Sr. Food & Beverage Trend Researcher
About The Position
As a Senior Food & Beverage Trend Researcher, you will: Lead the identification, synthesis, and activation of emerging food & beverage trends to inform product development, merchandising strategy, and enterprise decision-making. You will translate cultural, consumer, and category trends into clear insights and strategic opportunities that drive growth and differentiation. Position Overview: Trend Intelligence & Insight Development Identify and track emerging food & beverage trends across culture, consumer behavior, categories, and competitive landscapes. Conduct deep-dive category analyses and deliver actionable insights for merchants, Product Development, brand, and enterprise partners. Integrate qualitative and quantitative inputs from secondary research, data sources, and insights partnerships. Monitor benchmarks, innovation, and new market entrants, sharing relevant implications with teams. Strategic Vision & Foresight Synthesize complex information—trend signals, guest insights, cultural shifts, and data—into clear frameworks and future-forward recommendations. Lead strategic workstreams that identify whitespace opportunities and guide long-term category and brand direction. Build and evolve trend methodologies, tools, and processes to support strategic planning and innovation. Collaboration & Influence Serve as a strategic partner to merchandising, Product Development, insights, marketing, and brand teams. Communicate insights clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior leaders. Manage multiple projects and timelines while providing clear direction and problem-solving support. Team Leadership & Capability Building Mentor junior researchers and contribute to developing team capabilities in trend analysis and storytelling. Support building an innovative, future-thinking culture across the organization. Additional Information Travel to key markets, trend conferences, and trade shows (approximately 10–20%). Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.
Requirements
- Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or directly related field.
- Minimum 3 years of recipe development experience including broad range of food prep.
- Experience with trend/innovation/creative/design within a food, retail, or editorial environment.
- Naturally curious with a passion for food and innovation; strong consumer orientation
- Skilled storyteller with demonstrated ability to influence.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize a wide spectrum of data into actionable insights.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills with internal and external partners.
- Fluent in MS Word & excel and computer design system skills, including InDesign and /or PowerPoint.
- Food social media savvy with experience navigating Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, and other food apps and bloggers.
Nice To Haves
- Prefer experience with globally inspired flavors and formats.
Responsibilities
- Lead the identification, synthesis, and activation of emerging food & beverage trends to inform product development, merchandising strategy, and enterprise decision-making.
- Translate cultural, consumer, and category trends into clear insights and strategic opportunities that drive growth and differentiation.
- Identify and track emerging food & beverage trends across culture, consumer behavior, categories, and competitive landscapes.
- Conduct deep-dive category analyses and deliver actionable insights for merchants, Product Development, brand, and enterprise partners.
- Integrate qualitative and quantitative inputs from secondary research, data sources, and insights partnerships.
- Monitor benchmarks, innovation, and new market entrants, sharing relevant implications with teams.
- Synthesize complex information—trend signals, guest insights, cultural shifts, and data—into clear frameworks and future-forward recommendations.
- Lead strategic workstreams that identify whitespace opportunities and guide long-term category and brand direction.
- Build and evolve trend methodologies, tools, and processes to support strategic planning and innovation.
- Serve as a strategic partner to merchandising, Product Development, insights, marketing, and brand teams.
- Communicate insights clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior leaders.
- Manage multiple projects and timelines while providing clear direction and problem-solving support.
- Mentor junior researchers and contribute to developing team capabilities in trend analysis and storytelling.
- Support building an innovative, future-thinking culture across the organization.
Benefits
- comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more
- 401(k)
- employee discount
- short term disability
- long term disability
- paid sick leave
- paid national holidays
- paid vacation
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
