Enduring preference for heat is creating opportunities for new flavours and cuisines in Canada

Study conducted by Technomic reveals the latest trends and data to understanding consumers’ shifting behavior and attitudes toward breakfast

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2017: Consumers’ usage of hot sauce is on the rise as spicy flavours continue to proliferate, according to Technomic’s recently released 2017 Canadian Flavour Consumer Trend Report. Demand for heat has inspired changes across menu categories as operators increasingly embrace spicy flavours to differentiate and drive traffic; indeed, 49% of consumers crave spicy flavours.

“The spicy trend is providing a growth avenue for a variety of new spices, seasonings and sauces, particularly those with an ethnic positioning,” explains Anne Mills, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “Expect to see operators incorporate more ethnic ingredients like sambal or peri peri to signal not only heat but flavour complexity and authenticity as well.”

Key takeaways from the report include:

• Twenty-one percent of millennials, compared to 16% of consumers overall, actively seek out new flavours to try on a regular basis
• Twenty-nine percent of consumers strongly agree that their flavour preferences change with the seasons
• Fifty-eight percent of consumers are willing to spend more on a meal that features new flavours, down from 64% in 2015

Compiling findings from more than 1,000 consumers as well as Technomic’s MenuMonitor and Digital Resource Library, the comprehensive 2017 Canadian Flavour Consumer Trend Report serves as a guide to help foodservice operators and suppliers better understand consumer behaviour and attitudes toward new and unique flavours.

Technomic publishes a complete library of Consumer Trend Reports. To learn more, please visit technomic.com or contact one of the individuals listed below.

About Technomic
Technomic Inc., a Winsight company, delivers a 360-degree view of the food industry. It impacts growth and profitability for clients by providing consumer-grounded vision and channel-relevant strategic insights. Its services range from major research studies and management consulting solutions to online databases and simple fact-finding assignments. Its clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants and retailers, other foodservice organizations, and various institutions aligned with the food industry. Visit Technomic at https://www.technomic.com.

About Winsight, LLC
Winsight LLC is a recognized leader in business-to-business media and information services for the convenience-retailing, foodservice and grocery industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio, including five publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Convenience Store Products and Winsight Grocery Business. Winsight also offers a suite of digital products, including websites, e-newsletters, webinars, video products, mobile and tablet apps, and custom marketing solutions. In addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings, Winsight also produces seven exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferences: Restaurant Leadership Conference, Global Restaurant Leadership Conference, Outlook Leadership Conference, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC, MenuDirections and Restaurant Directions. Winsight acquired Technomic Inc., a provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services for the food industry. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to www.winsightmedia.com.

SOURCE: Technomic