A recently released report on hot food snacks in venues reveals some key insights into this year’s trends, which could make a significant difference to the bottom line.
Nielsen, known for its in-depth understanding of consumer buying behaviours, has revealed that there are potential gains by providing just the right kind of hot bar snacks.
Hot snacks have been shown to both drive spending and to extend customers’ visits, and Gen Z, who make up one quarter of the population, are on track to grow their spend further.
This makes understanding Gen Z vital, as they critically influence upcoming trends.
The research showed that more than half of all visitors usually order hot snacks, while one in five order hot snacks on almost every visit.
Importantly, it also showed this trend is on the rise, with visitors buying hot snacks more often than they did a year ago.
Food and drink experts believe two rising trends are Spanish and Asian flavours, which match Future Foods’ predictions of a growth in desire for global cuisine.
Regional, authentic flavours are rising attractors, with a drive towards healthier, more natural options.
The experts also agree that modernised comfort food continues to be a popular choice for Gen Z, with a desire for comfort food enmeshed with a desire for touches of luxury.
Across all these emerging food trends, sustainability is a key element, as this generation is widely concerned about social issues and tends to hold a strong interest in local communities.
For clubs looking to stay ahead, tapping into these evolving tastes with thoughtful, trend-led hot snack offerings could be the recipe for stronger customer loyalty and increased revenue.
