Articles by Robert Garrison

Although they often take second billing on menus, it's clear that appetizers, soups and side dishes represent a main course of new product development in foodservice.

When it comes to improving foodservice new product success—it truly does help to solicit input from all sides. That's exactly what’s happening this year with a Collaborative Innovation Best Practices board .

Our past industry overviews featured menu and operator segment trend reviews to give you more customer insights. This year, we’re actually covering more of your new product activities as highlighted at the annual National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show and the annual International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association show.

Driving retail pizza sales are a host of new frozen products embracing all trends—different tastes, premium new toppings and healthier new options. Likewise, retailers appear to be allocating more shelf space and expanding the category with new pizza snack options.

Last year saw Winfrey join forces with The Kraft Heinz Company to launch O, That's Good, an eight-item line of refrigerated soups and sides.

Meat and poultry products are consumer favorites, food industry mainstays, and protein powerhouses—all factors that will keep the US industry for animal protein growing despite challenges from plant protein alternatives, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.

What are consumers choosing to eat? When and where do consumers search for meal solutions? Who’s preparing that meal? How do meal solutions get to the consumer?

Like so many competing food and beverage companies displayed on shelf, you have national athletic teams on display at the opening “parade of nations” and in team competitions such as ice hockey. Then think about how your company has individual experts skilled in marketing, consumer insights, culinary arts, food science and package design and engineering. So too, the US Olympic team has specialists in ice skating, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, luge, snowboarding and, everyone’s favorite: curling. 

Market growth in 2016 marked an annual rate of more than 2% during the preceding five years. Comparable—if not slightly lower—sales growth is anticipated year-over-year through 2021 despite challenges to the industry due to the widespread shift toward healthier living.

It’s here I’m reminded that “it’s not what you know—but who you know.” Personally, I embrace this saying because I live it every day. You see, I’m not particularly skilled in anything from mathematics to masonry and I’ve learned to make friends who have those skills. Of course, I tell my new friends that I can write clever poems or songs for them. When a friend moves, I’m also helpful at carrying light to moderately heavy boxes.