2026 Marketing Trends: Why Paid Ads Can’t Save You & What’s Actually Driving Growth Now

January is loud. Predictions. Hot takes. New “rules” every week.

But heading into 2026, what we’re seeing across food & drink brands isn’t noise - it’s pressure.

Pressure to grow. Pressure to be everywhere. Pressure from founders who’ve done the “right” things… and still aren’t seeing the results.

So in this episode of Fuelling Foodies: The Food Marketing Podcast, we're cutting through the chaos to share what we see first-hand inside real food & drink businesses - what’s actually working now, what’s quietly stopped working, and how smart brands are building stronger foundations for 2026 and beyond.

This is a no-fluff Marketing Mastery episode focused on quality growth, not loud growth.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why paid ads are no longer a safety net in 2026, and what food brands need in place before spending a pound
2. The shift from loud growth to quality growth, and why traffic, reach, and virality don’t equal profit
3. How email marketing becomes your strongest revenue channel through retention, lifetime value, and post-purchase journeys
4. Why trust is now a performance metric, not a brand “nice to have”
5. What trust looks like in practice: founder-led content, organic social, stories, and smarter influencer use

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by platforms, trends, and advice, and want clarity on where to focus your energy in 2026, this is the episode for you.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

1. Read our 2026 Marketing Trends blog!
2. Join the Food Marketing Club for just £57/month - your monthly hub for TikTok strategies, templates, and content ideas
3. Want tailored strategy support? Book a Strategy Call with Kate
4. Follow @kwmarketinguk for TikTok, content, and food & drink marketing tips

If this episode inspired you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow founder - we love seeing how you’re fuelling your growth 🔥