Appetite for Change: Key Food and Beverage Industry and Technology Trends for North America in 2025

Appetite for Change: Key Food and Beverage Industry and Technology Trends for the UK and Ireland in 2025

Your food and beverage business is likely still grappling with the same persistent but no less significant challenges, including changing consumer demands, data accessibility, limitations of current technology and pressure to adopt the latest advancements.

So as we approach 2025, how can your business rise above these pressures and make progress?

To help you form strategies to stay competitive and fuel growth, we commissioned B2B International to conduct comprehensive research, including a survey of more than 200 senior business leaders. Below, we’ve summarised the key trends identified to whet your palate.

But this is just a taste of our full Food and Beverage Industry Trends and Technology Report. Download the full asset for free when you’re ready.

Trend No. 1: Changing Consumer Demands Is the Biggest External Pressure

In a significant shift from previous years, keeping pace with evolving consumer trends has emerged as the industry's primary external challenge, surpassing other concerns like inflation and supply chain disruption.

A third (33%) of food and beverage companies rate changing consumer preferences as their most significant concern—ranking higher than sustainability, cybersecurity and labour shortages. Correspondingly, improving customer satisfaction has become the top business goal for the year ahead.

This finding highlights the need for your food business to prioritise agile operational processes to keep pace with consumer demands. Sound data visibility and analysis will be crucial for success, as it will allow you to identify the latest trends and capitalise on them.

Trend No. 2: Real-Time Data Access Is the Biggest Internal Focus Area

The ability to easily access and analyse operational data has emerged as the food industry’s key internal concern for 2025, as organisations seek to speed up and improve decision-making.

65% of UK and Ireland food and beverage companies identified obtaining rapid access to performance and efficiency data as their top strategic priority for 2025. To achieve this, many are investing in technology solutions such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and enterprise asset management (EAM) software, and 46% plan to bolster their business intelligence (BI) tools in the next 12-24 months.

Evaluating current data analysis capabilities and identifying where technology investments can drive improved visibility will be pivotal for your food and beverage business’s efforts to make smarter business decisions. Without access to real-time information, you risk falling behind competitors that are able to quickly glean actionable insights from their facts and figures.

Trend No. 3: Cloud Migration Will Accelerate Digital Transformation

In 2025, cloud adoption will be the key to unlocking the next phase of digital transformation in food and beverage operations, with clear financial benefits for those that have already migrated.

Our research found companies using cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) software predict 13.2% revenue growth and 14.4% profit growth in 2024-25, compared to 7.5% revenue growth and 7.9% profit growth for those not using cloud-based systems. Processors are leading this charge, with 72% moving to cloud ERP compared to 41% of manufacturers.

To best accelerate your digital transformation, your organisation should approach cloud migration strategically, focusing first on core systems like ERP to unlock the data-sharing capabilities that enable better, faster decision-making across the entire operation.

Trend No. 4: Industry-Specific Software Can Drive Superior Performance

The choice between vertical and horizontal (or homegrown) technology solutions is increasingly becoming a differentiating factor for businesses in the food and beverage sector, our research has revealed.

Companies using specialised, industry-specific solutions are consistently outperforming those relying on generic solutions, creating a clear competitive advantage. While less than half of companies currently use industry-specific software, those that do generate more revenue than competitors using horizontal solutions across almost every system type.

This food industry trend underscores the importance of evaluating your current tech stack and identifying areas for specialised solutions. Upgrading generic systems for industry-specific food software can address unique challenges like managing inventory by expiration date and supporting compliance with food safety regulations.

Trend No. 5: AI Adoption Is on the Rise and Proving Beneficial

Our research revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) has moved beyond the experimental phase. Food and beverage companies increasingly recognise its potential to automate routine tasks and generate deeper business insights.

The number of companies actively leveraging AI has more than doubled in the past 12 months, with 54% implementing AI and 28% already using AI solutions—up from just 6% at the end of 2023. Task automation (35%) and improved customer insights (33%) are seen as the primary benefits.

However, bear in mind that success with AI requires a strong foundation of high-quality data and robust processes, and the complexity of the technology can still be perceived as a barrier. Your organisation should focus first on optimising core systems before making major AI investments to maximise return on investment.

Develop Your Food and Beverage Technology Strategy for 2025

The five food industry trends we’ve shared paint a clear picture: technology will be a key differentiator for food and beverage companies in 2025 and beyond.

To ensure your organisation is not left behind, you’ll need to invest in industry-specific, cloud-based solutions with strong data analytics capabilities—positioning you to keep pace with changing consumer demands and drive profitable growth.

Now that you’ve had a taste of the future, don’t forget to explore the full 2025 Food and Beverage Industry Trends and Technology Report. To learn more about Aptean and our cutting-edge food and beverage software, contact us or request a personalised demo.