Louisville, Kentucky, December 12, 2025
Yum! Brands has published its first Food Trends Report indicating a shift towards personalized dining experiences. Highlights include the growth of solo dining, customization in meals, and the increasing importance of emotional satisfaction in choosing food. Notably, solo dining has increased by 52% since 2021, with a significant appetite for customizable options. These trends illustrate a major transformation in consumer behavior as individuals seek meals that resonate with their personal identity and emotional state.
Louisville, Kentucky – Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, has released its inaugural 2026 Food Trends Report, highlighting significant cultural and consumer shifts in the dining landscape. The report reveals that consumers are increasingly seeking personalized dining experiences, with a notable rise in solo dining and customization preferences.
The Me-Me-Me Economy
The report identifies a trend where consumers are reshaping dining around personal expression and autonomy. Foods traditionally meant for social gatherings are being redesigned for individual consumption, reflecting a shift toward meals that match personal identity and mood. For instance, personal-size pizzas are outperforming with younger consumers, and 31% of custom orders are made within customer groups of two. Solo dining has grown by 52% since 2021, now comprising 47% of quick-service restaurant (QSR) occasions, compared to 31% in 2021. Notably, 68% of solo diners choose not to take advantage of deals, and over half spend $10–$30+ during a visit, indicating a willingness to pay more when dining alone. Additionally, 24% of solo diners are out to satisfy a craving, validating that meals can reflect individual tastes rather than the group’s.
Choice Therapy
In a world that can feel chaotic, consumers are gravitating toward small, sensory decisions that create moments of emotional grounding. Build-your-own boxes and bundles are becoming symbols of control, with concepts that let consumers create their own meals consistently outperforming convenience-led ideas. At Taco Bell, Build Your Own Taco offerings generated 72% positive sentiment. Sauces are also playing a significant role, with consumers saying that sauces are 2.4 times more likely to bring excitement to the everyday compared to other food items. Flavor tweaks, such as adjusting spice levels or adding toppings, are giving consumers a sense of agency. At KFC, 71% of its top-performing menu item tests had specific sauces, reinforcing how influential customizable flavors have become.
Vibe-Mathing
As consumers navigate rising costs and endless choices, they are now approaching food through emotional value rather than just logic. Items that feel uplifting or aesthetically satisfying increasingly impact decisions as much as the price tag, reflecting a shift toward what feels good in the moment. The #1 attribute driving momentum for quick-service restaurant brands is whether a brand “is very cool,” even outranking whether a restaurant has craveable food. People are craving pick-me-ups throughout the week, with 68% of afternoon snack occasions happening on weekdays. Consumers are looking for products that deliver a mood boost, with one in four young consumers (aged 18–29) seeing a trip to QSR as a special occasion. Modern beverages have emerged as low-stakes indulgences with high emotional return, with 43% of specialty beverages purchased standalone without the customer buying any food.
These insights underscore a significant shift in consumer behavior, emphasizing the desire for personalization, control, and emotional satisfaction in dining experiences. Brands that adapt to these trends by offering customizable options and understanding the emotional drivers behind consumer choices are likely to thrive in the evolving market landscape.
FAQ
What is the 2026 Food Trends Report by Yum! Brands?
The 2026 Food Trends Report is Yum! Brands’ inaugural analysis, highlighting cultural and consumer shifts in the dining landscape, emphasizing personalization, solo dining, and customization preferences.
What does the “Me-Me-Me Economy” refer to?
The “Me-Me-Me Economy” refers to consumers reshaping dining around personal expression and autonomy, with foods traditionally meant for social gatherings being redesigned for individual consumption.
How has solo dining changed since 2021?
Solo dining has grown by 52% since 2021, now comprising 47% of quick-service restaurant occasions, compared to 31% in 2021.
What role do sauces play in consumer dining experiences?
Consumers say that sauces are 2.4 times more likely to bring excitement to the everyday compared to other food items, and flavor tweaks, such as adjusting spice levels or adding toppings, are giving consumers a sense of agency.
How are consumers approaching food choices in the current market?
Consumers are approaching food through emotional value rather than just logic, with items that feel uplifting or aesthetically satisfying increasingly impacting decisions as much as the price tag.
Key Features of the 2026 Food Trends Report
| Trend | Description |
|---|---|
| The Me-Me-Me Economy | Consumers are reshaping dining around personal expression and autonomy, with foods traditionally meant for social gatherings being redesigned for individual consumption. |
| Choice Therapy | In a world that can feel chaotic, consumers are gravitating toward small, sensory decisions that create moments of emotional grounding, such as customizable meal options and sauces. |
| Vibe-Mathing | Consumers are approaching food through emotional value rather than just logic, with items that feel uplifting or aesthetically satisfying increasingly impacting decisions as much as the price tag. |
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