Hot Sellers: Summer Flavor Forecast Calls for Wave of Appetite-Whetting Trends

Posted in Trends on June 21, 2022

375_sheri-silver-DuAD5dWBExM-unsplashWe can’t help but feel it—a surging wave of summer vibes after two years of pent-up passion for all the flavors and fun of a season associated with good times and great tastes. The rollback of restrictions is sure to release the foodservice floodgates as menu innovation makes the most of a season of opportunity for sizzling sales. 

As the market research firm Datassential reports, fruit, salad and watermelon are go-to items for summer refreshments, but a rising tide of fresh flavor profiles is expected to lift sales this summer, from hearts of palm and non-dairy ice cream to dragon fruit, pickled everything and papaya .1 

Topping the list of growing summer menu items are fresh mozzarella (up 200%), BLT (up 175%), flour tortilla (up 150%) and white sauce (up 100%).1 Menus will be especially peachy keen this summer, since peaches are the top indexing flavor in a bushel of categories, including beverage flavors (white peach), seasonal tea, seasonal pie flavors, seasonal salad ingredients and sweet flavors.1

After the prolonged period of sheltering at home and restrictive dining, there is a feast of opportunities for entertainment-oriented culinary concepts. Half of consumers surveyed express avid interest in “revisiting an entertainment experience,” reports Datassential, which cites Cauliflower Nachos from the Punch Bowl Social entertainment chain as an example of shareable dishes that encourage social interaction.1 

With 32% of consumers surveyed in agreement that new and better food options would inspire them to visit entertainment venues more often,1 expect stadiums and eatertainment concepts to step up to the plate with novel and noteworthy twists on summer favorites. The Chicken Caesar Salad with hickory-smoked bacon from the Farmer Boys Restaurant fast-food chain ranked high as an example of an innovative summer LTO—“a classic with a twist”—according to Datassential’s SCORES database.1

In Store, On Trend: Better-for-You Foods Feed Summer Need

Even as in-store traffic returns, it makes sense that the better-for-you trend that took hold pre-pandemic and intensified during the outbreak has led to heightened interest in seasonal functional foods.  Healthy eating magazine EatingWell has compiled a hot list of food and nutrition trends to watch this summer.

“Trending flavor profiles will draw inspiration from the garden—from fresh fruits and vegetables to herbs and edible flowers,” reports Penelope Wall, senior editorial director for EatingWell.2  “When it comes to popular beverage trends, easy day-drinking is the name of the game. Think: low-ABV drinks, nonalcoholic spirits and a bumper crop of new canned cocktails that are easy to throw in the cooler for a day at the beach or a summer barbecue.”2

Passion fruit tops the list of the magazine’s can’t-miss flavor trends, as underscored by the popularity of White Claw’s Passion Fruit hard seltzer and  a 1,050% increase in Google searches for “passion fruit honey pureeover the last 12 months.2

Cucumbers are also enormously popular. Compared with last year, views of articles and recipes related to them have grown by 180% on EatingWell.com.2 In March, the magazine’s cucumber sandwich recipe went viral as soon as the magazine posted it.2

Among the herbal and floral flavors EatingWell foresees finding favor this summer are lavender (“lends a comforting nostalgia to some dishes”), hibiscus (“lends a tart, floral flavor and gorgeous crimson color to beverages and dishes like tacos”) and matcha (“in April, interest in matcha grew 376% on EatingWell.com compared to the previous year”).2

For summertime favorites and inventive twists on hot weather classics, trust the acclaimed chefs at Mondelēz Foodservice. With a distinctive combination of best-in-class culinary expertise and beloved brand ingredients, they create concepts that take trending taste experiences to the next level and refresh seasonal flavor profiles while retaining their nostalgic appeal.

Check out our recipe for Vegan Matcha Tea Shake with OREO Cookie Pieces and browse our Culinary Center for concepts to help grow sales for every season. For custom solutions to help meet your operation’s unique needs, contact us below.

 

1 Foodbytes, Summer Trends, Datassential, 2022

2 Wall, Penelope, “10 Food Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Summer,” EatingWell, May 18, 2022

 

Topics in this article

Related Articles

Right Bites: Restaurants Rework Menus for Snack-Happy Market

As small bites replace large meals, restaurant operations adjust menus for all-day snacking. Explore key data behind the latest trends in small plates.

Oh Dough They Didn't! Upstart Pizza Chains Cook Up New Recipes for Success

As a versatile staple, pizza continues to power sales. Lean how fast-casual restaurant chains Pie Five and 7Pie are taking pizza innovation to new levels.

Hot Sellers: Summer Flavor Forecast Calls for Wave of Appetite-Whetting Trends

Summer sizzles with seasonal staples and trending twists on old favorites. Explore flavor forecasts from Datassential and EatingWell for summer menu ideas.

No Sustain, No Gain: Foodservice Feeds Bottom Line with Sustainability and Wellness

Sustainability has become a core catalyst for foodservice success. Explore how True Food Kitchen and Mondelēz International exemplify the sustainability trend.

Smaller, Faster, Smarter: Automated Restaurant Formats Feed the Future of Foodservice

Sweetgreen, Chili's and Panera are adopting lean, automated restaurant formats. Learn how automation is transforming the restaurant industry.

Delivering Innovation: Off-Premises Foodservice On Point with Consumer Demand

Off-premises innovation continues to drive sales and transform the foodservice landscape. Explore how top restaurant brands are capitalizing on the trend.

Movin’ On Up: Higher Check Averages and Drive-Thru Concepts Raise Restaurant Sales

November 2021 was a stellar month for the restaurant industry. Explore the statistics and trends like Chipotle Digital Kitchen propelling business forward.

All About Newstalgia in Desserts

Tweaking familiar dishes to include a new flavor or format could be the menu addition that will pique consumer interest and help increase sales.

Metaverse Measures Up, Major Restaurant Brands Dig In

Top restaurant chains are hungry to tap the promotional potential of the metaverse. Explore Jimmy John's and Pizza Hut's ambitious metaverse initiatives.

Beverages and Desserts Fuel Flavor Inspiration

Inspired by classic beverage elements, operators are creating new dessert menu items — as well as drinks that feature dessert flavors.

Join the Let’s Chat Snacks Community

Be the first to know when we drop new articles, trends and insights, with updates delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get an insider perspective on all things foodservice, carefully curated to help you grow your business.