NPD reported that Americans drank 7 percent less regular soda last year. Lemonade, ice tea and ice coffee are gaining popularity, especially lemonade which exhibited growth of 3 percent from a year ago (NPD) – chain operators are blending in more fruit flavors (e.g., Wendy’s lemonade with blackberry). Smoothies remain on trend. A Washington Post food writer is suggesting serving smoothies in a bowl topped with fruits and nuts.
Read moreRecent News
The manufacturer of GoGo SqueeZ, a resealable fruit snack predicts that the U.S. fruit pouch category could be worth $1 billion within 3 to 4 years. Current household penetration is still low at 13% compared to 36% in France where the product was first developed. Pouches leverage the consumer demand for portable products and are currently primarily targeted at children ages 3 to 12.
Read moreAn update to the dietary guidelines for Americans is due out later this year. Leading health officials (700) in a letter to the USDA and HHS endorsed the need for Americans to eat less meat and more plant-based foods for a healthier diet. The good news based on menu incidence, Americans are already eating more meatless, plant-based burgers according to Mintel. In casual dining, menu incidence has increased 89% in the last decade.
Read moreBy the numbers, restaurant consumers are confirming their growing appetite for breakfast, as well as entrées served in a bowl under the pretext of the health halo. Technomic’s MenuMonitor indicated a 3.5% growth in bowls menued for the chains they monitored. Consequently they are beginning to report the next frontier for bowls will be breakfast. A prime example would be Panera Bread’s Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey.
Read moreToday’s consumers are becoming more adventurous due to the Internet and travel. Consequently, global flavors are spicy up menus everywhere. Sriracha is already yesterday’s news. Sauces made with harissa (Middle Eastern) and peri peri (African) are beginning to become popular. In addition, as U.S. chains expand into international markets, more dishes that are popular overseas will surface on U.S. menus (e.g., Domino’s Subwiches, sandwiches in India made with pizza dough as the carrier).
Read moreThe National Restaurant Association’s 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast revealed that seven out of ten consumers want breakfast items served throughout the day. Consequently, operators are responding with unique breakfast items that incorporate more protein, spicy flavors and ethnic influences.
Read moreFrequently Asked Questions
Are you a food broker?
Answer – Perrino and Associates is not a broker. We do not buy or sell goods or assets for others.
What types of companies do you work with?
Answer – Perrino & Associates counts an array of the finest food and beverage manufacturers among its clients. We proudly service a diverse client base of large to mid-sized entities. Our client partners range from Fortune Global 500 to midsize companies more entrepreneurial in nature, public and privately held, offering both branded and private label products (bakery, beverage, dairy, produce, prepared, protein, etc.). Please contact us for specific information related to your business.
Can anyone work with Perrino & Associates?
Answer – Our ambition is to add value to our industry partners. Perrino & Associates takes pride in spending the upfront time and effort to gain a thorough understanding of each prospective partner to ensure strategic alignment. We help foster success for companies that have the capability, long term commitment and appetite to be industry leaders, innovators and strategic thought partners. Please contact us for specific details related to your business.
What exactly does Perrino & Associates do?
Answer – Perrino & Associates is a food industry consultancy with expertise in a number of areas. Our list of services includes: business development; project management; culinary support; social media; marketing; strategic planning and executive coaching. This flexibility enables us to customize our work to the needs of our clients. We work with integrity to effectively align resources which have resulted in topline growth for our business partners. We work hard to maximize client opportunities and passionately and persistently challenge each other to deliver the best solutions. Please contact us for specific details related to your business.
Do you perform purchasing or quality assurance functions?
Answer – While our team demonstrates deep knowledge to support our clients in navigating these functional areas, we do not perform these functions.