The 500 largest restaurant chains in the United States accelerated their cumulative sales growth in 2014 to a 4% increase, totaling an estimated $274.4 billion. But some of the biggest brands among them, namely Subway and McDonald's, lost ground to focused-menu competitors and emerging fast-casual chains and reported overall sales decreases for the year.

Prepared Foods talks breakfast with Christopher Hansen, corporate executive chef for OSI Group LLC. OSI Group, Aurora, Ill., is a $6 billion global meat and prepared foods processor and supplier to foodservice, contract and private label channels.

Customers are seeking more flavorful, dynamic options in their dining selections, and operators have taken note, leveraging the small-plate trend as a way to showcase a range of flavors and cuisines in a small, approachable package. It's no surprise that small-plate menu items have risen 25 per cent on menus in a year-over-year comparison in the U.K., according to Technomic's MenuMonitor.

One surprising pattern: More than half of eating-out occasions are unplanned or decided on impulse. At 53 percent of all dining occasions, the frequency of "eating on the fly" accounts for more than twice as many routine occasions (25 percent); special occasions account for just 22 percent of dining occasions.

Sweet Street Desserts is known worldwide as an innovator in the dessert industry, baking for restaurants and cafes in over 60 countries, on every continent.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is teaming up with The Hershey Company again to introduce a new REESE'S® Peanut Butter Cup froyo in response to the high demand from chocolate and peanut butter lovers. This new flavor will be featured in more than 300 participating Orange Leaf locations from March 2 to April 26.

King & Prince Seafood® launched Small Plates/Bar Bites™ product line featuring Jambalaya Fritters, Crispy Southern Flounder and Lobster & Seafood Pups.

This year at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, it’s all about the “belly.” Pork belly, that is, as the US Foods Food Fanatics chefs introduce the new Chef’s Line® Belly Burger and showcase their culinary talents with the ultimate Beach Belly S’more creation.

Little Caesars® introduced Bacon Wrapped Crust DEEP!DEEP!™ Dish pizza. The pizza packs a flavor punch with two types of bacon and classic pepperoni on a Detroit-style deep dish crust.

Confections makers understand that, while chocolate is universally the leading favorite flavor, merely throwing chocolate into a formulation can incite more disappointment than pleasure.