One of the top trends in consumer preferences that has emerged in recent years is food that tells a story. Consumers view eating as an experience, and as such, they want to know where their food is from, how it was prepared, the specific ingredients and taste profiles they can expect, and what inspired it. This has given rise to more specificity in the naming of flavor profiles, menu items, and retail products to satisfy consumers’ desire for knowing more about their food.
With this trend has come renewed focus on very specific cooking methods and the flavors they lend to different products. As a result, cooking method callouts like grilled and smoked have been trending in everything from sauces to snacks. Incorporating the flavors of specific cooking methods – and calling them out on product packaging – is one way to embrace this emerging trend. The opportunities here are plentiful, with several cooking methods seeing massive growth in recent months.
Steamed & Sauteed
According to Mintel, steaming as a cooking preparation is on the rise, with “freshly steamed” seeing 789% growth in foodservice over the past three years. “Sauteed” items are also seeing substantial growth. With health and wellness on the rise, it is no surprise that consumers are gravitating towards these food preparations, which hold the much-coveted health halo. Foodservice and the frozen aisle are ideally suited for launching “steamed” and “sauteed” products. Think Steamed Spiced Lamb Dumplings or Sauteed Garlic Green Beans.
Grilled & Smoked
When it comes to versatility, grilled and smoked flavors are where its at. These types of flavors helped give rise to the cooking method callout trend in the first place. Consumers have been craving the flavors of grilling season year-round, leading to product introductions in a variety of categories that prominently feature smoky and grilled notes. Proteins and sauces are an obvious choice for incorporating grilled and smoky notes – and items like smoky barbeque short ribs and grilled shrimp toast are sure to be a hit with consumers. Another option? Consider surprising adventurous consumers by finding new and unexpected ways to introduce more smoky and grilled flavors into their diets. Think a Smoky Bloody Mary or Grilled Caprese Panini Potato Chips.
Roasted & Toasted
In addition to seeking out products that reference particular cooking methods, consumers have also been seeking to add a little more sophistication to their diets. As a result, they have turned to roasted and toasted flavors as alternatives to grilled and smoky flavors. Roasted and toasted flavors also boast extreme versatility, making them suitable for incorporating into a wide range of flavor profiles and products. One option for making the most of this trend – and making unexpected product categories feel more upscale? Bring roasted and toasted flavors to breakfast, dairy, and desserts. From Roasted Garlic and Asiago Bagels and Raspberry & Toasted Almond Scones to Chai & Toasted Vanilla Ice Cream, the possibilities here are endless.
Our seasoning solutions can help deliver the flavors of trending cooking methods to any food product! Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.