Alon Chen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tastewise, a leading consumer intelligence platform powered by data and generative AI. Under his leadership, Tastewise is transforming how food and beverage brands develop tasty, healthy, and sustainable products by unlocking real-time consumer insights. Trusted by global giants such as Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Kraft Heinz, the platform helps companies accelerate product innovation, streamline marketing, and boost retail and foodservice performance through AI-driven workflows. With a mission to empower smarter decision-making across the food ecosystem, Chen is at the forefront of leveraging AI to shape the future of what we eat and drink.

Tastewise was inspired by your mother’s Shabbat dinner. Can you share more about that moment and how it sparked the idea for the company?

At one point, I noticed that everyone in my family had different diets, nutrition plans, and food preferences. For my mother — who always prepares incredible Shabbat dinners and invites the whole family — this became a real challenge. She had to keep track of everyone’s evolving dietary needs while still creating a meal that brought us all together.

One week, she’d prepare a traditional dish with chicken, only to realize there were vegetarians at the table. Another time, she’d serve rice, forgetting that some of us were following a keto diet. The frustration of trying to accommodate everyone started to take a toll.

That’s when it struck me—this wasn’t just a challenge for home cooks; it was a much bigger issue for the entire food and beverage industry. If even a home-cooked meal required so much adaptation, how could businesses effectively keep up with ever-changing consumer preferences? That realization was the spark that led to Tastewise.

How did you determine that the food and beverage industry was ready for an AI-powered insights platform like Tastewise?

When we launched Tastewise in 2018, AI was still uncharted territory. Many businesses – and even our investors – were uncertain about its potential and how it could transform industries. But one thing was clear: the food and beverage industry desperately needed innovation.

At the time, 90% of new product launches were failing, largely due to outdated, manual processes like consumer surveys and focus groups. These methods were slow, costly, and often failed to capture real-time consumer preferences. It wasn’t just that the industry was ready for AI-driven insights—it needed them.

Tastewise was built to bridge that gap. We leverage AI to help brands streamline product development and market strategies and this essentially frees teams from doing tedious manual work and enables them to rather focus on creativity, strategy, and meaningful innovation.

How did your experience at Google as CMO for Greece and Israel prepare you for launching Tastewise?

My time at Google was instrumental in preparing me to launch Tastewise. As CMO for Greece and Israel, I built a $2 billion online business, which gave me invaluable experience in scaling B2B operations, driving market share, and understanding the nuances of digital growth.

There, I learned firsthand how to leverage data-driven decision-making, innovation, and technology to solve complex business challenges — skills that became the foundation for Tastewise. That experience definitely helped me recognize the power of AI in uncovering consumer insights and shaping the future of the food and beverage industry.

Tastewise leverages generative AI for consumer insights. How does the technology work, and what sets it apart from competitors in the space?

Tastewise’s generative AI is specifically crafted for the food and beverage industry, leveraging seven years of specialized data to provide real-time insights into what, why, and how people eat.

Our AI analyzes a vast array of data – spanning 75 billion social media posts, 1 trillion online recipes, 160 million reviews, over 4 million restaurants (both chains and independents), and 600,000 grocery items. This allows us not only to track current consumer eating habits but also to predict emerging food and beverage trends with high accuracy, giving brands a competitive edge in staying ahead of industry shifts.

This said intelligence is nothing without action. What sets Tastewise apart is our ability to transform these insights into actionable revenue opportunities. Our products streamline workflows, ensuring efficient execution. For example, the platform’s Innovation Dashboard simplifies trend discovery, while TasteGPT will instantly generate AI-powered ideas for new products based on your goals.

Another example is something like our Content Agency which converts these insights into high-performing marketing campaigns. Together, these tools enable brands to capitalize on growth opportunities by enhancing shelf presence, expanding menu offerings, or boosting product usage—empowered by AI-driven execution.

How do you ensure the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated insights, and what challenges have you faced in training models for such a niche industry?

At first glance, AI for the food and beverage industry might seem niche, but in reality, it’s centered on a $10 trillion global market that touches every aspect of our daily lives. Digitalization has amplified its reach, with food-related content, such as Instagram posts about food, now constituting 20% of all online content—underscoring that food is not just a market, but a central part of the digital conversation.

When we started seven years ago, we relied on traditional AI models long before generative AI became mainstream. The insights we gathered over time from these models provided a strong foundation for validating the accuracy and relevance of our generative AI outputs.

By cross-referencing new insights with established data, we ensure a high level of reliability in our results. While no AI system is perfect, this approach allows us to maintain accuracy and refine our models effectively.

Tastewise processes vast amounts of data from menus, social media, and consumer behavior. What specific machine learning models or techniques does your platform use to generate actionable insights?

At Tastewise, we leverage a combination of advanced machine learning techniques to transform vast amounts of data into actionable insights. Analogizers, typically used for unsupervised learning, help us cluster data based on similar patterns, even when those patterns are not predefined. For instance, we use Analogizers to classify (or group) store chains.

Connectionist models, like neural networks, allow us to classify demographics and behavioral groups, which we refer to as audiences. Meanwhile, Symbolyst’s tree and forest models are used for entity matching—connecting different delivery platforms to the same Tastewise entity. In this process, we rely on a consistent set of features (such as name, address, and phone number) and apply relatively rigid rules to ensure accurate matching across platforms.

Together, these models enable us to provide businesses with precise, data-driven insights that not only inform strategic decisions but also anticipate future food and drink trends.

TasteGPT has identified growth in unique dessert preparation methods, such as infusing and grilling. What other culinary innovations are on the horizon?

Tastewise’s latest insights reveal a fascinating evolution in how consumers approach dessert and food preparation. While techniques like infusing and grilling continue to gain traction, other unique methods are also rising in popularity, reflecting shifts in texture preferences, dining experiences, and even portion sizes.

