French cuisine has long been considered by many to be the gold standard for culinary excellence. Now, the economy has French consumers looking for affordable quality.
The year in foodservice beverages has been the year of the smoothie, with major and minor chains adding the beverage with a healthy positioning, nutritional ingredients and creative flavorings. That said, coffee remains the segmentís stalwart.
In Spain, Fossil's Vaporized Liquid Salt is a spray bottle of low-sodium salt; the manufacturer claims using the product can help reduce sodium consumption by around 90%. Another approach came from PepsiCo in Brazil, where the company launched Cheetos Cream Cheese Flavored Wavy Corn Snack with 25% less sodium.
Indulge Hawaii Plantation Iced Tea takes a regional approach to iced tea, claiming "the South has sweet tea, but in Hawaii, Plantation Iced Tea is no ka oi."
With children now regularly eating out at restaurants, watching TV cooking shows with their parents and being exposed to new foods while traveling, the days of basic fare have gone.