consumer preferences
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AI Startups Eye Recipe Books in Big Food’s Test Kitchens
AI is accelerating food product development, cutting timelines and reducing physical prototyping for major companies like McCormick and Unilever. Startups offer “virtual sensory” platforms to screen recipes and predict consumer preferences. However, current AI capabilities are limited, often requiring significant proprietary data and human expertise for meaningful results. While AI can enhance efficiency, analyze data, and manage complexity, human perception and taste remain the ultimate determinants of product success.
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AB InBev Unveils 2025 Full Year and Q4 Financial Performance
AB InBev’s latest earnings reveal a dynamic market for the brewing giant. The company is navigating inflation and shifting consumer tastes, focusing on premiumization and innovation in areas like hard seltzers and non-alcoholic drinks. Digital transformation and sustainability efforts are key to its strategy. Future success hinges on balancing core markets with high-growth segments, managing supply chains, and adapting to a competitive global landscape.
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The Estée Lauder Companies at Morgan Stanley Conference Fireside Chat
On December 2, 2025, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) executives will participate in a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference. President Stéphane de La Faverie and Chief Digital & Marketing Officer Aude Gandon will discuss the company’s strategic vision, growth prospects, digital transformation, and approach to evolving consumer preferences. Topics will include brand strategy, sustainability efforts, and leveraging technology like AI to enhance customer experiences. A live webcast will be available on the EL Companies investor website.
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China Sees Over 70,000 Karaoke Venues Close Since 2015 as Youth Shift Away from Singing Culture
China’s KTV industry faces collapse, with over 70,000 venues closing since 2015 amid shifting consumer trends. Younger generations favor immersive experiences like escape rooms over traditional karaoke, driving an 87% annual decline in engagement per a 2023-24 report. Analysts cite venues’ failure to modernize for Gen Z’s tech-driven, social-media-oriented demands. While operators experiment with AR lyrics and AI scoring, the sector’s inability to evolve highlights broader challenges for legacy leisure businesses in China’s $1.2 trillion experience economy, where adaptability determines survival.
