2026 Food & Beverage Economic Outlook: Affordability, Tariffs, GLP-1 Drugs and More

As we wrap up 2025 and turn the calendar page to 2026, Billy Roberts, senior analyst, Food & Beverage, for CoBank, joins the Food For Thought podcast to offer an economic outlook for the food and beverage industry in the new year. Roberts discusses everything from the impact of GLP-1 drugs on food and beverage companies to consumer perception of affordability, and how private-label products can continue to grow in this atmosphere. Furthermore, he shares what processors can learn from the last year’s roller coaster ride with tariffs, and the possibility of additional consolidation of brands and production capabilities and facilities in the new year.