What you need to know about consumer and business trends.
You don’t always have the time or resources to stay on top of everything going on in the industry. What sets apart some restaurants from others is the ability to seemingly go beyond today’s needs, and think about what your guests will want tomorrow – and that’s why it’s critical to stay on top of foodservice trends.
Today we’re introducing a monthly recurring series on industry trends. These could be anything from food or flavor to technologies or customer service solutions. The goal being you always have a simple to understand and helpful resource to help you find the information you need to be successful.
Consumer taste preferences are always evolving and shifting, but it creates many new opportunities in the market for the development of unique flavors and exotic ingredients.
We’re seeing a strong influx of international flavors from Greek & Mediterranean to Italian and even African in the food category today and restaurant guests look for glimpses of these flavors in menus.
One area growing in prominence is the Latin influence on many traditional dishes. A growing Latin American population is a primary reason for the growing interest and flavors that often include tropical ingredients like mango and papaya.
This trend typically manifests in two ways:
- Foods & Flavors – While desserts like dulce de leche gained popularity in the early 2000s, today’s consumers are more interested in bold taste and intense spice from regional ingredients. Products and menus don’t have to be created from scratch though. Try tweaking existing favorites or classics to meet this demand such as doctoring up mayonnaise with cumin, red pepper or chipotle flakes – or try something like our Chipotle Ranch Dressing.
- Cooking techniques – Cooking over a fire pit or open flame maintain a sense of authenticity that is critical to success.
It is important to stay up to date on taste preferences, while offering your own unique interpretation on what your guests are craving.
