Kara Nielsen is an expert in food and beverage trends and the consumer values that drive trend growth and adoption. For over a fifteen years, she has translated trends for strategic brand growth and product development for food manufacturers, foodservice operators and other firms through her work at WGSN, CCD Innovation, Innova Market Insights, Sterling-Rice Group and CEB Iconoculture Consumer Insights. Currently, she is living the trends, employed at UPSIDE Foods, the leading cultivated meat company based in the Bay Area.
Kara most recently directed the Food & Drink division of the trend forecasting firm WGSN, based in the UK. It offers global food and drink trend forecasts and reports to inspire new product design. During her two tenures at CCD Innovation (2006-2013; 2017-2019), she oversaw the publication of over 24 food and beverage trend newsletters for the company’s Trend Insights program and 40 bi-monthly trend reports in conjunction with Packaged Facts, a market research company. She has contributed food trend content and insights to food industry publications including Prepared Foods, Flavor & the Menu, Food Technology and Culinology. She is a frequent commentator on trends in the national media and also speaks frequently on trends at food industry conferences and trade shows across the country.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nielsen began her career as a culinary professional, working in restaurants as a pastry chef and manager. Kara’s interest in food culture and education led her to manage a number of food, wine and culinary arts programs at Copia: The American Center for Wine Food & the Arts in Napa, Boston University and Sur La Table, Berkeley. Her writings on gastronomy have appeared in Gastronomica and the Sage Encyclopedia of Food Issues.
Kara holds a Master’s degree in Gastronomy from Boston University and a Bachelor’s in French Studies from Northwestern University. She also earned two certificates from the UK-based Wine & Spirits Education Trust. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, San Francisco Chapter; a long-time member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals; and a past board member of the San Francisco Professional Food Society.
Detailed Resume
Experience
WGSN Director, Food & Drink
CCD Innovation Vice President, Trends & Marketing
Innova Market Insights Sales & Engagement Manager
Sterling-Rice Group Culinary Director
CEB Iconoculture Consumer Insights Food & Beverage Strategist
CCD Innovation Trendologist
Boston University Gastronomy, Culinary Arts Program Graduate Student/Program Assistant
Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & The Arts, Napa, California
Education
Boston University Master's in Gastronomy
Northwestern University Bachelor's in French Studies
Wine & Spirits Education Trust Intermediate, Advanced Certificates
Diablo Valley College Commercial Baking, Pastry Arts
Memberships
Les Dames d'Escoffier, San Francisco Chapter
International Association of Culinary Professionals