Recipedia

A monthly eNewsletter showcasing industry supplier-based recipes focused on trends and designed to stimulate menu ideas within foodservice operations.

Food

Signature sauces boost brand loyalty—and the bottom line

A signature sauce can help restaurants generate guest loyalty while also giving consumers a chance to customize dishes to suit their own flavor and heat preferences.

Food

The secret in in the sauce

Two in five people say they are willing to spend more on meals that showcase new and interesting flavors, finds a recent Technomic study of consumer flavor trends. And consumers—especially Millennials—are seeking a broader spectrum of food choices, indicating that options for more authentic and traditional foods are increasingly important. Adding or adjusting sauce applications is just one easy and economical way to satisfy this customer craving.

Americans no longer wait for one of the three main meals to eat; they love to snack—and they do so throughout the day. In fact, when asked as part of a study conducted by the Culinary Visions Panel in October, 2013, when they snack, none of the respondents said they simply don’t partake. Instead, the survey results show that snacking has turned into an all-day dining trend.

Snacking is on the rise, with 51 percent of consumers saying they snack at least twice a day, according to Technomic’s Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report. That’s up from 48 percent in 2012. Yet restaurants are not taking full advantage of this trend. Technomic reports that 80 percent of snacks are sourced from retail stores, while only 20 percent are purchased from restaurants.

Foodservice operators in every segment are revamping breakfast menus and adding more portable and healthy items—all in an effort to build traffic during the morning daypart.

With summer here, there’s a lot of call for liquid refreshment, both alcoholic and non. Here are the latest beverage trends, according to data from Chicago-based research firm, Technomic.

As 2013 winds down, 2014 trend predictions proliferate, reaching a critical mass sometime around New Year’s Day. A few preliminary reports are in and here’s what some reliable industry sources are predicting about what meats and other proteins will fill the entrée portion of the plate.

Pork is predicted to be the “latest protein star,” according to Technomic’s Take: 10 Trends for 2014.

Some restaurants are putting a unique spin on things by fusing traditional Mexican ingredients with classic American dishes. Here’s a sample of some tried-and-true menu items that incorporate these fresh flavors.

Dips, spreads and dressings are star performers in the bold, complex and authentic flavor profiles popular today.

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