The food and beverage industry is constantly changing, and keeping up with emerging flavor trends can be difficult for companies looking to stay ahead of the competition. As changes take place in the industry, it’s important to have an understanding of what flavors consumer preferences of the future may include, and why 2023 is such an important year to understand and get ahead of foodservice trends.
In this guide, we’ll dig into the data behind emerging flavors by providing a rundown on what the overall flavor trend is, the key elements to consider when evaluating flavor profiles, and resources to help you stay ahead of the flavor curve. We’ll also provide a brief overview of the benefits of using Brizo for sales prospecting, marketing, and understanding the foodservice market.
Finding Your Flavor-Profile
Flavors can range from sweet to savory, from fruity to spicy, and can even blend multiple flavor profiles into complex layers to create unique offerings. Understanding what flavor dynamics are popular for 2023 can help franchisors make informed decisions on menu creations and updates.
One of the most important aspects in understanding a flavor profile is to understand the balance between sweet, salty, sour, and bitter elements. All of these elements should be taken into account when creating the perfect menu item, not only in the current trends, but for the future.
For instance, in 2021, the trend has been towards deamplifying harsh flavors that can be a bit too powerful or salty for an easy-to-eat dish. The idea is to give the taste of salt without the need to dump on the salty preservatives. Citrus-based ingredients, like fresh lemon or lime, are being used to add the zest without the sting.
That’s not to say that you need to completely put aside spices and elements like garlic or onion. These elements can still be carefully incorporated, but should be done so in ways that temper their intensity and create a balance that’s pleasing to the palate.
Resourceful Prospecting
In order to maximize sales and stay ahead of the game, franchisors need to do their own research on potential flavor trends. One way to do this is to consider leveraging data from the industry leader in food service technology – Brizo.
Brizo provides comprehensive data for insights into the foodservice market. This includes in-depth menu data, restaurant tech coverage, sales prospecting and marketing resources, and kitchen and expansion resources to help streamline production and innovation.
By using Brizo’s data and analytics tools, buyers can gain insights tailored to their geographical locations, restaurant concepts, and target demographics. This data and intelligence will enable the franchisor to create their own flavor profiles and explorations to test and identify which flavor elements will be most successful in 2023.
Data Enrichment and Confidence
In order to make confident decisions and strategically expand their brand, franchisors should continue to enrich their data with more comprehensive market insights. Using multiple data points in the foodservice technology industry, franchisors can develop an understanding of local trends, consumer preferences, and industry practices.
By combining demographic data with meal and menu analysis, franchisors can put their finger on the pulse of their local foodservice market and make informed decisions on what flavors will best resonate with customers.
Understanding the flavor dynamics of 2023 will be key for customers, as tastes are likely to shift over the next year. Franchisors must keep their finger on the pulse of consumer demand, while also staying ahead of the game to create flavors that might be around for years to come.
