bake - September/October 2024 - PAN39

hour. It opens up a whole new way to
sustain yourself. "
Global flavors shined in specialty
makers' innovative offerings on the
Summer Fancy Food Show floor. This
trend is about more than spice level.
" With some of the oil-based chili
condiments like salsa macha, it's more
about the flavor of the peppers than the
amount of heat, " Craddock said.
Fruit Forward Fruits cropped up in
some unexpected places at the show, as
exhibitors showcased how these natural
products and flavors can be enjoyed
as a snack, given as a gift, or used as a
specialty ingredient.
Survey respondents also reported
drawing from many sources for new
product inspiration, including consumers
(81%), internal R&D (75%) and retailers
(70%). Inspiration from startups saw a big
jump (44%), up from just 15% in 2022.
Still, there are many obstacles
preventing manufacturers from
focusing on new product Invention
and Innovation, the study found.
Respondents cited the need for cost
savings (61%), an increased focus on
existing brands and products (56%), and
inflationary pressures (24%).
Other challenges facing new product
development/R&D that respondents
mentioned include " rapid changes in trends, "
" consumers wants and needs vs. time to
innovate, " and " trying to stay current with
new trends and product concepts. "
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Notable food agency ChangeUp published
results from a nationwide survey to better
understand what guests value most about the
restaurant experience. The report, How Much
Does Experience Matter to Customers, was
conducted to explore the customer journey at
fast casual and casual dining restaurants.
ChangeUp, who recently designed new
prototypes for clients including Panera
Bread, surveyed over 500 people across
the U.S. who visited a fast casual or
casual dining restaurant in the past
three months.
" There's no denying that
customers' evolving preferences
are reshaping the restaurant
landscape, but it's clear that the
dine-in experience remains critical
in delivering value, " said ChangeUp's
Chief Creative Officer, Ryan Brazelton.
" At ChangeUp, we believe these shifts
shouldn't be something restaurants
fear, but something that provides
endless opportunity for reinvention and
innovation. "
Key findings from the report include:
Over 1/3 of guests often feel
disappointed with the restaurant
experience when dining out.
78% of adults under the age of 35
would dine out more often if it were
more enjoyable.
66% of consumers believe a desirable
experience is more important than price
and convenience.
The goal of the study was to better
understand customers' decision-making
process and how restaurants can better
serve their needs, beyond the basics of
cost and convenience.
BRAND FAMILIARITY
Brand familiarity also spurs customers to
try something new or different. Twenty-six
percent of US adults surveyed by market
intelligence firm Mintel said they're more
likely to try an unfamiliar flavor from a brand
they know - a percentage that climbs to
32% of those ages 18 to 34 and 31% of those
ages 35 to 44. Men also are more apt (30%)
to try a new flavor from a familiar brand than
women (23%), according to Mintel.
" Consumers are interested in new
things, but there's still a risk associated
with trying something completely new,
especially in the past couple of years as
we've dealt with higher prices of food, "
said Jenny Zegler, director of Mintel Food
& Drink. " So, if you are an adventurous
consumer and want to try new things,
there's less of a risk in trying a product
that has a brand name or a flavor that you
recognize, because you're not taking a step
too far out of your comfort zone. And I
think you feel like you might get a better
return on investment, or the family might
like it a bit more because they already like
one of those brands or formats. "
IDDBA president David Haaf outlines
a wide range of influential trends that
include generational preferences.
" Gen Zers not only expect change; they
demand it, " Haaf says. " And they want
team spirit - where everyone has a say. "
Like it or not, AI (Artificial
Intelligence) technological advances - like
3D printing on custom cakes - are here
to stay.
For this reason, " extra time and
attention must be paid to Gen Zers where
they are today and tomorrow. "
PANADERÍA | OCTOBER 2024
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