NRA Show 2026 did not disappoint. The energy on the floor, the brands showing up with intention, and the trends we’ve been watching in the data coming to life in real time. It was a reminder of why this show matters. One thing stood out above everything else: the trends Datassential has been tracking kept showing up, aisle after aisle.

Here’s what caught our eye, and what the numbers say about why it matters.

Global Flavors Were Everywhere — And the Data Explains Why

One dominant story at this year’s show was global flavors.

Kraft Heinz’s FoodLab brought the innovation and education with live culinary sessions built around fast-growing global ingredients and trending flavor pairings. They highlighted Middle Eastern flavors such as za’atar, sumac, and zhoug, each reflecting the growing consumer appetite for bold, globally inspired profiles that go well beyond the familiar. These are ingredients Datassential has been tracking as emerging in the data, and seeing them anchoring a major brand’s show presence signals they’re moving closer to mainstream.

The swicy story was equally prominent. Hot honey, Thai sweet chili, and chamoy all made appearances, and together they tell a clear flavor story about where American palates are heading. Chamoy alone has seen +204% four-year growth on U.S. restaurant menus, making it one of the fastest-growing sauces in foodservice right now. Across the hall, CJ Schwan’s Foodservice was pairing gochujang sauces alongside egg rolls, leaning into the same swicy wave from a different cultural angle.

None of this is coincidence. Hot honey has grown +197% on U.S. menus over the past four years, now appearing on 11% of restaurant menus in the U.S., with another +148% growth projected over the next four years. Gochujang is one of the fastest-growing condiments in terms of consumer awareness, and the swicy profile it delivers, simultaneously sweet, spicy, and deeply savory, is hitting exactly the flavor notes consumers are gravitating toward right now.

Seeing these ingredients come to life in product demonstrations and chef-driven activations on the show floor is a reminder that trend data doesn’t predict what’s coming out of nowhere. It tracks what’s been building momentum. NRA Show 2026 was where the data was brought to life.

Protein Has Become An Expectation

Protein’s dominance on the show floor wasn’t subtle as numerous brands showcased protein-forward products. De Cecco USA was displaying their new Protein Boost pasta front and center, a clear signal that protein has moved well beyond its origins as a fitness niche and is now spanning various categories.

The data backs up what the floor was showing. Protein has seen +111% menu penetration growth over the past four years, and 52% of consumers say increasing their protein intake is a priority heading into 2026, up significantly from 38% in 2023. When consumer demand shifts that decisively, product innovation follows. Pasta, beverages, snacks: protein is no longer a category. It’s a consumer expectation that’s working its way into everything.

The Refresher Wave Isn’t Slowing Down

The beverage category at NRA Show 2026 had real momentum behind it, and refreshers were the story that kept coming up.

Oatly set up a conveyor belt of delicious grab-and-go beverages, including a melon matcha that drew consistent traffic. Twinings showcased their refresher lineup, Oregon Fruit Company had real fruit refreshers on display throughout the show, and many more brands had their own refreshers on show.

The numbers explain the attention. Refreshers are up +127% on U.S. restaurant menus over the past four years, and 54% of operators say their refresher sales increased in the last year alone. Matcha latte has seen +218% four-year menu growth, while oat milk has grown +112% on U.S. restaurant menus over the same period. The beverage innovation happening at the show floor level is a direct response to what operators are seeing in their own sales data and what consumers keep ordering.

The Flavorverse:
An Evening with Kerry and Datassential

Datassential and Kerry co-hosted an evening event dubbed The Flavorverse, to bring together industry friends for cocktails, mocktails, and curated bites designed to give guests a first taste of what’s next in food and beverage innovation.

The concept was simple: take the trends living in the data and make them tangible. Future-forward flavors, cutting-edge culinary concepts, and a few things that will likely be on menus long before most operators expect them. It was the kind of evening that reminds you why the food and beverage industry is so compelling: the data tells you what’s coming, and a room full of the right people brings it to life.

Datassential Data on the Show Floor

One of the more gratifying moments across the show was seeing Datassential data show up on booth signage from brands like J&J Snack Foods Corp and Fresh Origins, brands using our intelligence to tell their category story directly to buyers and operators. It’s exactly the kind of data-driven brand storytelling the industry is increasingly leaning into, and seeing it deployed in a live sales environment is a reminder of why access to the right intelligence matters.

What NRA Show 2026 Told Us About Where the Industry Is Headed

NRA Show 2026 confirmed what the data has been signaling for months. Global flavors are taking center stage. Protein has crossed from trend into baseline consumer expectation. The beverage category is expanding faster than most operators can keep up with, with refreshers leading the charge.

The brands that showed up to this year’s show with a clear point of view, backed by data, were drawing crowds. That’s not a coincidence either. In a market this competitive, knowing what’s next before it becomes obvious is the advantage.

Thank you to the National Restaurant Association for another outstanding show, and to every brand, operator, and industry friend who stopped by our booth. This community is what makes the work worth doing.

Want to see what the data says about where food and beverage trends are headed next? Request a demo or ask for more information here.