Appetite for Change: Reflections from Waitrose & Partners’ Inspire 2026/27

Consumer appetites don’t shift in isolation. They’re shaped by the same forces that are reshaping the food system itself – geopolitical instability, environmental pressures, cultural exchange and now, the rapid uptake of GLP-1 medicines. What happens on supermarket shelves is inseparable from the bigger picture. 

At our FFM member, Waitrose & Partners’ Inspire – Annual Food & Drink Trends 2026/27, hosted by Emilie Wolfman and her team, this interconnected reality was laid bare. The day brought together suppliers, brands, NPD and innovation teams - the people building the products of tomorrow - to explore the macro trends and emerging signals shaping food and drink. From shifting flavours and formats to the rise of fusion and third-culture cooking, the programme reflected a sector alive with creativity but also alert to disruption. 

That tension - between celebration and uncertainty - framed Louis Bedwell’s keynote. While much of the day looked at trends, Louis pointed to something deeper: the systemic shift emerging from GLP-1s and other weight-loss medicines. Early signs are already visible. Sweet snacks are down 6.1%. Salty snacks are down 1.2%. Chocolate and crisps are hardest hit. 

But this isn’t simply another “trend.” It’s a force reshaping the relationship between consumers and food. And that means it demands more than incremental reformulation - it calls for whole-system thinking. For retailers, suppliers and brands, the question isn’t only “what products should we adapt?” but “how should our operations, teams and strategies evolve to meet a new era of appetite?” 

The GLP-1 market is moving fast, hard to pin down and impossible to ignore. At FFM, we don’t just observe these shifts – we interpret them. By combining our expertise with the reach of our network, we’re able to surface insights that cut through the noise and reveal what really matters for food and drink businesses. 

And that’s where we can help. Our insight sessions are designed to give your teams the foresight and strategic clarity needed to respond with confidence – not only navigating this new era of appetite but understanding how to thrive within it.  

Because in the end, the future of food and drink will not be defined by isolated risks or siloed categories. It will be shaped by the ability to see the connections, anticipate systemic change and turn disruption into opportunity. 

Book an Appetite for Change session for your business 

Future Food Movement delivers tailored insight briefings and strategic workshops that cut through noise, sharpen decisions and equip your teams to act with confidence. If you’d like to explore how GLP-1s, shifting consumer appetites and wider system pressures will impact your categories and strategy, get in touch: louis.bedwell@veris-strategies.co.uk