More shoppers are purchasing a wider variety of proteins and cuts for their holiday dinners as they aim to make the meals less cumbersome and more dynamic.
While turkey remains the dominant center of the plate protein for Thanksgiving, consumption of such alternatives as pork, lamb, beef and chicken are on the upswing as more consumers seek variety, novelty and affordability when preparing for seasonal gatherings.
It’s estimated that Americans eat 300 million sandwiches a day, or roughly one per person, but are they popular enough to keep proteins top of mind for consumers at lunchtime?
Sixty-two percent of nearly 1,600 chefs surveyed for the National Restaurant Association’s What’s Hot 2016 Culinary Forecast named barbecue a perennial favorite in 2016, making it one of the top three leading perennial favorites in restaurants.
As operators trim lunch menus, commodity offerings are losing out to options perceived healthier, more convenient, more sustainable and more unique in their flavor profiles.
Chipotle’s organic tofu Sofritas, Panera Bread’s Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich and Burger King’s BK Veggie burger are all popular and all lacking one thing: meat, which isn’t an accident.
Meat is increasingly ubiquitous. Once confined to the center of the plate, beef, pork, chicken, turkey and other proteins are emerging as popular snacks, appetizers and side dishes.