Consumer preferences are evolving, and 2025 is set to bring exciting opportunities for businesses focused on natural and sustainably sourced ingredients. As honey continues to grow in popularity, it plays an important role in several emerging trends. From innovative flavor combinations to sustainable sourcing, businesses can leverage these trends to stand out and meet market demands.
Here’s a look at the top product trends for 2025 and how they can benefit your business!
“Swalty” Flavors (Sweet + Salty)
The blend of sweet and salty flavors, known as “swalty,” is captivating the market. This trend is showing up in snacks, sauces, and desserts, offering a perfect balance of indulgence and sophistication.
- Examples: Honey-drizzled popcorn or salted honey caramels.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Use honey to create unique swalty flavor profiles that align with clean-label trends and appeal to modern consumers.
Functional Foods With Honey
Health-conscious consumers are driving demand for functional foods with added health benefits and great taste. Honey’s natural sweetness and nutritional properties make it an ideal ingredient in this growing category.
- Examples: Honey paired with adaptogens in wellness teas, energy bars sweetened with honey, and honey-based syrups infused with elderberry or other immune-supporting ingredients. Honey can also be used in probiotic drinks to enhance gut health.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Highlight honey’s dual role as a flavorful and functional ingredient to appeal to wellness-focused consumers.
The Shift to Cleaner Ingredients
A growing movement is pushing back against artificial additives like high fructose corn syrups (HFCS) and synthetic dyes, which have been linked to various health concerns, including diabetes, inflammation, and fatty liver disease. Recent bans, such as California’s prohibition of Red Dye No. 40 and the FDA’s ban of Red Dye No. 3, highlight the industry’s pivot toward safer, more natural alternatives.
- Example: Replacing HFCS with natural sweeteners like honey in beverages and snacks.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Embrace the trend toward minimally processed, naturally sourced ingredients like honey to create cleaner, healthier products that align with consumer expectations.
Innovative Honey-Based Beverages
Honey’s versatility is shining in the beverage industry, with unique applications ranging from wellness drinks to cocktail mixers. The focus is on clean-label, flavorful beverages that align with consumer demand for natural and functional options.
- Examples: Honey-sweetened cold brews, sparkling honey lemonades, and honey-based cocktail syrups. Honey is also gaining traction in fermented beverages like mead and kombucha.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Innovate with honey in the beverage space to create standout products catering to wellness and indulgence markets.
Artisanal Baking and Desserts
Honey is experiencing a resurgence in artisanal baking and elevated desserts, offering a natural alternative to refined sugars and a premium ingredient for luxury confections.
- Examples: Honey-infused pastries, baklava, honey-drizzled cakes, and cookies sweetened entirely with honey.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Market honey as a versatile, premium sweetener that enhances flavor and supports clean-label trends.
Sustainable Sourcing and Storytelling
Sustainability continues to be a major priority for consumers and businesses alike. Transparent sourcing practices and eco-friendly messaging are becoming essential parts of any product’s story.
- Examples: Highlighting ethically sourced honey from beekeepers who focus on pollinator health. Businesses are also incorporating carbon sequestration practices and regenerative agriculture into their sourcing stories.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Differentiate your brand by showcasing your commitment to sustainable practices, emphasizing traceable and eco-friendly ingredient sourcing.
Wellness and Self-Care Products
Honey is expanding beyond the kitchen into wellness and self-care products. Its natural antibacterial and moisturizing properties make it a star ingredient in this space.
- Examples: Honey-infused skincare products like lip balms, lotions, and facial masks, as well as honey used in bath and body care.
- Takeaway for Businesses: Capitalize on honey’s multifunctionality by incorporating it into beauty and wellness offerings.
The trends shaping 2025 show just how versatile and exciting honey can be. From functional foods to sweet-and-salty snacks, there are so many ways to use honey to meet consumer demands for quality and sustainability!
At GloryBee, we take pride in sourcing ingredients that go beyond great taste—our partnerships with farmers and co-ops reflect our commitment to ethical sourcing and stewardship. As a certified B Corp, we believe in using business as a force for good, delivering traceable and transparent ingredients you can trust.
Ready to elevate your products with premium, ethically sourced honey? Explore our wide selection of honey, sweeteners, and other bee products online and request a free quote to see how we can help you deliver quality and integrity with every product!