It’s been a bang-up year here at NFTC. Throughout 2025, we’ve tracked trends far and wide, covering superfoods, sweets, staples, and everything in between.

Heat continues to be top of the charts for consumers. Chillis, peppers, mustard, and other hot or biting ingredients are seeing exceptional momentum, with products quite literally flying off the shelves.

Across centuries, nature has provided ingredients that nourish both body and spirit. Two such botanicals, juniper berries and slippery elm, are experiencing a renaissance among food and wellness brands seeking authentic, functional ingredients with a story to tell.

It’s easy to assume cocoa powder has only one role and one flavour profile. But in reality, cocoa is as versatile and complex as any other staple ingredient in the kitchen.

Onion and garlic are two vital ingredients in the average Australian household, with roughly 200,000 tonnes of onions and 13,000 tonnes of garlic consumed annually. But in this busy world, more than ever, consumers are looking for products that provide greater ease and convenience.

California kicked off last season with a crop estimate of 670,000MT, but the final figure came in noticeably lower at 600,000MT. That shortfall sent prices soaring and completely changed the rhythm of the global market.

For decades, sugar has dominated as the go-to sweetener in both home cooking and food manufacturing. But as consumers grow more conscious about health, sustainability and provenance, natural alternatives are becoming the preferred choice.

In a world where truffle oil, kombucha and exotic superfoods have dominated food headlines, something quietly exciting is happening in kitchens and restaurants.

Onions make us cry, and spinach wilts faster than you can say “healthy greens”,  but in the world of food, these two humble ingredients are absolute essentials.

The health aisle is a haven for "free from" foods - whether looking for gluten free, dairy free, nut free or egg free - holds an abundance of product options for those trying to avoid certain ingredients.

Across Australia, chefs, product developers and food manufacturers are embracing the quiet versatility of grains and seeds. Once considered humble pantry staples, these ingredients are now powering a new generation of menus and products that deliver on health and flavour.

Dried fruit always feature heavily on supermarket shelves each year as a healthy snacking treat. It is the extended shelf life and stability of dried fruit products that make them desirable, providing us with access to seasonal produce 365 days of the year.