Outside Eyes Can Drive Restaurant, C-Store, and Takeout Food Sales

 

Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meals and meal components continue to drive customer adoption, retail service change, and food industry sector upheaval according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. 

Recently FoodMix Marketing Communications’ 2023 Predicted Food Trends that Johnson believes our regular readers would benefit from reading.  That said let’s take a look:

Sustainability Becomes More Specific.

Look for consumers to be more engaged in the how and why a company is offering a sustainable product. With the success of emerging practices like regenerative agriculture, people will want to know the extent of how their purchases will impact the earth and future generations.

The Point Is to Become More Purposeful.

A company’s vision, mission and values are now more meaningful than ever to audiences, and, the younger the generation, the more important they are. Appealing to consumers’ hearts and souls will continue to be a successful strategy as a connection to the WHY will always help build Brand Love.

This Isn’t Your Grandfather’s Early Bird Special.

Early bird specials and loyalty programs are primed to heat up this year as younger generations seem less interested in staying out as late as their older counterparts did at the same age. Plus, with a recession looming, the discounts associated with these earlier deals will lure in more crowds than ever before.

Happy Days Are Not Quite Here Again – But That’s Reason to Eat Out.

Despite inflation and recession – or perhaps because of them – we expect consumers to return to restaurant dining rooms in 2023 out of the primal need for connection and community. They may skip an appetizer or dessert to economize, but they will still gather around for a meal.

Mushrooms Come Out of the Dark.

Thanks to their meaty texture and umami-rich flavor, mushrooms will certainly solidify their place in the culinary space in 2023. While there are plenty of (processed) vegan offerings on the market, it’s impossible to compete with this naturally plant-based superfood that lends itself to various cooking styles and craveable preparations.

Social Media Will Further Drive Food Trends.

In an ironic twist, foot traffic is coming back at brick-and-mortar thanks to social media. Consumers will continue to rely on digital influences to lead them to the best in recipes, restaurants and other food-related trends. For example, a new study shows 53% of millennial TikTok users visited a restaurant after seeing it on the app.

Mocktails Will Get More Creative (and Healthier) with the Addition of Fresh Produce.

When it comes to the latest trend in beverages, the mocktail, creativity will reign supreme and fresh produce will play a bigger role as bright and vibrant flavors offer up the healthy zip that consumers crave in their non-alcoholic concoctions.

Metaverse, Not So Fast.

Pioneers of the metaverse are retrenching, and it looks as if branded NFTs have lost their luster, because as 2023 will prove, generating actual revenue from investments still matters.

 

Dan O’Connell, CEO and founder of FoodMix Marketing Communications, stated, “As a food-and-beverage–centric agency, we have our finger on the pulse of upcoming trends, and 2023 promises to be one of the most fascinating years yet for the entire industry,” .. “From drinking less and craving the back-to-basics comforts, to eating earlier and shopping purposefully, consumers will be determined to make this upcoming year one they will have fond memories of.” The team at Foodservice Solutions® agrees.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869