The top food and beverage market research companies in 2026 help brands develop winning products, optimize packaging, and refine retail and ecommerce strategies in fast-moving categories. Food and beverage market research has become essential for understanding how consumers discover, choose, and experience everything from grocery items to QSR, fast-casual, and delivery-only concepts.
This article highlights the top 10 food and beverage market research companies in 2026, focusing on firms with strong capabilities in consumer insight, product and sensory testing, packaging optimization, and digital and retail experience research. In this guide, “food and beverage market research companies” refers to agencies and platforms that work extensively with food, drink, and restaurant brands on product, positioning, and go-to-market decisions.
Why Food and Beverage Market Research Matters in 2026
In 2026, food and beverage brands are balancing value and premiumization, health and indulgence, and in-store and digital occasions, all under pressure from inflation and rapidly evolving consumer tastes. Market research helps teams de-risk innovation by validating flavors, formats, and claims, and by ensuring that new items fit real usage occasions and price expectations.
Leading food and beverage market research companies combine qualitative, quantitative, sensory, and behavioral data to show how people plan meals, shop, order, and consume across at-home and away-from-home occasions. This integrated view helps brands and restaurant operators align product pipelines, menu strategy, and marketing with what consumers actually want.
Key Trends Shaping Food and Beverage Market Research Companies
- Stronger focus on value, price perception, and portioning as consumers trade off between convenience, indulgence, and budgets.
- Continued rise of better-for-you, plant-forward, and functional foods and beverages, requiring nuanced research on benefits, labels, and claims.
- Expansion of digital journeys, including ecommerce, delivery platforms, and mobile ordering, driving demand for UX and experience research.
- Increased importance of multicultural, Gen Z, and family audiences in shaping flavor trends and dining and snacking habits.
1. Touchstone Research
Touchstone Research is a full-service market research company and global consumer insights agency with deep experience in food and beverage market research. The firm helps food, beverage, and restaurant brands test concepts, products, packaging, and customer experiences across the United States and more than 60 international markets.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
End-to-end food and beverage research
Idea and concept screening, product and flavor tests, menu and LTO testing, packaging and shelf tests, ad and messaging evaluation, and longitudinal brand and guest tracking.
Agile qualitative, UX, and quantitative methods
Online qualitative research, insight communities, user experience and usability testing for digital ordering and brand interactions, and custom surveys designed to support fast-moving innovation cycles.
Shopper and digital journey insight
Research focused on how consumers discover, evaluate, and choose food and beverage products across retail, ecommerce, and digital touchpoints.
Diverse and global audiences
Recruitment expertise reaching families, kids and teens, Gen Z, multicultural diners, and health-minded consumers in single- and multi-market studies.
Touchstone’s food and beverage work spans QSR and fast-casual brands, beverage companies, CPG food manufacturers, and emerging food concepts, supporting everything from early idea screening to in-market optimization.
2. Circana
Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, is a leading provider of food and beverage industry data and consumer insight across retail and foodservice.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Retail and foodservice measurement covering grocery, mass, club, convenience, and foodservice channels.
- Price, mix, and value analytics that explain growth drivers and consumer trade-offs.
- Menu and occasion insight to guide innovation and positioning decisions.
3. NielsenIQ (NIQ)
NielsenIQ is a long-established global leader in CPG and retail measurement, with extensive coverage of food and beverage categories.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Category and brand performance tracking using POS and panel data.
- Pricing, promotion, and assortment analytics for grocery and beverage categories.
- Omnichannel measurement spanning brick-and-mortar and ecommerce.
4. Ipsos
Ipsos is a global market research company with strong capabilities in food and beverage concept testing, product evaluation, and packaging and communication research.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Concept and product testing through CLTs, IHUTs, and simulated shelf environments.
- Packaging, label, and claims research to optimize on-pack communication.
- Brand and campaign tracking across food and beverage categories.
5. Kantar
Kantar is a global insights firm known for brand, communication, and shopper research in FMCG, including food and beverages.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Brand equity and campaign evaluation supported by extensive FMCG norms.
- Innovation and pack testing frameworks for crowded food and beverage categories.
- Shopper and retail research across physical and digital shelves.
6. Savanta
Savanta provides FMCG and food and beverage market research focused on innovation, brand, and shopper marketing.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Innovation and product development research for new food and beverage concepts.
- Brand and category insight to guide positioning and portfolio strategy.
- Shopper and packaging research to improve findability and conversion.
7. Curion
Curion is a sensory and product testing specialist with deep experience in food and beverage research.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Sensory and central location testing focused on taste, aroma, texture, and preference.
- In-home and real-world usage tests to capture performance over time.
- Menu and consumption experience research for foodservice and CPG brands.
8. SIS International Research
SIS International Research is a global firm offering custom food and beverage and consumer packaged goods research and consulting.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Consumer needs and satisfaction research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Product and packaging testing to support innovation and repositioning.
- Global food and beverage research frameworks with local market expertise.
9. Mintel
Mintel is a leading provider of syndicated market intelligence and trend tracking across global food and drink categories.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Category and trend intelligence covering market size, growth, and innovation.
- Monitoring of new product launches, ingredients, and claims.
- Consulting and custom analysis built on Mintel’s syndicated data.
10. Attest
Attest is a consumer research platform that supports agile food and beverage market research by providing rapid access to consumer feedback.
Food and beverage market research capabilities
- Fast consumer surveys for concept, packaging, flavor, and message testing.
- Iterative testing throughout development and campaign cycles.
- Built-in dashboards and exports for quick interpretation and sharing.
At-a-Glance: Top 10 Food and Beverage Market Research Companies in 2026
| Company | Core Food & Beverage Market Research Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Touchstone Research | Food and beverage concept, product, packaging, and digital journey research; agile qualitative, UX, and quantitative methods; diverse and global audiences. |
| Circana | Food and beverage retail and foodservice measurement, category and consumption trends, price and mix analytics. |
| NielsenIQ | Food and beverage category and brand performance tracking, pricing and promotion analytics, omnichannel measurement. |
| Ipsos | Food and beverage concept, product, packaging, and claims testing, plus brand and campaign tracking. |
| Kantar | FMCG brand equity, innovation and pack testing, and shopper and retail research for food and beverages. |
| Savanta | FMCG and food and beverage innovation, brand and category insight, and shopper and packaging research. |
| Curion | Sensory and product testing, in-home usage tests, and menu and consumption experience research. |
| SIS International Research | Global food and beverage consumer needs research, product and packaging testing, and multi-region insight. |
| Mintel | Syndicated food and drink market intelligence, trend and innovation tracking, and consulting analysis. |
| Attest | Agile food and beverage consumer research platform for fast surveys and iterative testing. |