A premium ingredient grown in its natural home

Few categories rival ice cream for universal appeal. Even as expectations evolve, it remains a category for which many consumers hold a genuine soft spot. Across global markets, shoppers are paying closer attention to ingredients, texture, nutrition and provenance, reshaping what “premium” looks like in frozen desserts. Against this backdrop, macadamias are gaining traction as a strategic ingredient, offering a compelling, underutilised opportunity for product developers.

With 2025 now complete, the year is likely to be remembered as one shaped by active debate and adjustment across global markets. Inflation and cost-of-living pressures remained front of mind in many economies, governments and businesses grappled with the rapid pace of change driven by artificial intelligence, and shifting geopolitical dynamics influenced trade policy, tariffs and supply chains. These were just some of the factors that formed the context in which food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers and brand owners navigated the year.

Macadamia innovation showed real momentum in 2025. Across the 12 months to the end of September, brands around the world launched 735 new products featuring macadamias, an increase of almost 20% on the previous period. China led the activity at 14.4% of launches, followed by Australia at 11% and South Korea at 7.5%, according to Mintel GNPD. It was a year that demonstrated just how broadly, creatively and confidently manufacturers are using Australia’s native nut.