2026, the year of "individualized" menus

The world's largest food service company has a pretty good idea of how people will be eating next year.

The B2B publication NRN has analyzed the Yum Brands trend report for us. In essence, it reveals that young consumers will increasingly want more control over their dining experience.

Exclusive study: The parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill has published its first-ever report on food trends, based on exclusive data from more than 62,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and territories.

The "Me-Me-Me economy": among the trends emerging from this research is the shift towards personalization. Pizzas and chicken wings, for example, are now reimagined for a single person, according to their individual tastes, and not those of the group.

Solitary pleasure: solo orders now account for 47% of all fast-food occasions, compared to 31% in 2021 (+52%). Eating alone is more about self- care than bargain hunting, the report points out. The majority of these solo customers choose not to take advantage of promotions (68%), and more than half of them spend between $10 and $30 per visit. This phenomenon is even observed in European restaurant reservations, where solo dining is shaking up traditions .

Choice therapy: another major theme is consumers seeking to "regain control through small sensory choices." Consumers are embracing specialty sauces and drinks to personalize their orders, with sauces generating 2.4 times more enthusiasm than other products. Taco Bell and KFC are strengthening their offerings by integrating dedicated sauces. The KFC Saucy concept, expanding in Florida, features 11 signature sauces, offering over 4,000 possible combinations. All of this contributes to a kind of "choice therapy" in the face of overwhelming external factors.

Overperformance of "build-your-own" concepts: customizable offers generate high percentages of positive sentiment (Luxe Boxes at Taco Bell, for example). Assembled meals have become symbols of control. "Choice, but without the decision fatigue," the report states. And personalized opportunities also tend to motivate customers to spend more.

"Vibe checks": far from purely economic considerations (value for money), young people consume primarily for emotional reasons, prioritizing brand vibes. They engage in small "vibe checks." 43% of specialty drinks are purchased without food, and 61% of purchase occasions for these drinks include customizations such as flavor additions. “Young consumers decide not only what they buy, but how it makes them feel.”