Category AI Visibility Report
Food Items AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈2,203,969
Est. AI queries / month
958
Buyer topics monitored
796
Brands on the AI shelf
110
Categories covered
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 958 buyer topics in Food Items across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 2,203,969 AI queries per month.
- Great Value leads the AI shelf with 0.9% of brand mentions, followed by King Arthur Baking (0.8%) and Lundberg (0.8%). The top three hold 2.5% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “strawberry cakes” (top keyword “strawberry shortcake cakes recipes”, ~135,000 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (20.9% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Value | 2,755 | 0.9% |
| 2 | King Arthur Baking | 2,334 | 0.8% |
| 3 | Lundberg | 2,248 | 0.8% |
| 4 | Bob’s Red Mill | 2,170 | 0.7% |
| 5 | Kikkoman | 2,165 | 0.7% |
| 6 | Ghirardelli | 2,122 | 0.7% |
| 7 | Guittard | 1,907 | 0.6% |
| 8 | Primal Kitchen | 1,881 | 0.6% |
| 9 | Bush | 1,577 | 0.5% |
| 10 | Daisy | 1,568 | 0.5% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| strawberry cakes | ≈63,036 | strawberry shortcake cakes recipes | 135,000 |
| chantilly cakes | ≈56,019 | chantilly cake | 74,000 |
| angel food cakes | ≈55,394 | angel food cake | 74,000 |
| coffee cakes | ≈54,402 | coffee cake | 60,500 |
| baking soda for laundry | ≈48,991 | baking soda washing clothes | 40,500 |
| rolled ice cream | ≈48,876 | rolled ice cream | 74,000 |
| twisted and spiral pasta and noodles | ≈46,393 | fusilli pasta | 60,500 |
| lemon pepper | ≈46,120 | lemon pepper pepper | 27,100 |
| ancho pepper powder | ≈45,522 | ancho chile pepper powder | 27,100 |
| fresh and homemade pasta and noodles | ≈43,163 | homemade pasta recipe | 33,100 |
| Chocolate pies | ≈42,768 | pies with chocolate | 40,500 |
| chocolate frosting | ≈40,033 | chocolate frosting recipe | 40,500 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 10,340 | 20.9% |
| walmart.com | 2,520 | 5.1% |
| kingarthurbaking.com | 1,758 | 3.5% |
| target.com | 1,489 | 3% |
| foodnetwork.com | 1,374 | 2.8% |
| bonappetit.com | 1,160 | 2.3% |
| thekitchn.com | 1,000 | 2% |
| epicurious.com | 924 | 1.9% |
Category reports inside
| Category | Est. AI queries / mo | Topics | Top brand in AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cakes | ≈228,851 | 17 | Duncan |
| Pepper | ≈171,053 | 21 | The Spice House |
| Sauces | ≈146,163 | 26 | Rao's Homemade |
| Pasta And Noodles | ≈124,088 | 11 | Barilla |
| Pies | ≈108,788 | 11 | Marie Callender's |
| Candy | ≈96,774 | 13 | Jolly Rancher |
| Muffins | ≈91,169 | 10 | Entenmann's |
| Rice | ≈69,716 | 39 | Lundberg |
| Frosting | ≈63,189 | 8 | Betty Crocker |
| Chocolates | ≈62,394 | 15 | Lindt |
| Cooking Oils | ≈53,385 | 20 | La Tourangelle |
| Baking Soda | ≈48,991 | 5 | Arm & Hammer |
| Ice Cream | ≈48,876 | 5 | Bubbies |
| Bagels | ≈47,357 | 6 | Sola |
| Crackers | ≈46,832 | 15 | Cheez-It |
| Donuts | ≈46,328 | 7 | DONUT |
| Ice Cream Novelties | ≈40,828 | 7 | Yasso |
| Yogurts | ≈40,309 | 14 | Chobani |
| Pretzels | ≈38,266 | 14 | Snyder’s |
| Soy Sauces | ≈37,121 | 10 | Kikkoman |
| Snack Foods | ≈36,812 | 33 | Cheez-It |
| Salad Dressings | ≈34,119 | 35 | Primal Kitchen |
| Salt | ≈30,965 | 15 | Morton |
| Olives | ≈29,167 | 11 | Mezzetta |
| Vinegar | ≈27,915 | 7 | Great Value |
| Pasta Sauces | ≈25,655 | 14 | Rao's Homemade |
| Popcorn | ≈25,522 | 9 | Orville Redenbacher's |
| Canned Beans | ≈22,704 | 14 | Bush |
| Hummus | ≈20,411 | 6 | Cedar's |
| Nuts And Seeds | ≈17,330 | 6 | Nuts.com |
| Salsas | ≈16,152 | 7 | Herdez |
| Tortillas | ≈15,849 | 8 | MISSION |
| Honey | ≈14,906 | 8 | Nature Nate's |
