Between 4th of July barbecues, back to school season, Labor Day sales, and the possibility of a recession, Q3 is stuffed to the brim with opportunities for creative content. From time-saving dinners to modernized comfort food, here’s a closer look at what we think will be trending in Q3.
As back to school season looms, consumers are on the search for quick, simple, and healthy lunch and dinner options. Air fryers will stay strong, but slow cookers are gaining steam (sales are 96% YOY). Key searches will include:
Consumers are looking for easy ways to preserve their summer produce at its peak. Q3 is a great time to start featuring recipes using the following techniques:
Brands are putting a lot of focus on reimagining classic dishes for those with dietary restrictions and/or preferences, such as vegan, gluten-free, high-protein, and low-carb diets. Some topics that consumers are going to be especially interested this quarter in include:
Plant-based eating might not seem like a new trend, but it is still very much on the rise. Bloomberg predicts plant-based products will reach $162 billion in value by 2030, and food companies are jumping at the opportunity to meet this growing demand. A few plant-based products on the rise include:
Mocktails are the beverage industry’s latest it girl. Searches for non-alcoholic cocktail recipes are at an all time high this summer and we predict these tasty drinks will continue to gain popularity as we head into the holiday season. Trending searches among consumers are:
Talks of an impending recession are popping up all over social media right now, which might leave you wondering, “how does this affect the conversation around food?” In short, consumers will be looking for ways to stretch their dollar and feed their families without losing any flavor. Searches for the following topics are on the rise:
Happy Birthday to us! 🎉 CookIt is celebrating 10 years in business. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and look back at some highlights from the past decade! 📖
From NYC to LA, @creatoriq’s coast-to-coast events gave us a front-row seat to where influencer marketing is headed.
In New York, the message was clear: influencer marketing is maturing. It’s no longer about one-off posts or quick conversions. Brands are building full-funnel strategies — awareness at the top, education in the middle, and conversion at the bottom — and creators are being brought in at every step to make it all feel seamless.
But maybe the most important takeaway? Don’t forget the brand story. In a world chasing ROI, it was a much-needed reminder that marketing isn’t a math problem. It’s about people, connection, and choosing the right voice to tell your story.
In LA, we heard echoes of the same. Creators aren’t just content machines — they’re collaborators. Co-strategists. And platforms like TikTok are leaning into that, building tools to make it easier for brands and creators to build something together, moving beyond even the sponsored post.
Across both cities, one thing was clear: influencer marketing is evolving — from transactional posts to long-term, strategic partnerships. It’s no longer just part of the plan — for many brands, it’s the foundation of how they tell their story, build trust, and drive real results.
And that’s exactly the kind of shift we’re here for!
The other week, Carly and Molly were in Chicago for the @nationalrestaurantshow — their first time attending, but definitely not their last! 🙌 They connected with incredible chefs and brands leading the way in restaurant innovation, exploring everything from front-of-house experiences to back-of-house operations. Days full of learning, inspiring conversations, and big takeaways they’ll be able to carry into any future talent convos! 💛
Our friends at @odysseyentertainmentgroup recently hosted an incredible team + creator retreat in Los Angeles and brought together several industry friends for a night out in West Hollywood. 🌴 Our VP of Partnerships @molls.benton joined Jess of @shinetalentgroup, Molly of @vraiofficial, and Paige from Odyssey to celebrate the amazing work each team is doing and the growth still to come!
In a space that can often feel competitive, this night was a reminder that collaboration is where the real magic happens. There’s so much to gain when we come together to learn from one another, support each other, and share what we’ve built. 🤝
We are incredibly proud of @grillin_with_dad, who was invited to speak at a corporate conference for a legacy media agency with Fortune 500 clients. Hosted by @google at their Chicago office, @lauriebuck had the good fortune to join him and watch as he entertained the crowd (ask him about the grilled alligator incident!) and enlightened them about what it’s really like to be a creator, from his early days in social media to now, with more than 3.5M followers across all platforms! 🙌
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