As a head of sales for a new food product, looking to sell into new markets and increase your reach, you must stay on top of trends in the industry. Keeping up with major shifts in the foodservice market is the only way to ensure the success of your business. The dessert sector is a rapidly evolving one, and by staying up to date with the latest dessert trends, you can give yourself and your team a great advantage over the competition. But where to even begin?
Brizo provides a board and diverse set of data that will help craft a deep understanding of the foodservice market. With unique data fields specific to the food service industry, you’re able to get an in-depth analysis of menu data and restaurant tech coverage. Moreover, our data can also provide valuable insights for sales prospecting in the foodservice market.
Knowing the trends is one thing, but being able to act upon them is another. That’s why Brizo offers data-driven insights and analytics that equip your sales team with the right tools to attract, convert, and close more leads with data-led industry insights. Streamline production innovation and strategically expand your brand using foodservice market intelligence. What’s more, you can also enrich your systems with comprehensive market insights, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
The key to having successful menu items lies in riding the trend waves before it reaches its peak and then quickly moving onto the next newest trends. Some trends might stay only for a season, while others might stay around for a longer period of time. To get the most out of your menu item, you want to be able to identify trends early and keep up with the fast approaching wave of change. With the right data and insights, you can recognize trends early and increase your chances of capitalizing on them.
Below are the top five trends that you should be labeling as your “must-haves” on your menu for 2023.
1. Creative Doughnuts
Move over cupcakes and cakes, a favorite for the last few years has been doughnuts as the top dessert trend. Doughnuts are already seen as an easy and extremely customizable treat. Customers seek bold flavors, variations, and other combinations with standard doughnuts that could be otherwise unavailable in traditional bakeries. Not to mention the visual appeal, doughnuts are much more vibrant and playful compared to traditional cakes and cupcakes.
2. Quarantine Comfort Treats
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many people to opt for comforting home-style favorites. While some people might have been experimenting with more complex recipes, others have seen that comfort food as the “go-to” on their menu. Options such as the classic American pie, warm cobblers, and nostalgic puddings have been seeing an uptick in demand in the restaurant industry in 2021 and this trend is expected to continue into 2023.
3. Mix and Match Trend
Consumers look for dessert options that are completely unique and playful and one way to do this is through the mix and match trend. Customizable desserts allow customers to come up with their own combinations and flavors, that are completely personalized to their liking. From creating your own sundae to making your own cupcake kits, allowing customers to make their own unique combination of flavors is a trend that should be on every menu.
4. Plant-Forward Desserts
Healthy eating now goes beyond flavor, with customers looking for plant-forward and plant-based options that can provide both nutrition and pleasure. These types of healthy treats often also feature various superfoods and largely aim to appeal to health-conscious eaters. A range of treat options can easily be crafted with this plant-forward trend.
5. Take Out-Style Desserts
From ice cream pints to take-and-bake cookie options, desserts that mimic the look of a take-out restaurant piece has been a substantial trend for customers looking for a quick, easy, and fun treat. From classic cookie jars to thick shakes in take-out containers, this trend recaptures the nostalgia of childhood days and provides a unique twist to keep it modern.
These five dessert trends are just the beginning. With the right data insights, you are able to dive deep into the latest industry news, customer preferences, and seasonal opportunities. With Brizo’s foodservice market intelligence, you can identify the trends early and start creating items on your menu to capitalize on the newest dessert trends. That way, you’re sure to stay ahead of the competition and provide customers with great menu items that keep them coming back for more.
