4 reasons why fries dominate restaurant menus
Sponsored content from our partner Simplot on Aug. 19, 2020“You want fries with that?” has become a catchphrase for a reason. Regardless of cuisine type, occasion or meal part, there’s a way to incorporate french fries into a dish to instantly make it all the more craveable.
For restaurant operators, it comes as no surprise that consumers love fries. But given recent trends in customizable, signature offerings and increases in off-premise dining, operators can leverage and expand their french fry offerings to boost profits, too. Check out these four reasons why fries are so ubiquitous on menus, popular among operators and diners alike.
1. They’re a standby offering for off-premise service
In the wake of the pandemic, delivery and takeout have been the preferred ways to dine out for a growing number of consumers—and the trend is likely to continue.
Food quality is the primary differentiator for consumers choosing where to order for delivery or takeout. According to Technomic’s July 2020 Delivery and Takeout Consumer Trend Report, the top purchase driver for consumers ordering off-premise is that the food tastes just as good as it would if they’d eaten it in the restaurant, with 45% citing it as a priority when choosing where to eat. For operators, this means offering menu items that hold well while in transit to a consumer’s house or while waiting for a consumer to pick it up at the restaurant.
Luckily, the ever-popular french fry provides a solution. Options such as Simplot SIDEWINDERS Fries boast an outstanding hold time—triple the hold time of a conventional fry—which makes operators and consumers love them all the more.
2. They’re the ultimate side dish
When it comes to side dishes, fries are unmatched. According to Technomic’s 2019 Starters, Small Plates & Sides Consumer Trend Report, fries are consumers’ No. 1 most-preferred side at both lunch and dinner.
With consumers ordering fries on a regular basis, offering variety is key to keeping things interesting. And this doesn’t necessitate extra work in the kitchen. SIDEWINDERS come in four flavor varieties (including classic Clear Coated, Beer Battered, Buffalo Battered and Smokey BBQ) that pair perfectly with any entree—all with a trademark spiral shape that affords maximum plate coverage, too.
3. They’re popular across meal parts
According to Ignite menu data, fries served as a side and fries served as an appetizer rank as the No. 1 and No. 2 most popular fry dishes in terms of menu penetration, respectively—proving that diners are as happy to enjoy their french fries with a classic cheeseburger for lunch as they are to share them with a group of friends before dinner. And with a little creativity, operators can find ways to further expand fry consumption throughout the day.
SIDEWINDERS are the perfect base to customize for any and every meal part. Bring the golden, crispy goodness to breakfast by topping a sausage-egg scramble with fries for a SIDEWINDERS Fries Breakfast, or dunk them in cinnamon sugar for an irresistible plate of Churro SIDEWINDERS Fries for dessert.
4. They’re extremely versatile—and endlessly upgrade-able
Among the many ways to customize a plate of fries, loaded fries show particular potential for growth. Technomic’s 2022 Predictions report found that loaded fries are among the fastest growing menu items, predicting that they’ll grow by 8% in menu penetration within the next two years. Given that consumers love fries as much as they love customized, unique menu items, it comes as no surprise.
SIDEWINDERS provide the perfect base for crafting an outstanding plate of loaded fries. With an array of on-trend flavors and a crispy texture that lasts, operators can craft craveable specialties such as Buffalo Vegetable Loaded SIDEWINDERS Fries or Loaded Ghost Pepper Cheese Pork Belly SIDEWINDERS. Loaded fries can be customized to suit any occasion—and they can encourage diners to upgrade and increase check averages, too.
To learn more about how Simplot SIDEWINDERS Fries can help boost profits now and in the future, click here.