With more consumers seeking unprocessed food and drink for a perceived health halo, meat and dairy are experiencing a renaissance. This shift, driven by demand for authenticity, health, and sustainability, is redefining animal-based products as natural, wholesome, and aligned with slow living. Trends like #CrunchyMoms and #Carnivores reflect this cultural return to simpler foodways, even as movements like #TradWives face growing critique.

With conventional meat and dairy sales rising and plant-based alternatives declining (Good Food Institute, 2024), brands have clear opportunities to innovate with products that deliver on health, tradition, and environmental consciousness.

Meat is being reimagined with a focus on nutrient balance, sustainability, and ancestral eating habits. Consumers are increasingly drawn to climate-conscious, regeneratively raised options and meals that align with seasonal rhythms, such as spring lamb or autumn game. Outdoor cooking is growing year-round, driving demand for ready-to-grill, pre-seasoned whole and bone-in cuts. The meat snack category is also booming, with U.S. sales projected to surpass $6 billion by 2027 (Statista), creating opportunities for innovative offerings using underutilized cuts and game meats, inspired by global flavors. Products like Pearson Ranch’s game meat sticks, which are MSG-, gluten-, and nitrite-free, exemplify this trend. As digestion and wellness rise in importance, there's further potential in pairing meat with gut-friendly ingredients in convenient meals and snacks.

Dairy and animal-based fats are gaining renewed appeal as consumers embrace their functional benefits and indulgent qualities. With U.S. cow’s milk sales rising in 2024 (USDA) and interest growing in high-protein, minimally processed options, functional variants like A2, ultra-filtered, and lactose-free milk are gaining traction, along with ingredients like bovine colostrum. Raw milk, despite safety concerns, is trending on social media for its perceived gut-healing properties, creating opportunities to offer similar benefits safely through pasteurised products enhanced with probiotics or prebiotic fiber. Animal fats like beef tallow, ghee, and grass-fed butter are also on the rise, with innovative formats such as tallow spray bottles meeting consumer demand for convenience. As dairy becomes a more joyful part of everyday diets, brands can tap into indulgence with premium ready-to-drink options featuring creamy specialty milks like Hokkaido Jersey milk, or reimagined butters with dessert-inspired flavors like crème brûlée.