Street food is no longer just a local, on-the-go meal – it is setting the pace of innovation for some of the biggest names in CPG, from PepsiCo and Del Monte to Mars Inc., and reshaping how brands approach spicy, globally-inspired flavors.
As consumers seek bolder tastes and more authentic culinary experiences, manufacturers increasingly are looking to street vendors for inspiration, translating regional specialties into scalable, branded products.
That influence now runs both ways, with the growing popularity of street food-inspired products feeding back into the culture itself, according to consumer goods company Unilever.
“Street vendors, once associated with traditional dishes, are now reinventing recipes with gourmet ingredients, modern techniques and cultural fusions. Social media has fueled this growth, inviting diners to explore new flavors and share experiences,” Andrés Cardona, corporate chef at Unilever Food Solutions, said in the company’s “Street Food Couture” report.
Street vendor-inspired CPG
Among the most recent notable releases are PepsiCo’s Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Flavored Tortilla Chips, which debuted this month.
The chips aim to capture the traditional flavors of elote, which is a spicy, grilled corn on the cob sold by street vendors in Mexico. The product’s flavor profile combines sour cream, spices and lime, according to PepsiCo.
“Starting with whole corn kernels, all Tostitos chips have masa made the traditional way, centering the brand’s commitment to craft that honors traditional methods,” PepsiCo said in a statement.
Along with the street vendors, the new elote-style chips were inspired by Mintel and Black Swan Data’s “Snacking Flavors for 2026: Global Influences and Infusions” report, according to PepsiCo Foods VP of Marketing Jess Spaulding.
Other major food manufacturers are betting on the street food trend, such as Del Monte’s 2024 launch of its spicy Mexican Style Street Corn.
“Our latest bold, spicy products are not only delicious but are a fresh and modern twist on classic favorites. They cater to consumers who crave both familiar comfort foods and new, adventurous flavors,” said Greg Longstreet, president and CEO of Del Monte Foods.
Mars Inc. also has been building its street-inspired food business since 2024, with the launch of Ben’s Original Street Food Line, which offers a portfolio of street food-inspired single-serve meal cups.
In July, the global food manufacturer expanded its line of four varieties to include Street Food Honey BBQ Flavored Rice with Chicken and Street Food Teriyaki Style Rice and Chicken.
“With the rise of busy, on-the-go lifestyles, it’s no surprise that more than half of Gen Zers are looking to try products that make cooking more convenient,” said David Jacobs, vice president of marketing at Mars Food and Nutrition North America.
Street-food renaissance
Smaller food manufacturers also are capitalizing on street food flavors, adding products in a wide range of applications that touch almost every part of the grocery store.
In October, Oak Brook, Ill.-based McCain Foods added Mexican-Style Street Corn Triangles to its TAST!EZ line of frozen snacks.
Described as “Mexican elote-inspired bites with roasted corn and melty cheese, wrapped in a mild spicy breading,” McCain said the new flavor is “a nod to Mexican street food’s rapid growth on appetizer menus.”
Ingredient manufacturers like NuSpice have also seized on the trend, releasing an elote seasoning and elote popcorn in late 2024. The company credited Frito-Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for sparking the trend toward spicy snacks.
“The 1990s heralded a revolution in cheesy, spicy snacks, thanks to the introduction of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. These snacks quickly captured consumers’ hearts (and taste buds), particularly within the Hispanic community, coinciding with the rapid growth of the Mexican population in the US,” NuSpice said. “This era marked a shift towards embracing bold flavors, paving the way for elote to enter the mainstream snack scene.”
