Build Your Bridge to Success by Knowing the Biggest Trends of 2023
2022 is almost over and if you haven’t already, it’s definitely time to start thinking about what you’re going to be serving up in 2023. With the cost of food prices continuing to rise due to inflation, both operators and consumers are looking for ways to make their dollars stretch as far as possible. At the same time, no one wants to sacrifice on exploring new flavors and eating innovative foods. Affinity Group is here to help you navigate the trends of 2023 with the inside scoop on what the menu for the coming year looks like.
1. Navigating the Supply Chain Terrain
The war in Ukraine will continue to impact global food supplies. For example, with nearly 80% of the world’s sunflower oil shipments coming from Ukraine and Russia, the war could affect the industry for at least a couple of years. Since sunflower oil lecithin is in a lot of natural products, this could have a huge effect on the ability to keep up with consumer demand. Having two or three backups for key ingredients will be of the utmost importance.
2. The Immunity Opportunity
Function beyond nourishment will also be more in demand. Foods and drinks that offer immunity and gut microbiome health are top of mind for today’s consumers. It’s no longer enough to just be simply satisfied from hunger and hydrated. That means that the food you serve needs to work twice as hard. For example, if you serve a drink that provides hydration, it should also supercharge the brain.
3. Plant-Based on a True Story
From plant powered pastas to faux fish to mushroom milk, plant-based foods will be more popular than ever in 2023. Consumers that consider themselves vegan eaters have dramatically increased in the past few years and even non vegan consumers have also reduced their meat consumption and began to embrace a more plant-based orientated diet. In order to keep up with this growing trend, operators need to make sure their menus are offering a variety of innovative plant-based options.
4. Street Food Smarts
Street food has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and there’s no sign it’s slowing down. From banh mi to poutine, street food is a great way to show off the authentic flavors of a particular culture why also appealing to consumers searching for new flavor experiences. Street Food also offers operators a great opportunity to experiment with new menu choices and introduce new regions and flavors as limited time offers that are perfect for creating an authentic experience for your customers.
5. Be Allergen Aware
The allergen-free food market experienced substantial growth during the pandemic. As more and more people continue to discover they are allergic to gluten, lactose or are unable to consume high-calorie products due to diabetes, allergen-free food market will continue to grow. Focusing on finding creative ways to serve up allergen-free versions of foods that normally include milk, wheat, soybean, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts will go a long way towards expanding your customer base.
6. Kindness Never Goes Out of Style
One of the best returning trends of 2023 will again be businesses that act as a force for good. Today’s customer is no longer concerned about just their own wellbeing anymore, they are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of their communities. That means they want to do business with operations that work harder to help make the planet a better place to live. Remember to think about what impact you will have not just on your customer’s tastebuds, but on the entire world you live in.
When it comes to making sure you are on track for meeting your customers’ demands for innovative, unique, and exciting options that feel like a good value in 2023, remember that Affinity Group is always here to help. Whether it’s the know-how you need to navigate trending flavors and foods or connecting you with the right resources and relationships to boost your presence, we are ready to put your business in a position to succeed as you build Your Bridge to Success.