Technomic restaurant tracking data show chicken wings and chicken strips among the top 10 foodservice appetizers.

It may be cold around much of the nation but the National Restaurant Association (NRA) is talking about heat.

MarketResearch.com partnered with industry expert Packaged Facts to determine the biggest trends to expect in 2015 in the Food and Beverage Industry.

Looking ahead to 2015, one of the most intriguing trends expected to shape the U.S. foodservice sector is the emerging popularity of internationally inspired street and grill foods that pay homage to the authentic ingredients and flavors of their homelands, according to Street and Grill Foods: Culinary Trend Mapping Report, a new study by market research firm Packaged Facts.

For its annual What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, the NRA surveyed nearly 1,300 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – to find which foods, cuisines, beverages and culinary themes will be hot trends on restaurant menus in 2015.

Technomic predicts a 2.3 percent unit growth rate over 2013 among the Top 500 largest U.S. restaurant chains. The increase is slightly higher than the 2.1 percent growth rate from 2012 to 2013 and much greater than the 0.5 growth rate in 2009.

While bakery and coffee cafes have much in common, consumers have distinct preferences towards one over the other for certain types of visits. For example, bakery cafes have a stronghold on midday occasions, whereas coffee cafes win with breakfast and beverage occasions.

As a result of softer customer traffic levels and a somewhat dampened outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a moderate decline in September.

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New foodservice products include a grilled chicken club, peanut butter & jelly, and a mushroom-blended patty.