Bowl value meals & spicy sauces trending; take-home meals, cheese declining: Technomic

Technomic’s latest Ignite Canadian menu data report found that while the like of bowl value meals, spicy sauces, and lighter alcoholic beverages are trending strongly year over year, cheese and straight spirits have notably declined. The Ignite data noted declining overall year-over-year counts in entrees (-4 per cent), appetizers (-2 per cent), and sides (-5 […]

Pandemic innovations & automation will shape restaurants beyond 2022

As they bid to stay ahead of the curve through the persistent and evolving challenges of 2022, restaurants plan to continue at least some of their pandemic pivots and add more automation in order to counter ongoing staff shortages.  That’s the conclusion of recent research from payments and technology solutions provider Square, which recently released […]

In brief: the state of the Canadian menu in 2022

Technomic recently released its annual State of the Canadian Menu 2022 report, highlighting growing ingredients, dishes, drinks, and flavours on menus across the country as well as trend predictions for this year. With pandemic-driven challenges continuing in 2021, operators adopted new strategies and found fresh solutions to these challenges. Looking at the past year in […]

Vegan pasta and vegan flour markets expected to show strong growth

The markets for vegan pasta and vegan flour are expected to grow significantly over the next few years, according to reports from Future Market Insights. The growth in both markets is propelled largely by an increasing preference for plant-based ingredients in food products. Affluent millennials in particular have been the central driver of the worldwide […]

Forecasting global restaurant trends for 2022

By Aaron Jourden The world has faced nearly two years of disruption and uncertainty, cautious optimism and unexpected challenges. As we enter another year, the pandemic continues to loom large, informing operations, planning, decision-making, and forecasting of restaurant trends for operators and suppliers alike. And yet, with so much uncertainty still in the air, it […]

Technomic report shows Canadian burger cravings

The burger has long been a much-craved-for food item in Canada and beyond, and that doesn’t appear to have been changed by the pandemic. Technomic’s new Global Menu Category Report illustrates what consumers in Canada and beyond are looking for in their burger options late in 2021. Prominent among the report’s conclusions is that Canadians […]

Trend Watch: Calamansi, fennel pollen, fiddlehead

By Katie Belflower Another summer is drawing to a close, but the need for boldness and innovation in restaurants never wanes. Keeping up-to-date with the very latest in food and menu trends is a vital part of any chef and restaurant operator’s job. RestoBiz and Technomic’s latest edition of Trend Watch focuses on three menu trends […]

Trend Watch: Haskap, miso desserts, pandan

By Katie Belflower Chefs and restaurateurs must be constantly innovating to stand out in an industry packed full of talent and variety. Keep up-to-date with the very latest in food and menu trends is a vital part of the job. Thankfully, we and Technomic are here to help! This latest edition of Trend Watch focuses on three […]

Predicting post-pandemic food consumption trends

A new report from Deloitte assesses what the future could look like beyond the pandemic when it comes to Canadian food consumption trends. “The conflicted consumer: 2021 food consumer survey” report concludes that beyond the COVID-19 pandemic “food retailers will need to continue demonstrating authenticity, empathy, transparency, and genuine commitment to their communities, the wider world, […]

Trend Watch: Palm sugar, flavoured spaetzle, balsamic cocktails

By Katie Belflower Staying on top of the latest menu trends is key for any restaurant operator. Offering an up-to-the-minute creative menu has arguably become even more important during the pandemic era, when setting yourself apart from the competition has more value than ever. This latest edition of Trend Watch from Technomic and RestoBiz focuses on three menu […]