| Pastries | ≈14,663 | 6 | Dufour |
| Mustards | ≈14,629 | 10 | Maille |
| Marshmallows | ≈14,396 | 12 | Dandies |
| Prepared Meals | ≈12,834 | 12 | CookUnity |
| Pie Fillings | ≈12,412 | 7 | Libby |
| Cream Cheeses | ≈11,824 | 5 | Great Value |
| Jerky | ≈11,602 | 8 | Chomps |
| Cupcakes | ≈11,034 | 8 | Freshness Guaranteed |
| Pomegranates | ≈10,857 | 6 | POM Wonderful |
| Fruit Snacks | ≈10,135 | 14 | Welch's |
| Rice Cakes | ≈9,953 | 8 | Lundberg |
| Hot Sauces | ≈7,853 | 13 | Yellowbird |
| Flours | ≈7,495 | 19 | King Arthur Baking |
| Bread Crumbs | ≈7,377 | 7 | Kikkoman |
| Sour Creams | ≈7,146 | 7 | Daisy |
| Nut Butters | ≈6,923 | 16 | Justin Boots |
| Gelatin | ≈6,755 | 7 | Knox |
| Molasses | ≈6,638 | 8 | Golden Barrel |
| Cottage Cheeses | ≈6,579 | 12 | Good Culture |
| Ice Pops | ≈6,357 | 8 | Outshine |
| Breadsticks | ≈6,217 | 6 | New York Bakery |
| Millet | ≈5,899 | 9 | Arrowhead Mills |
| Tomato Paste | ≈5,680 | 6 | Mutti |
| Baking Mixes | ≈5,182 | 7 | Duncan |
| Pork Rinds | ≈4,861 | 10 | 4505 |
| Food Colorings | ≈4,590 | 5 | AmeriColor |
| Candied Fruit | ≈4,260 | 7 | Nuts.com |
| Whipped Creams | ≈4,205 | 6 | Reddi-wip |
| Popcorn Kernels | ≈3,475 | 8 | Amish Country Popcorn |
| Pineapples | ≈3,444 | 5 | Dole |
| Gravies | ≈3,386 | 5 | McCormick |
| Pickled Vegetables | ≈2,935 | 10 | Mezzetta |
| Ice Cream Cones | ≈2,742 | 9 | Joy |
| Taco Shells | ≈2,350 | 9 | Old El Paso |
| Baking Chips | ≈2,346 | 14 | Guittard |
| Cheese Puffs | ≈1,944 | 12 | Cheetos |
| Seasonings And Spices | ≈1,944 | 6 | Simply Organic |
| Cereal Bars | ≈1,591 | 8 | KIND |
| Dried Fruits | ≈1,391 | 10 | Nuts.com |
| Lunch Meats | ≈1,251 | 6 | Applegate Naturals |
| Baking Chocolate | ≈1,166 | 11 | Guittard |
| Horseradish Sauces | ≈1,005 | 6 | Inglehoffer |
| Seitan | ≈971 | 5 | Upton's Naturals |
| Dessert Bars | ≈961 | 8 | Jones |
| Popcorn Seasoning | ≈942 | 13 | Kernel Season's |
| Coffee Cakes | ≈914 | 9 | Hostess |
| Tapioca Pearls | ≈830 | 6 | WuFuYuan |
| Snack Cakes | ≈814 | 6 | Little Debbie |
| Cheese Alternatives | ≈497 | 5 | Violife |
| Meat Alternatives | ≈452 | 6 | Impossible Foods |
| Muesli | ≈277 | 5 | Bob’s Red Mill |
| Apple Butters | — | 1 | Musselman's |
| Avocados | — | 3 | GLC |
| Baking Powder | — | 4 | Rumford |
| Bananas | — | 3 | Dole |
| Batter Mixes | — | 3 | Krusteaz |
| Canned Fruits | — | 4 | Dole |
| Canned Vegetables | — | 4 | Del Monte |
| Chocolate Covered Fruit | — | 4 | Tru Fru |
| Cocktail Sauces | — | 2 | Primal Kitchen |
| Couscous | — | 4 | DAR |
| Doughs | — | 2 | Athens Foods |
| Eggs | — | 4 | Vital Farms |
| Fish Sauces | — | 1 | Red Boat |
| Guacamoles | — | 1 | Good Foods |
| Jams And Jellies | — | 4 | Stonewall Kitchen |
| Ketchups | — | 2 | Heinz |
| Kiwis | — | 3 | Zespri SunGold |
| Margarines | — | 4 | Country Crock |
| Pancake Mix | — | 4 | Krusteaz |
| Salad Mixes | — | 3 | Taylor Farms |
| Tahini | — | 3 | Soom |
| Tempeh | — | 4 | Lightlife |
| Tofu | — | 4 | Nasoya |
| Vegetable Dips | — | 4 | Knorr |
| Worcestershire Sauces | — | 2 | Lea & Perrins |
| Yeast | — | 3 | Red Star |
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for food items?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Great Value (0.9%), King Arthur Baking (0.8%), Lundberg (0.8%), Bob’s Red Mill (0.7%), Kikkoman (0.7%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about food items?
GEOly estimates ~2,203,969 AI queries per month in this category across 958 buyer topics, led by “strawberry cakes”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for food items?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, walmart.com, kingarthurbaking.com, target.com, foodnetwork.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.