The end of 2025: the perfect time to review the market & prepare to accelerate in 2026
The F&B, retail and services market is entering the end of 2025 with several clear changes:
Gen Z accounts for a larger share of consumer spending
Shoppers prioritise products that are healthy, convenient and transparent
TikTok continues to dominate purchasing decisions
Small, flexible, low-capital models are becoming the top choice
Recent market reports from McKinsey, Deloitte and Statista (2024-2025) all show that:
2026 will be the year of compact - green - clean - fast - experience-driven models.
Below are the business models forecast to lead in 2026, based on verified data.
1. Gelato & Dessert “Better-for-you” to Continue Strong Growth in 2026
References:
Euromonitor 2024–2025: the “better-for-you” dessert market (low-fat, low-sugar, natural ingredients) has grown steadily year on year.
Barry Callebaut Trend Report 2024: the “healthy pleasure” category has become a global trend.
Why this model will lead in 2026:
Gelato is lower in fat than traditional ice cream
Suited to Gen Z and Millennials’ tastes
Easy to implement at any scale: carts, kiosks, small shops
Highly viral on TikTok (affogato, gelato toppings…)
Low costs - high profit - simple operations
Ease of getting started:
Capital: low → medium
2. Healthy Drinks continue to “climb the rankings”
Surveys from NielsenIQ 2024–2025 show that demand for low-sugar, low-fat and naturally extracted drinks is rising sharply and will maintain this trend through 2026.
Featured product categories:
Juice cold-pressed
Natural fruit tea
Nut milk
Fruit soda
Detox drinks
Why will 2026 see an explosion in growth?
Consumers prioritise health
Reduced consumption of artificial sugar
Highly practical (take-away - delivery)
Ease of getting started:
3. Small F&B models - take-away, kiosks and carts: a sustainable business trend for 2026
According to the Deloitte Consumer Review 2024-2025, convenient shopping continues to grow steadily with no sign of slowing down.
Advantages of small models:
Low investment capital
Easy to change location
Can be launched quickly within 7-14 days
Suited to “eat quickly - buy quickly - convenience” behaviour
Suitable for:
Gelato
Milk tea
Affogato
Fruit drinks
Snacks - cakes
Ease of getting started:
4. Experience-based Business
According to McKinsey 2025, 70% of Gen Z spend on experiences rather than products alone.
Models forecast to grow in 2026:
Mini workshops (baking, making gelato, candle-making, mixology…)
Café combined with a studio / pet café
Mini culinary experiences
Ease of getting started:
Capital: Medium
5. Local - Fusion products with Vietnamese identity
According to Google Trends 2025, searches for “local product” and “Vietnamese fusion food” have risen sharply in Southeast Asia.
2026 trends:
Using Vietnamese ingredients
Vietnamese–international fusion flavours
A local brand story
For example:
Gelato cát mango – raspberry
Tropical fruit
Vietnam-inspired drinks,..
Ease of getting started:
6. Small franchise models, a booming trend in 2026
Statista (2024–2025) shows that mini-format franchises (10-20m²) are the fastest-expanding segment in Southeast Asia.
Advantages:
Low costs
An optimised system
Support policies – simple operations
Suitable for new entrepreneurs
Popular in 2026:
Gelato
Dessert shop
Mini milk tea
Coffee to-go
Ease of getting started:
7. Convenient products – ready-to-eat / ready-to-drink
According to Mintel 2024–2025, convenient products (RTE/RTD) continue to achieve double-digit growth in Asian markets.
Suitable for 2026:
Gelato in tubs
Fresh bottled drinks
“Grab & go” sandwiches – salads
Takeaway snacks
Ease of getting started:
Which sector will lead in 2026?
Based on a compilation of data from Statista, McKinsey, Deloitte and Nielsen:
Top 3 models with the strongest growth rates in 2026:
1. Gelato & Dessert Better-for-you
2. Natural drinks – good for your health
3. Mini F&B models – kiosks – takeaway
These are also the three easiest models to get started with, suitable for newcomers, with flexible capital requirements, low risk and high scalability.
If you are looking for a suitable business model to launch in 2026, explore the flexible F&B models from Baby Boss with many year-end offers.
Get in touch now for advice on the model that best suits your resources.
Hotline: 1900 99 88 80
Wesite: babyboss.com.vn
Facebook: thegioikemygelato
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