Now out of the recession, consumers are making their way back to the foodservice channel but without the expectations or spending habits as before. Foodservice vendors are adapting to these changing trends both where consumers choose to spend their money and on the types of items they choose to spend it on, according to analysts. Gone are the days of low-calorie meals with a traditional beverage. Consumers now want the best value for their money that also will benefit their health and provide them with a unique experience.
“The U.S. foodservice industry saw a 3.1 percent increase in value growth in 2014, which is an improvement from 2013 but still down from recent highs — 3.4 percent — in 2012,” says Elizabeth Friend, senior global foodservice analyst with Euromonitor International, Chicago. “Generally speaking, consumer foodservice is steady but slow, and this has been the case for many years. Restaurant chains are now fighting to win share from other brands and from other categories, so it’s become a zero-sum game with lots of fierce competitors.”