Almost everyone in the foodservice industry is aware that plant-based is among the top trends. There are many contributors to the upswing in this trend. From the surge of Meatless Mondays to breakfast menus touting Avocado Toast, there’s no doubt consumers will continue choosing more plant-forward dishes, not only this year but in years to […]

Snacking has always been a part of daily life. People say they snack to treat themselves, give themselves a break or provide self-care such as relieving stress or weight control. So, you might ask, is there anything different about today’s snacking habits? Why yes there is. Snacks have changed and expanded, and more than ever […]

Why is the meal kit (or prepared food kit) industry experiencing such explosive growth? Why are so many companies entering this market with growing success? The lifestyle of today’s consumer make meal kits a natural. Of course convenience is a big factor. And, even if the meal is a little pricier it is completely justified […]

Let’s be honest. The ho hum condiment choices of yesteryear are now pretty much passé. Gone are the days of limited offerings. Today’s consumers want it all: they want big FLAVOR, they want BOLD choices, and they want NEW tastes to satisfy their increasingly discriminating cravings.  But that’s not all. They also want their add-ons […]

Coming soon are the days of candy hearts with sayings. You know the ones we mean. The little pastel heart-shaped candies that spell out “Be Mine” and “Friends 4ever”. The ones grade school kids shyly exchange in February. But, while those candy hearts might be enough to satisfy the sweet tooth of an eight-year-old, most […]

Have you secretly been waiting for “it” for months? As summer rounded the corner into Autumn, the smell of “it” wafts through the air as assuredly as the Autumn leaves that seem to usher it in. “It,” of course, is pumpkin time! Oh yeah. It’s not just children who delight in harvest time each year […]

It’s not very sweet news for lemon lovers out there. In fact, the news is rather sour. With the increase in hot temperatures this past spring, California is suffering a major drop in lemon production. What makes matters worse is that lighter-than-anticipated imports aren’t making up the difference from the shortage. Unfortunately, operators can expect that […]

Americans have a long-standing love affair with cheese. Whether you go for Gouda or Gruyere, there are over 1,800 cheeses to choose from. So, it’s no surprise, we eat 23 pounds of the delicious, ooey-gooey stuff each year[1]. People often say, “extra cheese please” on a variety of their favorites, from baked potatoes to pizza […]

It’s 6:00PM and your regulars are running late from work…again. They need to feed their family and want to be sure that their hard-earned money will be well spent. They’re looking for something that will please everyone, has fresh ingredients and can fill their family’s bellies fast. They need pizza! After all, out of all the […]

Most of us have favorite dishes we order when we dine out. Let’s face it, there are just certain foods that have extra special appeal and when the craving comes upon us…well, we just have to satisfy it. It’s somewhat surprising that very often those foods are, in themselves, rather ordinary. Perhaps you might go […]