Menu flavors and consumer behaviors that will drive restaurant sales in the coming year.
Written by Bret Thorn, Senior Editor
No ceiling in sight as innovation continues into 2021. Aside from the portability and American’s love for them, there is also stability in chicken breast prices that make it an attractive and stable menu item, pandemic or not.
High in comfort, low in food cost and very delivery/pick-up friendly.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the least-explored regions when it comes to food in the United States and that is changing as this food is both delicious and full of history.
Fully mainstream, you can expect more differentiating items on chain menus.
CBD was the cure-all for everything in 2019. It fell off the radar as the pandemic took over, but it will be back, joined by its fun cousin, THC, as recreational marijuana gets legalized in more jurisdictions. Although legal hurdles remain for restaurants, the economic downturn will likely spur regulators to find ways to cut the red tape.
The comfort food of the fine-dining world, steak will be one of the menu items that will benefit from consumers’ desire to treat themselves once dining rooms open up again. Expect steakhouses in particular to thrive as the recovery begins.
Vegan substitutes for ground beef and sausage have become well established, but 2021 will see new versions of plant-based chicken substitutes and an increasing variety of dairy-free cheese substitutes and milk alternatives.
Similar to doughnuts, you will see more restaurants offering pizza because it delivers well, generally has low food cost and consumers relate to it.
The pandemic has heightened consumer awareness about immune systems and health. Immunity boosters have long been popular supplements at smoothie and juice concepts, but expect to see more of them in salads, side dishes and cocktails.
Unlikely to be a rush to reimpose restrictions for this silver lining that helped restaurants.
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As COVID-19 continues to rock the restaurant industry, some restaurants have tried creative options to boost sales. Contactless interaction with customers has become a necessity, and the tech teams of many restaurants have been working hard to streamline guest visits and make the lives of their employees easier.
Additionally, some of the largest restaurant brands have decided to make larger-scale changes and take that weight off consumers’ shoulders by making it easier for them to choose eco-friendly foods. Here are some culinary and business trends expected in 2021:
Written by Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor
Expect to see “experiential” concepts within pandemic boundaries, like multi-course drive-thru meals or creative use of takeout windows.
Independent restaurants will also upgrade their technological experiences as QR code and mobile pay become the norm.
Social concerns about the planet will start impacting restaurants and menu labeling as consumer look for food choices that better the planet.
New varieties of plant-based milk will continue to proliferate and dominate on menus.
