10 Deli Trends That Will Boost Your Sales in 2026

Current deli trends include international cuisine, premium ingredients, healthy recipes and plant-based alternatives, artisanal products, and ethically sourced ingredients. Customers are craving convenience, so ready-to-eat, grab-and-go meals, on premise ordering, and pickup options are a must-have.

Below, we look at ten of the most popular deli trends, provide examples for each, and ways in which you can profit and boost sales at your own deli shop.

Customers want to explore international flavors that might not be readily available at every store in their area. From French cheeses to Italian cold cuts, international cuisine is an excellent way for people to experience different cultures and foods that they might otherwise only see on social media.

Here are some examples of international deli food ideas that you can sell in your shop.

Cheeses:

• Gouda (Netherlands);
• Manchego (Spain);
• Brie de Meaux (France);
• Pecorino Romano (Italy);
• Gruyère (Switzerland).

Meats:

• Prosciutto di Parma (Italy);
• Pastrami (Romanian);
• Jamón Serrano (Spain);
• Saucisson Sec (French);
• Bratwurst (Germany).

Other deli menu ideas:

• Greek mezze (tzatziki with pita bread, dolmades, and Greek salad with feta cheese);
• Russian blini (small, thin pancakes served with caviar, smoked salmon, or sour cream and dill);
• Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches with toppings like herring, egg salad, or roast beef, on rye bread);
• Korean kimchi (Spicy, fermented cabbage dish);
• Middle Eastern spreads (hummus, tahini, baba ghanoush);
• Russian potato salad (Potato salad with peas, carrots, and pickles, dressed with mayonnaise);
• Italian minestrone (Hearty vegetable soup with pasta, beans, and herbs).

Bring an air of sophistication to your deli products by incorporating premium ingredients like truffles or fleur de sel. These deli trends will make customers feel like they’re treating themselves to a special meal.

You can even make these products limited-time only to create fear of missing out (FOMO) and motivate customers to purchase them before they go away.

Here are some deli special ideas featuring premium ingredients:

• Caviar cream cheese;
• Gold leaf-infused honey;
• Wagyu beef jerky;
• Luxury spiced chai tea blend;
• Foie gras mousse;

Health-conscious consumers who still want to enjoy delicacies are looking for options with fewer calories, less salt, sodium, sugar, etc.

Provide them with a variety of healthier options, such as these deli ideas:

• Vegan and vegetarian bowls with ingredients like quinoa, vegetables, kale, avocado, lentils, etc.
• Low-calorie sandwiches and wraps with turkey meat, lettuce, sprouts, hummus, Greek yogurt, celery, carrots, etc.
• Healthy snacks such as fruit cups, baked tortilla chips, or roasted chickpeas;
• Sugar-free or low sugar desserts like Greek yogurt parfait, baked apple chips, or flourless chocolate cake;
• Healthy beverages like water infused with fruits, unsweetened iced tea, smoothies, or coconut water.

Customers also prefer products with fewer additives and preservatives, and that provide nutritional benefits. Label all your menu items with ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information, so customers can make informed choices.

GloriaFood’s menu builder enables you to add this information in minutes. Here’s how:

Plant diets are more and more popular, and this is also reflected in deli trends. Consumers are seeking plant-based alternatives to meat, such as these deli case food ideas:

• Tofurky slices;
• Vegan salami;
• Tempeh bacon;
• Cashew mozzarella;
• Beyond or Impossible burgers;
• Portobello mushroom patties;
• Soy-based hot dogs;
• Tofu bratwurst;
• Vegan chicken strips and nuggets;
• Plant-based crab cakes.

Offering these types of products in your deli will draw in a larger crowd and expand your customer base.

Convenience is one of the most popular deli trends in recent years. Instead of waiting in line to pay for their products, customers prefer to order and pay in advance. Then, they can schedule their order for pickup on their way back home from work or while out shopping.

With GloriaFood’s online ordering system, you can start accepting pickup orders directly on your website and enable customers to schedule and pay for their orders in advance.

According to deli industry statistics from a 2024 Circana study, prepared meals represent more than half of deli sales. So, to increase profits, give customers the option to purchase pre-made meals.

Especially if your deli shop is located around office buildings, universities, or event venues, consider serving pre-packaged food like sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, desserts, and other grab-and-go deli ideas.

Deli sandwich ideas:

• Classic club sandwich;
• Reuben sandwich;
• BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato).

Soups:

• Tomato basil;
• Chicken noodle;
• New England clam chowder.

