McDonald’s CEO names fiber, sweet‑and‑spicy flavors, and drinks as 2026 trends

Businessinsider reports McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on Monday via Instagram that three food trends will define 2026: fiber, sweet-and-spicy flavor combinations, and beverage innovation.

Kempczinski prefaced his list by saying he wanted to "do a little bit of a victory lap" because his 2025 predictions — protein, AI, and sauces — were spot on. He named fiber first and referenced the dietary trend called "fibermaxxing," with dietitians saying more fiber can aid gut health, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of colon cancer. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta had earlier predicted in an October earnings call that "fiber will be the next protein."

He also highlighted sweet-and-spicy combinations; fast-food chains rolled out hot-honey dipping sauces in 2025, including Chipotle, KFC, and Taco Bell, and McDonald's offers a sweet-spicy option in its Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip. On drinks, he predicted "a lot of beverage innovation," and chains have opened beverage-focused spin-offs such as Taco Bell's Live Más Café and Chick-fil-A's Daybright, both selling coffees and fruity refreshers. The report suggested one reason for drink innovation could be that Gen Z consumers are not huge fans of alcohol and are seeking exciting, unusual drink combinations.

Key Topics

Business, Mcdonald's, Chris Kempczinski, Fiber, Ramon Laguarta, Live Más Café