Michael Howard, founder and CEO of Nichefire, appeared on the Institute of Food Technologists’ Omnivore Presents: SciDish podcast for its January 2026 outlook. The episode, Consumer Trends Sparking Food Innovation, was published on January 19 and examined the consumer shifts expected to influence food innovation and product development during the year. IFT’s episode overview
Howard brought the perspective of a company focused on understanding emerging cultural trends. Nichefire uses AI to analyze signals from social media, search behavior and other online sources, helping brands assess how consumer interests are changing. For food and drink teams, that research can inform which ingredients or product ideas deserve further exploration. Nichefire’s description of its approach
IFT’s podcast connects developments in food science with the business of bringing products to market. Featuring Howard places Nichefire’s work within that discussion, reaching an audience whose research and development choices depend on understanding what people will want to eat and drink.
Nichefire helps food and drink teams understand emerging consumer interests as they decide which product opportunities to pursue.
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