Salads:

• Cobb salad;
• Greek salad;
• Quinoa salad;

Wraps:

• Buffalo chicken wrap;
• Tuna salad wrap;
• Mediterranean wrap.

Desserts:

• Chocolate chip cookies;
• Cheesecake;
• Cannoli.

Most customers tend to look for grab-and-go meals during lunchtime. You can target the lunch rush and boost sales by offering discounted bundles and brainstorming deli lunch menu ideas such as:

• Soup and sandwich combo;
• Free coffee with any lunch menu;
• Assorted deli platters for large groups;
• Gourmet lunch bundle: main course, dessert & drink;
• Charcuterie board & drink combo.

Use GloriaFood’s promotions module to create any type of lunch promo you can think of and boost lunch sales with zero hassle. Check out this video tutorial to see how:

Some customers prefer to cook at home instead of going to a restaurant, but still want to save some time.

As a result, one of the most popular deli trends is purchasing semi or fully prepared ingredients. These ingredients can assist in meal prep and serve as a shortcut to a delicious home-cooked meal.

Here are some deli counter food ideas you can draw inspiration from:

Ready-to-cook meats:

• Pre-cut and marinated chicken or lamb chops;
• Shredded pulled pork or chicken;
• Prawn or shrimp skewers.

Pre-chopped and seasoned vegetables:

• Mediterranean vegetable mix (zucchini, eggplant, onions, and peppers);
• Baby potatoes with butter, garlic, and herbs;
• Seasoned corn on the cob.

Pre-made dough and batter:

• Pizza dough;
• Pancake batter;
• Cookie dough.

Sauces, dressings, and marinades:

• Homemade Italian pasta sauce;
• Caesar salad dressing;
• Teriyaki marinade.

Meal kits:

• Pasta-making kit (fresh pasta, sauce, and cheese);
• Sushi-making kit (sushi rice, fish, nori sheets);
• Taco kits (tortillas, meat assortment, cheese, salsa).

Not everyone is in a hurry and wants to pick up their food to go. Other customers will want to enjoy your food on location, and recent deli trends highlight that. Help them do just that by adding a few tables for on premise dining.

Because you will be busy with pickup orders and walk-ins, you can automate on premise ordering directly through the GloriaFood deli POS.

Here’s how it works:

• You create a QR code menu flyer and stick it on every table;
• Customers scan the code to order and pay at their own pace;
• The orders get automatically accepted through the POS and sent to the kitchen printer or any other designated area of your choosing.

Sounds good? Get started by creating your QR code menu following these simple steps:

If you also offer online ordering, the GloriaFood ecosystem is the best choice for you. Online orders can also be accepted through the GloriaFood POS, so you can increase efficiency and speed up ordering with just one tool.

Restaurant POS features, such as the color-coded menu categories, quick search function, one-tap login, and intuitive hand gestures, ensure that you can also serve customers at the counter fast and efficiently.

Customers love delis that focus on quality. This usually means locally sourced ingredients that are fresh and seasonal, created in small batches with the utmost care.

From homemade spreads to artisanal cheeses and meats cured in-house, these deli trends will attract a wider audience.

Sustainability also plays a major role in ingredient sourcing. Practices like reducing food waste, ethically sourcing ingredients, and using eco-friendly packaging show like-minded consumers that you care about the environment.

Here are some tips & tricks on how to find local suppliers for an ethically sourced deli food menu:

• Visit local farmers’ markets that feature meat producers, bakers, cheesemakers, and farmers.
• Connect with chefs and restaurant owners in your area to pick their brains and see if you can get recommendations for high-quality, ethical suppliers.
• Get in touch with food co-ops and specialty stores and ask about their suppliers.
• Search local food directories to find producers and suppliers and get their contact information.
• Use social media and search for relevant hashtags such as #localfood[yourarea], #farmtotable[yourarea], or #[yourarea]foodscene.

Something as simple as a sandwich can become a perfect culinary experience when customers can choose only the ingredients they love.

For meals that are not pre-made, enable customers to personalize their order with different toppings, sides, choices, and add-ons.

With GloriaFood’s online menu builder, you can easily follow deli trends and personalize your dishes to allow clients to create their own meals. Check out this video tutorial to learn how:

What should you expect in terms of deli trends in 2026? More international flavors, premium ingredients, a focus on healthy, artisanal products made with ethically sourced ingredients, as well as more ready-to-eat meals and digital ordering options for on premise dining.

With the help of GloriaFood’s ecosystem, you can craft an appealing deli menu featuring irresistible promotions and automate ordering in-house and online through the POS. Ready to get started?

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