Meredith and April Seggebruch discuss the future of the food and beverage industry on this episode of the Woman Run Podcast. They break down the topic into internal and external facing trends that are impacting shops and restaurants.

Internal forces include the changing labor culture transitioning from a hierarchical command and control environment to a more humanely authentic and balanced relationship with employees. Technology is another major internal factor, with April noting the current lack of unified systems and the huge success of those who embrace Artificial Intelligence to build their own customized operational systems to save digital marketing subscription fees and mine data better.

External forces feature the massive impact of GLP-1 usage on consumer habits, with users focusing less on the makeup of what they consume and simply consuming less overall, which changes dessert and value dynamics toward premium enjoyment and quality over quantity. They touch on contemporary branding trends in F&B, noting the retail gold of moving famous menu items from the kitchen to the retail shelf, as well as a fast-growing brand affiliation among younger generations similar to luxury goods that changes the way consumers socially identify with food.