Trend Tracker

From landmarks like the Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City offering a traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, to QSRs like Burger King’s promotion of gingerbread sundaes and shakes, operations of all stripes are developing special menus for the holiday season.

Menu deals flat line with consumers

What makes the sale for restaurant patrons? According to the NPD Group’s Crest foodservice market research, consumers are less enthused by combo-meals and dollar menus of the past. “On-a-deal” spending decreased for the second year in a row since 2008. The NPD research looked at the year ending August 2012:

'Tis really could be a season to be jolly

New research suggests the Grinch won’t find many sympathizers among restaurateurs this holiday season. A survey of corporate HR specialists shows considerably more companies are planning to hold end-of-year parties next month, and many plan to spend more than they have in the past. Restaurants are commonly the sites of such corporate bashes.

Snacking for health

Snacking is good for you, according to the Chicago-based NPD Group. In its recent report titled “Snacking in America,” the market research company looked at Americans’ eating habits over a two-year period. The results suggest that the most health-conscious consumers snacked most often and chose from a wide variety of healthy snacks. • Healthy dieters snack twice as often as less healthy dieters • The “most healthy” consumer eats 36% more snacks a year than the average consumer

Global cuisine inspires

Global cuisines and flavors will continue to play an integral role in consumers’ restaurant choices. Industry studies reveal that customers are increasingly driven to try unique flavors. In its Flavor Consumer Trend Report, Technomic finds that 52% of respondents express a preference for restaurants that offer unique or original flavors, up from 42% of those polled in 2009.

C-stores get an "A" from college students

C-store operators have a valuable demographic to target, according to “Making the Grade: Student Consumer Impact on the Retail Fuels and Convenience Marketplace,” by the NPD Group. The report, which collected 12 months of data ending in June 2012, found that the 19 million college student population accounts for billions of dollars spent each year on C-store products. The report focused on college students 18-24 years of age: • College students made 351.4 million visits to C-stores, spending $5.2 billion on products

Street food renaissance shapes consumer eating habits

American street food is big news. In the United States, street food has been reinvented and reinterpreted to reflect the changing ways Americans eat. This ongoing street food renaissance will both influence and reinforce consumer eating habits for years to come, according to Street Food: Culinary Trend Mapping Report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and Packaged Facts.

Going solo

More Americans are abandoning the traditional "family dinner" and group restaurant meal to eat alone, according to a recent report by Bellevue, Wash.-based The Hartman Group. The conversations across the table with family and friends are being replaced by social media, claims the report.

Sandwich innovations boost consumer demand

Sandwiches are the cornerstone of lunch and dinner menus at both limited- and full-service restaurants, where they are offered more than any other entrée. More consumers report purchasing sandwiches away from home today vs. just two years ago, due in large part to operators' innovative responses to consumer demands for lower prices, greater variety, fresher fare, flexible portions and healthier items.

Emerging ethnic flavors

Asian, Latin and Mediterranean have dominated the "ethnic" category on menus for at least a decade. Now, Datassential's data analysis of U.S. Chains and Independents in 2012 revealed that niche ingredients and flavors within these big three are emerging.

Sandwich cravers pick faves

Panera landed the honor of favorite sandwich chain in America, according to a consumer survey conducted in August by Market Force Information. The survey polled more than 7,600 people and looked at 14 sandwich/wrap chains. A voting system was used, which accounted for chain size and customer visits, to narrow down the top picks to Panera, Jason’s Deli, McAlister’s Deli, Firehouse Subs, Quiznos, Jimmy Johns and Subway.

Commodity Update: A look at supply, demand and price

Potatoes, seafood and almonds are three commodities that are key players on restaurant menus. Drought, high feed prices and other factors have wreaked havoc on several staple foods in the supply chain this year. How are these three commodities trending as we move into 2013 and how can they enhance the menu? Potatoes