A saucy summer is on the horizon! As operators work to increase traffic and attention, menus reflect a focus on flavour, with spice and sauces taking centre stage. According to Technomic’s recent Ignite Menu Report, several sauces have seen significant growth recently, including Nashville hot sauce (up 40 per cent), chipotle sauce (up 18 per cent), chile oil (up 17 per cent), and Thai sauce (up 14 per cent) on appetizer menus last year.
Today’s sauce trends incorporate a combination of flavours, as restaurants try to deliver on guest cravings. Restaurant operators can work to develop their own versions of the top trends to help attract attention and traffic.
A twist on a classic: Rather than replacing popular sauces with brand new options, guests are looking for an evolved version of their favourites. For example, many QSRs, including McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and KFC have turned up the heat with a Habanero Ranch sauce as a temporary replacement for regular ranch in the past.
Swicy options: Swicy is a popular trend these days, combining unexpected flavours like maple barbecue, hot honey, spicy mango, and more. Testing these out as LTOs can help operators decide which, if any, belong on the menu permanently.
Global inspirations: Global flavours continue to dominate diner demand, with Asian-inspirations at the top of the list. Without redesigning the entire menu, operators can add a few dishes that address this demand, like Korean BBQ ribs or Thai chicken wings that effortlessly build on the core menu.
How can restaurant operators simply add sauces to the menu?
Rather than building a menu around sauces, add them to the menu by complementing your already established dishes. This means switching it up with easy variations of burgers, wings, ribs, or creating your own innovative twist on a popular menu item.
Also, keep it simple by creating sauces that can be used for various iterations across the menu, allowing you to better manage your inventory and make your new flavours more accessible. This can be done by promoting a limited time themed menu – maple barbecue, for example – to get guests in to try it out before it’s gone.
Today’s consumers are seeking unlikely combinations, vibrant flavours, and menu innovation. Saucy additions can provide guests with an updated version of their menu favourites, offering both nostalgia and a new experience for customers. This can help satisfy guest experience expectations, along with adding a trendy take on today’s menu cravings.