One of the most notable trends is soaking, which has seen a 30% year-over-year increase. Soaking involves submerging ingredients in liquid to enhance texture, flavor, or nutritional properties. Traditionally associated with overnight oats, this method is expanding into new territory, such as infused grains and pre-soaked nuts for alternative dairy products.

Another technique gaining attention is tenderizing, up 25% YoY. Tenderizing is the process of breaking down muscle fibers in meat or altering the texture of plant-based ingredients to create a softer bite. The rise in interest may indicate a growing consumer preference for more refined, melt-in-your-mouth textures across various cuisines.

On the experiential side, hibachi cooking has grown by 18% YoY, signaling a heightened interest in high-heat, interactive dining. Hibachi is a Japanese grilling style where ingredients are cooked at high temperatures on an open grill, often in a theatrical, engaging manner. Whether at restaurants or in home kitchens, this trend reflects the appeal of immersive cooking experiences that bring both entertainment and bold flavors to the table.

Finally, the concept of miniaturization is also on the rise, with a 14% YoY increase. Miniaturization involves creating smaller, bite-sized versions of traditional dishes or desserts, often emphasizing portion control and aesthetic appeal. The demand for gourmet small plates, petite pastries, and individually portioned treats suggests that consumers are looking for indulgence in a more balanced and customizable way.

What are some of the most surprising trends or insights Tastewise has uncovered recently in the food and beverage space?

In Fall 2024, we continued our tradition of releasing the Flavor Trends Report, highlighting the most disruptive food and beverage trends shaping 2025

One of the most striking trends is the rise of Middle Eastern flavors, particularly Yemeni spices like hawaij and black lime. As consumers seek out bold, warming flavors, hawaij – a rich blend of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves – is emerging as the next big thing in beverages, poised to challenge the long-reigning pumpkin spice.

While flavor exploration is on the rise, economic realities are shaping how younger generations approach food. With affordability in mind, Gen Z is gravitating toward Filipino cuisine, drawn to its rich, umami-packed flavors that don’t compromise on taste or cost.

Beyond taste and affordability, sustainability remains a key driver of consumer choices, especially in beverages. Sustainable wine is gaining traction, as eco-conscious drinkers prioritize brands that practice regenerative agriculture and embrace lower-carbon production methods.

At the same time, the health and wellness movement is evolving in the wake of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Consumers are increasingly looking for personalized nutrition solutions that align with their individual needs, from hormone balance to hydration.

Together, these trends point to a future where consumers are not only seeking exciting flavors and cost-conscious meals but also making mindful choices that align with their health and sustainability goals.

What’s your vision for Tastewise in the next five to ten years, and how do you see AI evolving in the food and beverage industry?

AI is already a fundamental part of the food and beverage industry structure and consumer behavior. Consumers’ eating habits are already, in many ways, already affected by AI-supported algorithms on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Meanwhile, the industry is awash with AI tools revolutionizing demand prediction and overall productivity.

The industry is constantly playing catch-up with consumer demands, leading to an over 90% failure rate for new food and beverage products. According to the World Economic Forum, the food and beverage industry costs over $19 trillion due to environmental damage and food-related health issues, almost double what the industry itself is worth.

I feel that in the next 5-10 years, companies using AI tools will start the shift toward a greater equilibrium, where brands are not only staying on top of trends but having a far greater understanding of them and can move rapidly from ideation to shelf.

This means that the 90% failure rate will come rapidly down, perhaps even to zero, which I find more interesting. We’re already seeing brands like KraftHeinz, Givaudan, Pepsico, and Waitrose pushing new boundaries with their products and marketing because of their use of AI tools and platforms.

This shift causes us to ask: What if all innovation succeeds? What if all connects directly to your intended audience? What if every product goes to the right place?

AI will essentially become an extension of the human team—faster, more precise, and always-on. I believe we’ll see a shift from a “helpful tool” to a “core collaborator.” And what that means for us at Tastewise is profound.

Our vision is clear: Tastewise will be the operating system of food and beverage innovation. We’re not just building a data platform—we’re building the go-to environment where brands dream, test, validate, and execute, all in one place. That’s what gets me excited.

We’ve already laid the groundwork by pairing real consumer behavior with GenAI to automate what used to take teams weeks or months. Our goal now is to continue embedding ourselves deeper into the actual workflows of marketers, R&D teams, and strategists. Think of instant answers to complex questions, integrated across the tools you already use, accessible anytime.

And here’s why that matters: when we get this right, we don’t just help brands move faster—we cut down on food waste, protect bottom lines, and contribute to a healthier, more responsive food system. It’s better for business, better for people, and better for the planet. That’s the future we’re building together.

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to disrupt traditional industries with AI?

Disrupting a traditional industry with AI isn’t just about having great technology—it’s about solving a real, pressing problem. Too often, companies get caught up in the hype of AI without a clear purpose. The key is to start with the industry’s biggest pain points and ask: How can AI make this smarter, faster, or more profitable?

In traditional industries, change doesn’t happen overnight. Many decision-makers are skeptical, relying on legacy systems and familiar processes. That’s why education is just as important as innovation. You have to show, not just tell—use data and real-world success stories to prove AI’s value in a way that resonates with your audience.

At the same time, flexibility is crucial. AI is evolving at an incredible pace, and what works today might not be relevant tomorrow. The most successful entrepreneurs in this space aren’t just tech visionaries—they’re adaptable, always refining their approach based on market needs.

Above all, success comes from assembling the right team. AI alone won’t disrupt an industry—people will. Surround yourself with experts who understand not only the technology but also the industry you’re trying to transform. With the right mix of innovation, education, and agility, AI can go from being a buzzword to a real game-changer.

 Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Tastewise.

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