Social commerce is a force to reckon with in food and drink, 30% of social media users having bought these products on said platforms. Higher uptake among 16-34s points to…
UK
Food
Drinks
simple
UK Food and Drink Influences Consumer Report 2026
"Social media gains importance for harnessing consumers' love of food and drink content, social commerce offers novel scope to translate this to purchase."
Social commerce is a force to reckon with in food and drink, 30% of social media users having bought these products on said platforms. Higher uptake among 16-34s points to this channel gaining share across the population in the longer term.
New HFSS advertising regulations coming into force in 2026 will have mixed effects, as the presence of compliant products varies widely. Brands’ own social media presence gains focus, being exempt from the restrictions.
Consumers’ love of food and drink content for entertainment continues to offer a powerful touchpoint for brands to forge emotional connections with shoppers.
AI stands to starkly disrupt product discovery and purchase, with uptake of AI research tools already widespread and given strong consumer desire for streamlining shopping.
This report looks at the following areas:
Important factors when buying food and drink, including the leading role of good taste and its interplay with cost
The appeal of novelty in food and drink, particularly among younger adults, and routes for brands and retailers to tap into this
Consumers’ love of food and drink entertainment content, and of posting about food and drink, and the opportunities for brands in light of changing HFSS regulations
Uptake of social commerce in food and drink and the desire to automate shopping
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Opportunities
Novelty can unlock spend, but relevance is crucial
Tap food and drinks’ role as entertainment
Social commerce demands attention
THE MARKET
Rising costs put the focus on price in 2025
Graph 1: PPI and CPI for food, 2020-25
Low cost isn’t consumers’ top priority despite caution
Online and convenience will gain in grocery retail
Changing grocery retail landscape shapes product discovery and access
Social media and AI evolution disrupt product discovery
Social media and AI evolution disrupt discovery
Restrictions on HFSS food and drink limit visibility
THE CONSUMER
Taste, cost and nutrition lead in food and drink choices
Taste leads in food and drink choices
Good taste is non-negotiable, even for those under financial strain
Ample opportunities for added value
Explore targeted promotions enabled by technological advances
The desire for novelty
Highlight new experiences
Newness delights, especially younger adults
Spotlight new products to reap the benefits of NPD
Ensure relevance to ingrained needs to unlock desire for newness
Target new audiences to benefit from love of novelty
Look to online channels to spearhead personalised discovery
Embrace new technology to disrupt shopper journey at point of decision
Tap food and drinks’ role as entertainment
Social media is crucial to tap Brits’ enjoyment and sharing of food/drink content
Social media is increasingly key to tap powerful enjoyment in food/drink content
Brands’ own social media presence becomes crucial in 2026
Harness under-35s’ love of posting about food/drink
Embrace social commerce
Social commerce demands attention
Social commerce is widely used and expected
TikTok Shop attracts big players
Unlock value beyond revenue on social commerce
Automation will reshape shopper journey
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
NPD shifts from new products to new varieties
Graph 2: food and drink launches, by launch type, 2015-25
Behind-the-scenes reformulation abounds
Seasonal, limited edition and cobranded launches seek to offer novelty and create buzz
Leading grocers develop in-store media
Personalised prices and prompts evolve
TV tops ad spend; outdoor and social grow
Graph 3: food and drink above-the-line online display, direct mail and social media advertising expenditure, by media type, 2022-25
Brand building and confectionery & snacks lead ad spend
Graph 4: food and drink above-the-line online display, direct mail and social media advertising expenditure, by category, 2022-25
APPENDIX
Report scope
The market
Categories in scope of HFSS regulations
Nutrient profiling model in HFSS regulations
Media in scope of HFSS advertising regulations
UK financial confidence and wellbeing indices
Graph 5: financial confidence and wellbeing indices, 2019-25
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
UK generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
Abbreviations
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