Shoppers are asking more of every aisle. They’re reading labels harder, gathering in new ways, treating convenience as a given, and chasing protein wherever they can find it. These are the forces reshaping consumer demand this quarter, and the insights below break down how each one is playing out across your departments.
This quarter’s insights get you ahead of it all, and set the stage for what we’ll dig into live at Future of Fresh Bakery LIVE Ep. 12: The Casual Gathering Handbook.
Shoppers have a “less is more” mindset, and it’s showing up on the label. 23% of ISB shoppers say they’ve paid closer attention to ingredients over the past year.3 Colorful, seasonal, and kid-friendly bakery items are the most exposed to reformulation pressure.
PRO-TIP:
Bakeries that successfully switch to natural colors can market “no artificial colors” as a clean-label win. Start with seasonal and kid-friendly SKUs. They carry the highest artificial color usage, and the highest risk.
Rich’s surveyed 1,000+ consumers on how they’re gathering today, and pizza keeps coming out on top, appearing in the top 3 across nearly every occasion. Whether it’s a BBQ or a watch party, shoppers want food that’s easy to share and simple to say yes to.
PRO-TIP:
Bundle pizza with the occasions shoppers are already planning for. Think salty snacks, hot apps, charcuterie trays, and a sweet finish like cookies or ice cream cake.
Friday is undisputed pizza night, driven by end-of-week routines, family dinners, and social plans. Saturday and Sunday stay strong too, giving retailers a three-day window to lean into pizza-forward merchandising.5
PRO-TIP:
Build weekend bundles around Friday’s peak: salty snacks, hot appetizers, charcuterie, cookies, donuts, and ice cream cakes all pair naturally with pizza night.
Snack decisions are being driven by ease, not novelty for its own sake. Convenience claims are now table stakes on new launches. The opportunity is layering in bold, globally-inspired flavor on top of that convenience.
PRO-TIP:
Lead with convenience (microwaveable, quick-cook, easy prep), then stand out with globally-inspired flavor like buffalo, street-food, or spicy formats.
Consumers are eating more seafood for its protein and nutrient benefits, but perception hasn’t caught up: shoppers still see beef and chicken as the higher-protein choice, even when fish/shellfish compare favorably.
PRO-TIP:
Don’t let seafood’s protein story go untold. On-pack and in-case messaging that calls out protein content directly can shift perception and drive trial.
From clean-label pressure reshaping in-store bakery to pizza’s hold on the modern gathering, from snack convenience to seafood’s untapped protein story, Q3 2026 is full of clear signals for retailers ready to act. The data tells you where shoppers are headed. Your assortment, your messaging, and your case are how you meet them there.
Want help putting these insights to work?
Rich’s surveyed over 1,000 consumers on how they gather today, and the results point to real opportunity. Casual get-togethers and backyard gatherings are the most common occasions, and pizza shows up as a top-3 entrée choice across nearly every one of them.
In this episode, Bill & Emily, with the help of bakery tech Beth Kohl and social media guru Erica Keller, will unpack what’s driving modern gatherings, how to bundle around them, and what it means for your case this fall.
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1 -Rich’s 2026 Megatrends; FMI, 2025
2 – Mintel GNPD, May 2020–April 2025
3 – Mintel – US In-Store Bakery, 2026
4 – Report Pro: Pantry Priorities & Plate Disruptors, May 2026
5 – Scintilla and Datassential consumer data, May 2026
6 – Mintel, February 2026
7 – Mintel – Fish and Shellfish, December 2025
Social Gathering Insights
THE NEW RULES OF GETTING TOGETHER.