Grapefruit: 2025’s Bold and Adventurous Fruit of the Year

In a time of introspection and adventurous eating, grapefruit's unique flavor and health benefits make it the perfect choice for those seeking authentic experiences. Discover why this polarizing fruit is winning hearts and taste buds!

Why Grapefruit?

You might wonder why we have chosen grapefruit as the trendiest fruit to innovate with in 2025 and beyond. Here are the key reasons:

Aligns with Consumer Mood: In challenging times marked by geopolitical tensions, economic pressure, and climate crises, consumers are turning inward and focusing on themselves. The "joy of missing out (JOMO)" trend reflects a desire for authentic, rich real-life experiences. This translates into a bold approach to food and beverage innovation, with consumers ready to be more adventurous.
Increasing Popularity: Although not yet at the center stage of fruit innovation, our online consumer study across China, France, Germany, and the US shows that 80% of consumers eat grapefruit regularly, and 69% consume food and beverage products with grapefruit flavor. Consumers are ready for more "grapefruity" innovations!
Growth Momentum: According to Innova Market Insights and social media insights, there has been an increased consumer interest in grapefruit products. In 2024 alone, 741 new food and beverage products with grapefruit flavor were launched globally. There's still room for more!
Versatility: Grapefruit is an extremely versatile fruit with varieties like White Marsh, Star Ruby, and Jaffa Sweetie. Pairing opportunities with other fruits or ingredients are nearly limitless. Pairings with other citrus or tropical fruits appeal to 70% of consumers, and more than half are drawn to pairings with indulgent, dessert-style ingredients like chocolate, caramel, or mascarpone. Grapefruit is suitable as an ingredient in dairy products, hot and cold beverages, baked goods, ice cream, dipping sauces and many more applications.
Healthy Image: Grapefruit's nutritious, hydrating, weight loss, immune-boosting, and heart-health supporting properties make it a perfect match for key emerging topics of 2025, such as hydration, refreshment, and weight management. Its light tanginess and bitterness can balance indulgent products, offering a more permissible experience.

Grapefruit in various applications

How grapefruit taps into trends?

Grapefruit aligns well with major consumer trends:

Enjoy and Experience: Indulgence, comfort, nostalgia, and excitement from new experiences remain key consumer drivers. For 2025 and beyond, embracing seasonality with hyper-seasonal products and Asian street food inspiration are hot topics. Grapefruit fits both, offering pairing opportunities for all seasons and shining in Asian cuisine. Pairing grapefruit with Asian-inspired desserts like sorbets, jellies, or shaved ice toppings provides a refreshing and tangy contrast to sweet flavors.
Feel Good: Grapefruit aligns perfectly with emerging health trends such as hydration and weight management. Consumers across Europe, North America, and China associate grapefruit with being fresh, healthy, refreshing, and high in vitamins, according to our study.
Treasure World: The demand for natural, real ingredients and more plant-based foods continues to grow. Using grapefruit cells in dairy products, ice cream toppings, or bakery fillings, not only enhance taste and texture but also assure consumers of real fruit content through its tangible presence.

Ready to innovate with grapefruit?

Are you hooked on grapefruit yet? We know it can be a polarizing fruit, but consumers are ready for bold and exciting innovations.

Partner with our team to explore grapefruit solutions, from sourcing to gentle processing that maintains fruit integrity, to perfect pairing options. We offer a full spectrum of concepts and prototypes across themes like health, refreshment, indulgence, and fusion. Our internal tasting sessions have shown that even skeptical grapefruit eaters end up loving the bold and adventurous creations with the trendiest fruit of 2025. Don’t miss your chance to try them!