The line between appetizer and main is blurred in casual dining
Implications - As the mainstream consumer becomes more health-conscious, the world of QSR finds a happy home among divergent Millennials and members of Gen Z who seek a mix of novelty and convenience from their food. Hybridized flavors and formats show a sense of adventure and imagination that bodes well with this new, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
Workshop Question - If you could create a new product category within your industry, what would it be and how would you do it?
Trend Themes
1. Hybridized Flavors and Formats - As the mainstream consumer becomes more health-conscious, QSRs that offer hybridized flavors, formats, and mixed appetizer-entrees show a sense of adventure and imagination that attracts the new, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
2. Bite-sized, Shareable Foods - The growing demand for bite-sized snacks requires QSRs to expand their menus with finger foods that are shareable amongst friends, family, colleagues, and the community at large.
3. Novelty, Fun-focused Food - With an Internet culture-obsessed demographic, QSRs that cater to a sense of novelty and fun with menu items such as festive pizzas, chicken chips, nacho-inspired fries, and breadstick pizza crust have a strong appeal.
Industry Implications
1. Qsrs - QSRs that specialize in appetizers and entrees have a great opportunity to hybridize flavors, options, and formats, introducing unconventional dishes that align with the new, healthy-focused, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
2. Food Retail - Food retail stores selling finger food items are in a prime position to offer clients small-bite options that are shareable and incorporate unconventional ingredients/flavors such as cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and even chocolate.
3. Food Delivery Services - Food delivery services that augment their menus with unconventional food items such as hybridized appetizer-entrees, shareable snacks, and fun-focused foods associated with lifestyles of innovation and adventure will draw a space in people's hearts as well as stomachs.
