The foodservice industry is a slave to popular media trends and the social behaviors of the masses.  From the Atkins Diet to Gluten Free, restaurant owners are constantly adding and subtracting menu items in order to please a wider variety of the general public.  This year will be no different according to the market research firm The NPD Group, who suggest that the pressure will be on to improve overall menu item nutritional value, and to appease the growing demographic influence on the industry.

Significant attention has been placed on the ever-expanding waistlines of today’s youth.  Children’s meals have been the focus of both legislative and health advocacy groups for the past few years.  According to NPD, the pressure will be on in 2012 to improve the healthfulness of kids’ meals along with increasing health consciousness among parents.  Current initiatives focus on children younger than 13 and include eating more fruits and vegetables and less fried chicken, cereal, French fries, frozen sweets, burgers and – you guessed it – pizza.

To try and align with the current trends, attempt to add health conscious items to your menu.  Include a no-cheese or thin crust option.  Add or modify your kids’ menu to include some light options and healthy sides.  According to The NPD Group, healthy and lighter dinner items are chosen more often than any other option.  Speak with your Delco Sales Representative for more ideas on healthy menu items.

Another popular influence on the foodservice industry is the rapid growth of Hispanic and Asian demands.  More ethnically diverse food will cater to the increasing ethnic populations in the U.S. as well as please the experimental pallet of the Millennials.  When planning your menu for these groups think sweet and spicy.  The younger generations are not a “one size fits all” demographic and need some variety.  Try adding a spicy chicken or teriyaki pie to your menu and you just may see your table order increase.