Food and Beverage Market Research Services

Touchstone Research delivers food and beverage market research that helps brands innovate, adapt, and grow. From testing new flavors and packaging to tracking consumer preferences and cultural food trends, our research solutions provide the insights needed to stay ahead in a competitive global market.

Understanding Consumers in a Constantly Changing Food & Beverage Market

Consumer tastes shift quickly. Health trends, cultural influences, sustainability demands, and packaging innovations all impact how people choose food and beverages. For brands, staying ahead requires more than just data—it requires insights into what motivates buyers and how preferences evolve over time. Touchstone Research’s food and beverage market research services are designed to capture these dynamics, helping companies make smarter product, branding, and marketing decisions.

Track Emerging Trends: Identify shifts in taste, wellness, sustainability, and consumption habits.
Test Products & Packaging: Evaluate flavors, designs, and formats before market launch.
Understand Global Preferences: Capture cultural nuances and regional differences in food and beverage choices.
Engage Target Audiences: From parents to Gen Z, connect with consumers who drive purchasing decisions.
Make Confident Decisions: Translate research findings into strategies for growth and innovation.

Food and Beverage Market Research Services

Touchstone Research offers end-to-end food and beverage market research services, helping brands test concepts, refine products, and track consumer preferences. Whether you’re innovating with new flavors, designing sustainable packaging, or exploring global market opportunities, our qualitative and quantitative solutions deliver the insights you need.

Qualitative Food & Restaurant Research

Understand dining habits and choices

We deliver rich consumer insights through focus groups, IDIs, diary studies, and mobile ethnographies. Our food and beverage market research reveals emotional drivers, taste preferences, brand perceptions, and dining motivations—critical for product development and restaurant market research

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Quantitative Research for Food & Beverage Brands

Drive Strategic Decisions with Data-Backed Insights

Our large-scale surveys and advanced analytics (Conjoint, MaxDiff, TURF) guide innovation, pricing, and campaign effectiveness. This is ideal for market research for restaurants and CPG food and beverage companies looking to scale insights with precision.

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Quantitative Research for Food & Beverage Brands

Qualitative Recruitment for Food Audiences

Reach the right food consumers

We recruit from niche and broad demographics, ensuring high-quality participants for every food and beverage market research project. Our proven screening and validation process supports dine-in, takeout, and packaged product studies.

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UX Research for Ordering and Loyalty

Optimize digital food experiences

We conduct usability testing for apps, ordering systems, loyalty programs, and digital menus. Whether testing a QSR mobile app or delivery platform, our UX services support market research for a restaurant that’s focused on improving digital customer journeys.

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Market Research Online Panels & Insight Communities

Continuous Insights from Food & Beverage Enthusiasts

Gather ongoing, real-time feedback
We build dedicated insight communities and online panels to capture fast, iterative input on new products, packaging, marketing campaigns, and dining experiences. Ideal for restaurant market research companies needing consistent consumer feedback.

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Dial Tester for Food Content

Real-Time Feedback on Culinary Content

Our proprietary dial testing tool, Dial Tester, measures second-by-second audience response to food-related video content, promos, and ads—ideal for refining creative in restaurant market research and campaign testing for F&B brands.

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Secure Content Testing

Safely test unreleased food assets

Test sensitive campaigns, new packaging, or confidential menu rollouts using our SCT platform. With user-level watermarking and tracking, it’s the gold standard in market research restaurant industry content security.

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Food and Beverage Market Research Audiences We Reach

Consumer preferences in the food and beverage industry are shaped by age, lifestyle, culture, and values. Touchstone Research connects brands with the right audiences to uncover authentic insights into taste, trends, and purchasing behavior.

Food Enthusiasts & Gourmets
Health-Conscious Consumers
Restaurant-Goers
Frequent Diners
Millennials & Gen Z
Beverage Connoisseurs
Craft Beer Enthusiasts
Wine Aficionados
Spirits & Cocktail Lovers

Nightlife & Bar Patrons
Plant-Based & Sustainable Diet Followers
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Patrons
Fast-Food & Quick-Service Enthusiasts
Family-Focused Consumers
Fine Dining Aficionados
Ethnic Cuisine Lovers
Seasonal & Trend-Driven Diners
And many more!

Food and Beverage Market Research Audiences We Reach

Food and Beverage Market Research FAQs

Food and beverage brands face unique challenges—from shifting consumer tastes to packaging innovations and global competition. Below are answers to common questions about food and beverage market research and how Touchstone Research helps companies stay ahead.

What is food and beverage market research?

Food and beverage market research is the process of gathering consumer insights to guide product development, packaging design, brand messaging, and overall strategy. It helps brands understand taste preferences, cultural influences, and purchase behaviors.

Why is food and beverage market research important?

Consumer preferences in the food and beverage industry change rapidly. Market research helps brands anticipate trends, avoid costly missteps, and launch products that resonate with target audiences.

What types of studies are used in food and beverage market research?

Common methods include taste and sensory testing, packaging research, focus groups, in-depth interviews (IDIs), online communities, surveys, and segmentation studies. These approaches provide a balance of qualitative insights and quantitative validation.

How does Touchstone Research recruit participants for food and beverage studies?

We use multi-layered recruitment to ensure participants reflect target audiences, from families and Gen Z to health-conscious and multicultural consumers. Each respondent is vetted for quality and relevance.

Can food and beverage market research be conducted globally?

Yes. Touchstone Research conducts food and beverage market research in over 60 international markets, using local moderators and translators to capture cultural nuances and ensure accurate insights.

What types of brands benefit from food and beverage market research?

Brands across categories—including snacks, beverages, restaurants, packaged goods, and health-focused foods—use market research to test concepts, track brand health, and adapt to emerging trends.

What are some common food research topics?

Food and beverage market research often explores questions such as:
Taste and Sensory Research: How do consumers perceive flavors, textures, and aroma?
Health & Wellness Trends: How do nutrition, dietary restrictions, or functional benefits influence choices?
Sustainability & Packaging: How important are eco-friendly packaging and sourcing to consumers?
Cultural & Regional Preferences: How do food preferences differ across demographics or global markets?
Brand Perception & Loyalty: How do consumers view your brand compared to competitors?
Consumption Behaviors: When, where, and why do people consume your product category?
Innovation Testing: How do consumers respond to new food formats, technologies, or product categories (e.g., plant-based alternatives, energy drinks, functional snacks)?

Trusted by Leading Food & Beverage Brands

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

We have done quite a few Quant and Qual research projects with Touchstone. They are always extremely responsive, flexible, and provide great recommendations on how to get the most out of our research.

Director, Product Marketing & eComm
Food & Beverage Company