Sr. Food & Beverage Trend Researcher

Target Target · Retail · Minneapolis, MN

This role focuses on identifying and synthesizing emerging food and beverage trends to inform product development, merchandising, and strategic decision-making within a consumer-focused company. It involves market analysis, insight generation, and collaboration with various internal teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead the identification, synthesis, and activation of emerging food & beverage trends to inform product development, merchandising strategy, and enterprise decision-making.
  2. You will translate cultural, consumer, and category trends into clear insights and strategic opportunities that drive growth and differentiation.
  3. Identify and track emerging food & beverage trends across culture, consumer behavior, categories, and competitive landscapes.
  4. Conduct deep-dive category analyses and deliver actionable insights for merchants, Product Development, brand, and enterprise partners.
  5. Synthesize complex information—trend signals, guest insights, cultural shifts, and data—into clear frameworks and future-forward recommendations.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Design, Marketing, Business, Food Science, Culinary Science, or directly related field.
  • 3 + years of experience with trend/innovation/creative/design within a food, retail, or editorial environment.
  • Naturally curious with a passion for food and innovation; strong consumer orientation
  • Skilled storyteller with demonstrated ability to influence.
  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize a wide spectrum of data into actionable insights.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with internal and external partners.
  • Fluent in MS Word & excel and computer design system skills, including InDesign and /or PowerPoint.
  • Food social media savvy with experience navigating Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, and other food apps and bloggers.