Food Trends in the US
Here in the UK, we tend to find food and drink trends working their way from across the pond in the US and firmly establishing themselves in to British catering culture. Our guest blogger, Mark from catering retailer IceMachinesPlus.com in the US has given us an insight in to the food trends in the US so we can look ahead at 2015 and see what we can expect to find in the UK in the coming months.
According to a blurb on The Food & Drink Network, “If we think trends come from America… we’re right.” So what are the predicted trends for food and drink in 2015? The nature of prediction is always tricky, but there are few things that seem sure.
Beverages Gain Center Stage
Whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, consumers want more than the standard offerings. Starbucks recently released its Fizzio line of soft drinks. Craft beer is booming in the US, as well as imported beer. Wine is growing in focus, and smoothies and other health drinks are wildly popular. If the trend comes over you might want to consider a larger capacity ice machine.
Bitter is Better
Bitter used to be a dirty word in American cuisine, but it looks like bitter foods like dark chocolate, bold coffee roasts, hoppy beer, and bitter vegetables are becoming more popular. So it looks like the old foods are starting to gain favor once more.
Technology Ascendant
iPads with menus and online ordering are becoming more common. While we don’t think the iPad will replace the wait staff anytime soon, there may be a push for it in 2015, especially if lower-wage restaurant workers continue to protest for higher wages and better tips.
Southeast Asian Cuisine Gets Mainstream
While Britain is known for Indian cuisine, Korean, Vietnamese, and even upscale ramen shops will gain more popularity in 2015 in America. Yum Brands (the owner of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut) recently opened a flagship bahn mi shop in Dallas, Texas that is getting noticed.
Local Beats Organic
Farm-to-table concepts are proving very popular as the locavore movement continues to spread. Americans are enjoying getting familiar with a particular farmer’s products and feeling like they’re part of the local food chain. Local may beat organic as the new buzzword of trendy healthy food.
Pick and Choose
Americans love their freedom, and that includes freedom of dietary choice. Picky dieters won’t stay at a shop that doesn’t cater to their needs. One response is to build a pick and choose menu of various items to let the diner select what they want to eat.
This is just a few of the trends we’re seeing that may make their way over to the UK, but we have our own food trends too. Look for clearer food labeling, more marketing to the millennial generation, and an increased awareness of healthier fats and carbs.
Author
Mark is from IceMachinesPlus.com with over 10 years of experience in the restaurant and bar industry. With an extensive background and entertaining writing style Mark is focused on providing quality information and advice to managers and contractors about the best practices on choosing the right type of ice machine.
