Want to spice up your restaurant or bar menu to keep up with the trends? Check out some of the advice offered by food industry experts to help you spice things up and increase your revenue for 2015:
- The “fresh” trend isn’t going anywhere
Nowadays, most people are interested in FRESH, rather than processed, foods. In fact, 87% of consumers believe that fresh foods are healthier. If you want to capitalize on this trend, consider using your menu in such a way that emphasize focus on your homemade ingredients, made-to-order specialties, and seasonal locally-grown produce.
- Add foods from exclusion diets onto your menu
In the past year, over 30% of consumers have tried a specialized diet such as vegetarian, gluten-free, raw foods, lactose free, detox diets, dairy-free, and juice cleanses. To tap into this trend, consider adding an exclusion diet twist to your regular menu items. For instance, in an effort to reach out to their health conscious consumers, Southern Hospitality (Justin Timberlake’s restaurant brand), is adding new “healthy barbecue” concepts that will “defy typical wheat, starch, and carbohydrate-dense options to offer foods that fit into a wide range of diets—from Paleo and Atkins to gluten-free.”
- Embrace menu items that appeal to those with adventurous palates
Consumers are becoming increasingly excited about sampling new foods. In fact, 1/3 of consumers surveyed are more interested in ethnic cuisines than they were a year ago. Popular flavors include:
- Aji
- Togarashi
- Harissa
- Yuzu
- Gochujang
- Nut butters
- Peri peri
- Savory jam
Uncommon preparations techniques such as cast-iron cooked, fire-roasted, sous vide, pickled, smoked, and fermented are also gaining in popularity. Tap into this trend by spicing up regular meals with ethnic flavor and foods. Blending two flavors, menu items, or cuisines in one dish will help you create an entirely new flavor that will satisfy the most adventurous appetites.
Overall, patrons are looking for new dining experiences that will delight their senses and expand their palates. Thus, experimenting with different flavors, cuisines, cooking techniques, and natural foods will help increase your repertoire and revenue as well.