Natural sweeteners. No high-fructose corn syrup. Hormone-free. “Health-halo” attributes of beverages matter to consumers and can influence their purchasing decisions.
In its annual national survey of professional chefs and members of the American Culinary Federation, the National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) zeros in on “which foods, beverages, cuisines and culinary themes will be hot trends on restaurant menus.”
Sometimes, a team has to think outside the box. Then again, there are times when a customer might ask a company to literally think outside its plant’s capabilities. Such was the case for Sandridge Food Corp., a refrigerated deli salads processor.
Technomic surveys from January-June 2011 and January-March 2012 showed a 50% increase in numbers of restaurant chains menuing Chicken Philly sandwiches; during the same period, the number of Chicken Philly items available on foodservice menus nationally jumped by 85%.