Key trends shaping opportunities in the food and beverage sector 2025
Coinciding with the fourth annual Food and Beverage Finance Summit, University College Cork, AIB, Goodbody, A&L Goodbody, and KPMG have combined to produce; Key Trends Shaping Opportunities in the Food and Beverage Sector.
The publication opens with an overview of the macroeconomic environment shaping the food and beverage (F&B) sector in 2025. This contextual foundation outlines key global and regional economic indicators, including inflation trends, consumer spending patterns, supply chain conditions, and emerging technologies, all influencing business operations and strategic planning in the sector. Building on this backdrop, the report delves into the major trends and insights drawn from a targeted executive survey conducted in April 2025. The survey, which gathered responses from senior leaders within the F&B industry, specifically those who had previously attended the Food and Beverage Finance Summit, provides a timely snapshot of industry sentiment and strategic priorities.
Executives identified several key opportunities for their businesses in 2025, including:
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The broad economic growth
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Consumer trends toward health and sustainability
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The integration of artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement.
On the other hand, the most pressing threats cited included:
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The continued cost of doing business
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Geo-politics, and potential tariffs
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Disruption in global supply chains.
These themes are examined in depth throughout the report, with insights supported by both qualitative responses and quantitative data. In addition, the survey explored broader market sentiment, revealing how optimistic or cautious companies are about growth prospects in the year ahead. It also investigated plans for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a means to drive competitiveness and resilience. The findings offer a comprehensive view of how F&B companies are navigating a complex and rapidly evolving landscape in 2025.