Food Trends July-August 2022

Just add a choc bar

What’s better than dessert? A dessert with your favourite chocolate bar on top, that’s what. Brand collaborations are a big trend in the sweet space and liked by customers, as seen in at least seven of the major high street coffee and restaurant chains. Including iconic confectionery in your desserts can transform an otherwise familiar dish.

Try garnishing your best-selling desserts or drinks with a biscuit, chocolate bar or branded dessert ingredient and promote loyalty and customer interest by launching limited edition versions periodically.
The world has had a ‘ginaissance’ in the past 10 years, and with World Gin Day on Saturday 11 June, what better way for you to capitalise on this than setting up your own gin bar?

Stay cool, stay sweet

Nearly half (45%) of consumers order desserts when eating out (BakeryInfo, March 2022) and the frozen dessert category is set to grow this year 5.64% CAGR globally by 2026 (Global Industry Analysts Inc, March 2022).

Frozen puddings are more convenient to stock and serve because they:

• have an extended shelf compared to fresh

• arrive ready prepared and pre-portioned, which reduces food waste too

• need limited preparation time for the kitchen.

Hands-free menus

Could contactless be a part of the future of ordering food? QR code downloads have increased 750% since the start of the pandemic (Bitly, March 2021), and one of their many uses is to view menus, order food and pay for it in bars, restaurants and cafes.

In fact, more than 30% of the industry are reporting that they have expanded QR codes beyond just menus (Beaconstac, March 2022).

Digital ordering is easier for customers, and can be cost-effective and time-saving. It is possible to create a branded space for customers to interact with and collect approved data for ongoing marketing and loyalty schemes.

Ensure you have mobile or app ordering activated menus, and use QR codes where possible to speed up the whole customer experience.