Foods Connected 2025 in review: 12 months in food

2025 was a year of transformation for the food industry. Marked by innovation, regulatory shifts and economic pressures. Here’s a look back at the key moments month by month.

Key themes that defined the year included:
- Regulatory uncertainty around FSMA 204 and EUDR timelines
- Increased reliance on digital food safety and compliance systems
- Growing use of AI in supply chain risk management and forecasting
- Heightened scrutiny of sustainability, traceability and ESG impact
- Persistent inflationary pressures across proteins, cocoa and key commodities

January

Remember back before the EUDR and FSMA 204 deadines hadn’t moved? Businesses were starting their one year countdowns and we mapped out our year to regulatory compliance. 

We chatted animal welfare standards in aquaculture with Maria Filipa Castanheira. Elsewhere sustainability was the main focus at Sustainable Foods, where industry leaders called for greater transparency and warned against chasing single ESG metrics without real impact.  Plus, there were early signs of the coming ingredient cost pressures, as cocoa prices surged ahead of Easter.

February

We reported on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – the “silent tsunami” threatening food systems – and its implications for animal welfare and food safety. Over at BRCGS Connect, experts stressed the need to modernise HACCP systems. PPWR kicked in and we reinforced our commitment to data governance through the Farm Data Safe certification.

March

The FSMA 204 delay and AI dominated headlines as we launched our industry report AI & Agri-Food: Attitudes, Adoption and Ambitions. Surveying 500+ professionals, we revealed a gap around AI's future role in sustainability initiatives. The GFSI conference in Dublin underscored collaboration as technology reshaped food systems, and we held own own event in the city to celebrate our customers. We also spoke to Global Chair and Founder of Meat Business Women, Laura Ryan, about the drive needed to implement meaningful industry-wide change. 

April

As GFSI continued into April, leaders there emphasised the value of reliable audits and digitised compliance systems. Case studies showed how moving from manual to digital processes reduced risk and improved efficiency and we rounded up the NPD trends for the first quarter of 2025. 

May

Allergen management and food safety were key themes this month due to the Food Safety Summit. Generative AI applications were all the rage at the BridgeAI Roadshow and mental health initiatives highlighted the industry’s commitment to wellbeing. While our Head of Customer Success - Quality & Technical, Matt Broadbent,  looked at three ways to manage allergens in the QSR supply chain.

June

Regulatory compliance dominated discussions in June, with FSMA 204 and EUDR delays shaping operational priorities. Conferences explored smarter food safety systems, while AI’s practical applications gained attention in leading publications. We headed to the Food Management Today Awards, where innovation, customer focus and industry excellence in general were celebrated.

July

We hit a major milestone this month, as Foods Connected secured strategic investment from the Apax Global Impact Fund to accelerate platform innovation. Our Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, Mike McCarthy, shared his views on the escalating beef prices. We also sat down with some of our customers to discuss their success stories. After that we headed to IFT First and IAFP, where AI-driven risk management and regulatory harmonisation were key themes, and our Industry Voices series explored how AI is transforming supply chain agility.

August

Crop shortages and economic pressures came into sharp focus in August. Beef prices hit record highs, driving consumer shifts toward cheaper proteins and chocolate prices climbed due to extreme weather affecting supply. in response we started our supply chain resilience series, guiding businesses on the smartest steps to take to keep their supply chains secure.  Sustainability remained a  central talking point across the industry , with traceability data highlighted as being critical for meeting regulatory and ethical standards.

September

Our co-founder and CEO Roger McCracken shared his thoughts on the biggest challenges facing the industry before heading to NAFS to talk data-driven food safety ecosystems with OSI's Sharon Birkett. Our team also gave back through charity runs and community initiatives and we launched our weekly food-focused newsletter Grazed. 

October

New HFSS restrictions sparked debate at IGD’s Future of the UK Food System conference. Natasha’s Law marked its fourth anniversary, reinforcing allergen safety and accountability. Global events like Anuga and Animal AgTech showcased advances in sustainable protein and data collaboration. Our Head of Research and Innovation, Dr Stephanie Brooks, discussed ethical AI strategies at Big Data Belfast, reflecting on the growing focus on responsible innovation. October also brought with it accolades for our business, including WIRED 2025 Trailblazer status and NI Chamber recognition.

November

Collaboration defined November. We headed to Amsterdam for FoodWorx and to Fort Worth in Texas for the Meat Importers Council of America. Our protein specialist, Jacob Einberger analysed the US beef prices and revealed why consumers will always buy beef. Sustainability dominated headlines as experts warned of a looming green skills gap, urging businesses to prepare for 2026’s regulatory challenges and we delved into the emerging tech trends shaping the sector. 

December

The year closed with the EU finally confirming it was revising and postponing EUDR implementation until at least December 2026, giving businesses more time to adapt. Foods Connected hosted an AI Hackathon, driving innovation for the year ahead. Finally, we looked forward with insights into 2026’s emerging trends, identifying consumer shifts and the leaps into sustainability happening across the sector.