The latest health and wellness trends have thrust seafood into the spotlight. Consumers are seeking to incorporate more seafood into their diets to support their health and wellness goals – even going so far as to consume seafood a certain number of days each week. In fact, according to Mintel, almost half of consumers report consuming seafood regularly for health reasons. As consumers up their seafood intake, they’re looking for new and exciting ways to experience shrimp, scallops, fish and more. It’s time to look beyond familiar flavors and traditional dishes to get consumers excited about incorporating seafood into their regular diets. Variety is key and looking towards up-and-coming trends for inspiration is the best way to reinvigorate this category.
Real, Authentic Regional Inspiration
Regional cuisines are on the rise, as adventurous consumers have been seeking to experience the foods and flavors of various corners of our country. With consumers craving regional cuisine, there’s a major opportunity to showcase seafood dishes from coastal regions that will truly delight consumers looking to try something new.
From the coast of Maine to the beaches of Baja, there’s no shortage of regional inspiration for seafood dishes of all types. Highlight trendy Hawaiian poke bowls or showcase classic Cajun favorites like jambalaya and blackened fish. Seafood soups and stews have also been seeing some growth in demand, so regional-inspired dishes like Maryland crab soup, Charleston she-crab soup, and New England style clam chowder are sure to be hits with consumers.
Up the Heat
Spicy seafood is one way to make Millennial and Gen Z consumers flock to the seafood aisle or the seafood section of the menu. These consumers crave heat and view consuming spicy food as a challenge and an experience. Delight these consumers by upping the heat when it comes to seafood dishes. Look to extra hot peppers and spicy global cuisines for flavor inspiration. Think gochujang shrimp, ghost pepper BBQ salmon, harissa scallops, and peach habanero fish tacos.
Offer Some Balance
Balance is going to be a buzzword this year and in years to come, as consumers seek to find ways to be healthy but also to treat themselves. Healthy seafood dishes are sure to appeal to consumers, but so are seafood dishes that lean into indulgence a little bit. We’ve seen the fried chicken craze take hold in foodservice over the past two years. Maybe it’s time for fried shrimp to have its moment. Fried seafood dishes will give consumers exactly the balance that they’re looking for. They get to indulge, while also continuing to make seafood a key component of their diet.
And fried seafood need not be boring. From featuring innovative seasonings in the batter to serving up seriously good dipping sauces, there are plenty of options for making fried seafood craveable and delicious. Think Chesapeake BBQ fried shrimp, green chili ranch dipping sauce, or yellow curry fried tilapia.
Showcase Asian Specialties
These days consumers around the world are absolutely obsessed with Asian cuisine. Not only is Asian cuisine typically perceived as healthy, but it also tends to heavily feature seafood, making it extra appealing to health-conscious consumers. Better yet, many Asian flavors also reflect some of the latest up-and-coming trends, like extra hot and spicy flavors, functional ingredients, and more.
Sushi and other raw fish dishes from Asia are witnessing especially high growth these days. Lean into this trend by featuring these dishes in formats that will be accessible and appealing to a wide range of consumers. Another option for capitalizing on the Asian food trend? Feature trending Asian flavors on everything from fish to shrimp.
If you’re ready to bring something new to seafood, we’ve got you covered! Contact us today to begin collaborating with our R&D specialists.