Do you ever find yourself ingesting new flavors? Does it ever feel like these flavors are appearing everywhere you turn? Does it seem like there’s a never-ending cycle of flavors, so much so that you don’t know where to begin when it comes to understanding them? This is the FOODSERVICE industry, the people who are navigating the latest trends in flavor.
The ever-changing nature of flavors can be difficult for food service providers to keep up with, especially when wanting to stay ahead of the competition. With the ever-expanding number of flavors coming to the marketplace from both local and international sources, staying abreast with the newest trends can be critical for foodservice providers’ success.
Since the foodservice industry is rapidly changing and quickly evolving, one of the most asked questions is: “What are the latest trending flavors?” In this comprehensive guide, we will answer this frequently asked question and break down the key factors to consider when researching trending flavors in the market.
Reasons for Researching Beverage and Food Flavors
There are a variety of reasons chefs, food service providers, restaurants owners, and beverage manufacturers alike research flavors. Understanding the latest flavor trends can help them stay competitive in the marketplace and anticipate changes before they happen.
It is imperative for any provider to understand the current beverage market to help them create and offer new products. Researching flavors can be time consuming and many foodservice providers are unsure of where to start. That’s why, in this guide, we will provide an overview of the current state of flavors and demonstrate how to use the data intelligently to make informed decisions.
Overview of Latest Trends
Asian inspired flavors are one of the latest culinary trends sweeping the market. It is no wonder given that their cuisine is widely enjoyed and the range of ingredients that can be used are endless. Durian, ginger, sesame and peppermint suck amongst ingredients which are quite popular right now.
The Latin American market is also gaining popularity. Consumers are increasingly interested in flavors from South and Central American countries whom have centuries of undeveloped palate. Chili, jalapeno, wasabi, guava, passionfruit, lulo and guanabana can be found in a variety of food and beverage products.
The advent of molecular gastronomy has entirely changed the texture and appearance of food. New flavors have been introduced such as watermelon, popcorn, lychee, and more.
In addition, flavorizing with unexpected ingredients such as cheeses, olives, truffles, and pastas are making unique waves in the marketplace.
Unconventional combinations such as lemon-curry, port-steak, and tomato-tapenade are gaining traction.
Using Analytics to Map Flavor Trends
When it comes to finding and predicting flavors, the foodservice market is rapidly evolving. Analytics are rapidly changing the way merchants source information and gain insight into flavor trends.
Modern analytics can help establish performance trends, uncover competitive positioning, and reveal opportunities through predictive analytics. Our data allows for highly targeted research and prospecting of the foodservice market with unique data fields specific to the food service industry.
By leveraging analytics and big data, foodservice providers can understand where new flavors are heading with the ability to analyze sales data, menu items, consumer trends, and more. Once they have access to all these data points, they are able to make informed decisions regarding the best products to introduce and feature in their menu as well as best practices regarding when to introduce them and discontinue them. Furthermore, understanding the evolving flavor trends allows foodservice providers to find new markets and expand brand exposure.
Another advantage to understanding flavor trends is that foodservice providers are able to utilize the data to decide how to adapt their menus to meet the ever-changing customer demands. Furthermore, they can use data to judge how their menu compares to the competition. Having access to this kind of data can be invaluable in the competitive restaurant industry.
The Verdict
It is clear that staying ahead of the game when it comes to flavor trends can be a huge asset to food service providers. With the right data and analytical tools, food service providers can stay updated on the ever-changing market trends and be confident they are introducing the most desired flavors to their customers.
Brizo’s suite of analytics provides the market insights which can support foodservice providers in managing their operations more efficiently and confidently.
Go beyond the trend reports and internal surveys. Leverage our data-driven insights to make informed menu selections, predict customer behavior, and delight your customers.
