By Kristin Menas
Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus in September.
Korean barbecue
About the trend: Operators are rolling out pork sandwiches, wings and other meat-focused items made with specialty Korean-inspired barbecue sauces
- Featured at quick-service and casual-dining restaurants
- Korean mentions are up 34.6 per cent overall on menus in the latest year-long period
- Offers a new and interesting take on barbecue
Menu Examples:
- Subway Canada’s Korean BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
- SUB’s Korean Honey BBQ Rib Sub
- Boston Pizza’s Sweet Korean BBQ Wing Sauce
Topped doughnuts
About the trend: Operators are introducing specialty doughnuts topped with creative ingredients, ranging from savoury bacon to sweet cereals
- Featured at both doughnut and non-doughnut foodservice concepts
- Doughnuts are serving as novelty items on menus with attention-grabbing toppings
- Follows the mashup trend with a “wow factor” element
Menu Examples:
- Country Style’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch Doughnut and Maple Bacon Doughnut
- Krispy Kreme Canada’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Doughnut
- Symposium Cafe’s Caramel Banana Donut
Stacked cups/jars
About the trend: A particularly unique trend, plastic cups and jars are being used to feature layers of healthy ingredients like grains, greens and yogurt
- Found at quick-service and fast-casual foodservice concepts
- Cups and jars serve as convenient, resealable packaging for on-the-go guests
- Transparency of the packaging highlights freshness of ingredients
Menu Examples:
- Presse Cafe’s lineup of Meal Salads in varieties like quinoa and vegan Caesar, served in resealable plastic cups
- The CHOPPED LEAF’s Stuffed Cups lineup made with healthy ingredients like brown rice and nuts, also in plastic to-go cups
- Booster Juice’s Probiotic Vanilla Greek Yogurt with Fresh Fruit Toppings grab-and-go parfait
About the author:
Kristin Menas is the Associate Editor, Canada & Adult Beverage at Technomic Inc. in Chicago. Technomic provides clients with the facts, insights and consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. Its services include publications and digital products, as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry. For more information, visit www.technomic.com.
