What exciting flavours have you seen coming out recently? “From a mainstream perspective - meaning it’s popping up in leading chains - I’m excited to see things like turmeric and oat milk gain momentum. I think we’ll see more umami or bitter flavours start to gain ground in the independent restaurant space over the coming year, to take more hold in chains.”
What types of flavour combinations are currently trending and what flavour pairings do consumers find most appealing? “Almost two-fifths of consumers (37%) strongly agree that they want more restaurants to offer foods that feature a combination of flavours, according to Technomic’s 2019 Flavour Consumer Trend Report.” “Spicy flavour combinations are highly appealing, appearing in a variety of meal parts, from entrees to desserts, so multiple kinds of flavour combinations highlighting spiciness are pleasing. More specifically, half of consumers find spicy and smoky, spicy and savoury, and spicy and sweet combos appealing.” “While sweet flavour combinations are among the most appealing, some (sweet and sour; sweet and smoky) are decreasing in appeal, perhaps because they’re more traditional choices.”
How do you determine whether a flavour trend has staying power? “We look at the evolution of that flavour trend through a lifecycle. Typically, flavours start to emerge in small independent restaurants, then possibly trickle into emerging chains, and then into potentially larger mainstream chain restaurants and retailers.” “If a flavour trend were to just pop up suddenly in a mainstream chain, it likely isn’t one with much staying power.”
What are your predictions for the food service industry over the next 3-5 years? “Given the impact that COVID-19 has had, predicting what our world will look like in 3-5 years is tricky. I think in the short term, we’re going to see safer limited time offers in terms of supply chain and complexity. Menu cleansing will be a big part of that.” “That being said, I don’t think stunt LTOs and menu exploration are going away. People look to food and beverage as a form of safe exploration, but they’re certainly looking for comfort. I therefore think that we’ll see a sense of these opposing trends coming up together.”
Fi Global Insights 2021 Trend Guide | 7
