and co-founder of LivQ Fermentationsprodukte, the manufacturer of the trend product Morgen Ritual (morning ritual). There’s a demand for products that are simple, honest and suitable for daily use. “Our aim was to develop a product that lets you start your day in a pleasant and uncomplicated way – in terms of its use and how it tastes,” explains Ladner. The focus is on natural ingredients, quality, and a mild formulation – “without exaggerated promises.”

BIOFACH trend Vegan en vogue: why vegan organic products are no longer just a substitute

A vegan diet has evolved into an expression of a new culinary identity. The organic food trend Vegan en vogue is proof of how vegan organic products are evolving from a substitute product to an enjoyable food category in their own right. The focus now is on creative recipes, high-quality ingredients and a range of flavours – without any animal-derived ingredients but with exacting standards of quality, naturalness and sensory sophistication.

Market data also confirms the importance of this segment: According to the German Nutrition Report 2024 from the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, 39 percent of people in Germany regularly eat alternative foodstuffs – 10 percent more than in 2020. In the same period, the proportion of those who opt for vegetarian or vegan alternatives to animal-based products daily doubled, from 5 to 10 percent. In this context, it’s also interesting to look at their motivations. According to the report, curiosity has been the biggest driver for trying vegan products for years now (69%). This is followed by taste (64%), animal welfare (63%) and climate and environmental aspects (60%). For some time now, therefore, the market has no longer been defined purely by ideology, and it is becoming increasingly important to enjoy the food on offer.

This is also reflected in the product development of international brands. “Consumers are increasingly seeking vegan products that don’t compromise on flavour—they want bold, satisfying taste experiences but along with clean, transparent recipes,” explains Tünde Udvardy, Export Manager at Biopont – the manufacturer of the trend product Millet balls with BBQ flavour. There is currently a particular demand for cheese-flavoured vegan snacks. “People look for indulgent, familiar tastes in plant-based form.”

Noa van Tuinen, Marketing Manager at Brinkers Food, the manufacturer of the trend product La Vida Vegan Pistachio Cream, has witnessed this shift: “We are seeing that consumers increasingly expect more than just plant-based credentials – the flavour and overall product experience are just as important.” Alongside intensive aromas, creamier textures and novel flavour combinations are also more in demand. “Vegan products are expected to deliver the same level of enjoyment as conventional ones.”

This development is also confirmed by the current German Food Report 2025: The trend is moving away from mere imitation to plant-based innovation in its own right. Alternative protein products are increasingly evolving into new food categories with their own characteristics, based on ingredients like mushrooms or algae.

Vegan en vogue therefore means more than just “no animal products”. This organic food trend represents a new quality of plant-based products that exude confidence, create their own pleasurable food landscapes, and thus reach new target groups.

Looking ahead to the 2026 BIOFACH Trends 2026: what the organic food sector can expect

The BIOFACH Trends 2026 will be published at the start of the year to coincide with the trade fair and provide guidance for all those who want to help shape the future of the organic market. At the venue in Nuremberg, these trends can then be discovered during trend-themed guided tours and a panel discussion with the trend jury. In this way, visitors can gain direct insights into the key developments and driving forces in the organic food sector.

Footnotes:

¹ The members of the 2025 trend jury were Karin Heinze, founder of BiO Reporter International, Julian Stock, Chair of the GOOD FOOD COLLECTIVE and Head of Sustainability at BLOOD Actvertising, Anne Baumann, CEO of the Association of Organic Food Producers (AöL), Fabian Breisinger, owner of All Organic Treasures, and Mirja Eckert, owner of the market and trend research consultancy THE NEW.

² With Industry Trends, the jury also identifies overarching issues reflecting the key dynamics, developments and challenges in the organic sector. The BIOFACH Industry Trends in 2025 are:
We, Myself and I – organic brands need to credibly combine flavour, price-consciousness and sustainability.
Next-level Plant-based – plant-based organic food needs new and creative approaches to successful combine a focus on health, superior taste and a unique product profile.