Spice Up Your School Lunch Program This Fall with Bold, Exciting Flavors!
July 2, 2024
Offering new flavors can satisfy the desire for culinary exploration that diners once sought in restaurants. Since 2020, dining habits have shifted to venues where people are willing to try new tastes. The reduced financial risk associated with sampling new flavors has now made restaurants a popular choice for experiencing new dishes while dining out. Discover strategies to attract new customers and inspire consumers to sample new dishes.
1. Exploring the Emerging Trend in Global Cuisine
Mexican, Italian, and Asian cuisines have seen a steady rise in consumer interest and flavor innovation since 2021.
Try CHA! Sriracha By Texas Pete® and ¡Sabor! By Texas Pete® Mexican-Style Hot Sauce for alternatives to traditional hot sauce. With tantalizing heat levels and vibrant flavors, these sauces can bring innovation to your menu with minimal effort.
Texas Pete® offers a variety of sauces that can help expand your menu to meet your diners’ expectations. From bold and spicy sauces to a variety of convenient packaging, there’s something to elevate every dish on your menu. You can receive a rebate of up to $500 on our extensive product line. Click here to discover how you can take advantage of this exclusive offer and transform your menu today!
2. From Classic to Unique: Ingredients That Drive Menu Innovation
In addition to global flavors, classic regional flavors and traditional preparations continue to be popular among young adults. There is still strong consumer interest in regionally influenced proteins and meat alternatives, particularly in timeless styles like Buffalo, Southern, and Nashville Hot.
Flavors such as Chimichurri, Tempura, Bulgogi, and Truffle, while not considered classic, offer a unique and distinctive appeal. From 2020 to 2023, the presence of chimichurri on U.S. menus has increased by 38%*.
One simple recipe idea is our Sparky Chimichurri recipe using Texas Pete® Original Hot Sauce, fresh herbs, and spices already in your kitchen.
3. Sweet Heat Stands Out
This summer’s hottest trend is the fusion of sweet and spicy flavors. Currently featured on 32% of menus over the past four years**, this trend began with the introduction of spice elements into sweet dishes. It has since evolved to incorporate sweet nuances into spicy offerings. Notably, 41% of consumers express a desire for spicy flavors in beverages, while 37% want to see spicy flavors in desserts. The popularity of sweet heat continues to rise.
Take your specialty drinks menu to the next level with the Texas Pete® Paloma Dust recipe featuring Texas Pete® Dust Dry Seasoning.
4. Encouraging Trial
One of the main concerns for diners when trying new flavors is the perceived risk associated with cost. To overcome this, consider offering shareable or bite-sized options that are easy on the wallet. This way, customers can sample multiple new items without committing to a full meal. Here are a few tips to encourage trial:
Sample Platters: Create a sampler platter featuring small portions of your new dishes. This not only reduces the financial risk for diners but also increases the likelihood of them discovering a new favorite.
Happy Hour Specials: Introduce new flavors during happy hours with discounted prices. This encourages customers to experiment while enjoying a more relaxed and casual dining experience.
Limited-Time Offers: Promote new flavors as limited-time offers. The sense of urgency and exclusivity can drive curiosity and prompt customers to try something new before it’s gone.
Texas Pete® is a hot sauce brand built for foodservice. Born out of one family’s desire to provide great-tasting sauces to the world, Texas Pete® today is one of America’s leading hot sauce brands.
*T. Hasegawa 2024
**Datassential
