Emerging Trends in Foodservice

When it comes to staying ahead of food and flavor trends, keep a close eye on what’s trending in foodservice. Many of the top trends in recent years were born in foodservice and slowly, but surely made their way into retail. Focusing your innovation on up-and-coming trends is a surefire way to grab consumers’ attention and keep them coming back for more. Here are few trends on the horizon in foodservice to get inspired by.

Catering to Very Specific Dietary Preferences

Health and wellness continue to be top drivers of trends, with consumers being willing to spend a premium on products and menu items that claim to support their health-related goals. Restaurants have taken note of how much consumers are gravitating towards specific dietary preferences and plans, like keto, gluten-free, paleo, and vegan. Rolling out special menus that cater to these specific diets has proven fruitful for foodservice operators. Consumers have appreciated being able to enjoy the experience of eating out while still maintaining their goals.

As consumers get used to restaurant brands helping them support their health and lifestyle goals, they’ll expect the same from retail brands. Offering products that fit within the specifications of trending dietary preferences is a great way to appeal to consumers who are seeking to better themselves.

Cooking Method Callouts

Consumers want to enjoy foods that tell a story or offer some sort of experience. For that reason, they’re growing particularly interested in how their food is prepared. This has given rise to restaurant menus calling out specific cooking methods, like roasted, toasted, smoked, and more. The flavors of these cooking methods are in demand with consumers right now, as a result, making them perfect for translating to retail products.

Get inspired by trending cooking methods – and make sure to call them out on product labels. Especially with younger consumers, the more specific, the better. Look to flavors like hardwood smoked, char broiled, and blistered for flavor inspiration.

South American Inspiration

The foods and flavors of South America are showing substantial growth in foodservice. With consumers constantly seeking out adventure, even from the comfort of their own homes, demand for global cuisines has skyrocketed. South American cuisines, and especially Argentinian and Peruvian cuisines, have been winning over consumers recently, with more restaurants featuring popular dishes from this region.

With South American cuisine picking up steam in foodservice, it’s likely that consumers will expect to see more retail brands incorporate South American flavors and ingredients into their products. From cocktails and cookies to meats and marinades, there’s no shortage of authentic South American foods and beverages to get inspired by.

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