Reaching Gen Z: Restaurants need to create ‘new food experiences’ away from home that include fresh produce
I am a hoarder of research, always searching for, collecting, examining and tucking away the latest market reports, consumer survey data, peer-reviewed research studies, long-form articles from respected sources, and government reports. My inspiration for this column came from the 2024 Consumer Curiosity Report recently released by Curious Plot, a marketing firm. The survey was […]
Food freshly offers solution at MacFrut to extend shelf life of premium vegetables
Shelf-life preservation specialist Food freshly recently showcased the advantages of its sulfite-free and preservative-free fresh produce preservation applications for many of the premium vegetables used in Italian food preparation at MacFrut 2024 in Rimini, Italy until May 10, 2024. Recognised for its achievements in extending the shelf-life of everything from lettuce to apple slices, Food freshly’s solution […]
Grapes in foodservice: It’s all about presentation and taste, says Sysco director
Can expanding grapes in the foodservice sector drive increased consumption overall? Two experts in the field addressed exactly that at the recent Global Grape Summit in Bakersfield, California. Jon Greco, senior director, produce sourcing at Sysco in Salinas, California, knows foodservice, plus he knows the challenges from the growing/supplier community, and brought that insight to this year’s […]
Fresh produce finding its place more frequently on pizza
Platforms. Everyone in menu research and development thinks about platforms for serving a wide variety of menu items. Platforms can be breads, tortillas, biscuits, baked potatoes or pizza crusts, and each of these platforms is a perfect perch for fresh produce. Pizza especially. Crispy or doughy crust, a savory sauce, melted cheese, and a blank […]
Restaurant dining: An antidote to heal a less civil nation
After the pandemic challenged foodservice operators and their suppliers to even survive, we finally began to see a recovery. Now, with inflation zooming out of control and the prospects of a recession all too real, the possibility of another threat to the foodservice sector seems just too much to bear. Fortunately, there may be a […]
Growing demand for plant-forward food
Plant-forward is now the widely accepted term for menus and eating patterns that include more plant-based ingredients and fewer animal-sourced ingredients. The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), in its Have A Plant: The Plant-Forward Eating Guide, positions plant-forward as an inclusive style of eating that is appealing to more people simply because it doesn’t omit […]
What if there were more Irish pubs in the U.S.?
A friend of mine has been living in Ireland the past two years. He and his wife initially thought they would leave Southern California for a year in Ireland to spend time with their grandchildren. Then, the pandemic hit, and they decided to extend their stay and embrace living in Ireland a bit longer than […]
Steve Walpole: 24 hours of ideation to increase produce consumption
Steve Walpole has had a storied career in the culinary world. Today, his business, Steve Walpole Ltd., offers a range of culinary services tailored to meet client-specific needs whether for small start-up projects or big name brand name operations. Walpole has been a food and cooking enthusiast since he started a Saturday restaurant job at […]
