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What Consumers Want from Authentic Menu Offerings
Published: October 01, 2024
Today's consumers crave authentic dishes—nearly 60% value authenticity in food more nowadays than ever before.1 So as an operator, how do you serve an authentic meal easily and affordably?
It starts by sourcing the right, globally influenced products. 90% of operators prioritize great flavor, and 84% seek appealing visual presentation2 when selecting ingredients for these dishes.2 Both are equally important.
Casual dining consumers are willing to pay more for premium proteins and all-natural ingredients.3
Everyone Loves Authentic Italian
Authentic Italian cuisine is one of the most popular in the world. From the quality ingredients used to the variety of tastes, people just can’t get enough. That’s why you need a proven ingredient with benefits far beyond its flavor to work harder for your operation. Hillshire Farm® Italian Sausage Crumbles have that authenticity and will work great across your menu—especially on pizza. Made from premium-quality meats, this all-natural,* fully cooked option appeals to ingredient-selective consumers—and since casual dining consumers are willing to pay more for premium proteins and all-natural ingredients, they’re good for the bottom line.3
But there’s more to authenticity than just flavor. Appearance plays a big role in satisfying a consumer’s idea of what’s truly authentic. Hand-torn, varied-size pieces can enhance the look of a freshly served pizza—and it can enhance the texture and mouthfeel in the very first bite for an elevated dining experience. The Spicy Sicilian Pizza is an artisanal delight—topped with the craggy, irregular size and shaped Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Spicy Italian Sausage Crumbles, peppers and chili flakes. It’s an authentic and memorable favorite consumers will come back for.
Today, both spicy and artisanal are trending—and are considered mega trends in the pizza category with 44% of consumers interested in artisanal pizza offerings and 26% interested in spicy offerings.3 Hillshire Farm® Italian Sausage Crumbles are available in both options so you can serve today’s most sought-after flavor profiles.
Beyond pizza, everyone loves the comfort of a hearty pasta dish. Italian Sausage Pasta is a classic menu favorite that’s easy to prep—with Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Italian Sausage Crumbles. This is a great, simple recipe to leverage and help attract your authentic-Italian-loving consumers.
Another benefit of these crumbles is that they’re fully cooked, helping you navigate ongoing labor shortages tactfully and tastefully. 63% of operators consider minimizing labor and quick prep when adding globally influenced offerings to their menus,2 and these are a great solution without sacrificing the performance, flavor and consistency expected from authentic menu items.
71% of consumers are more inclined to buy globally inspired dishes when they are labeled as authentic.1
Another Hot Authentic Flavor
As we explore other authentic global flavors, Chorizo is a hot option. Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Pork Chorizo Crumbles deliver the quality that both you and consumers love without the increased labor that comes with raw alternatives. Made from premium meat, this is another authentic and on-trend protein option—with a spicier flavor profile than the Italian sausage crumbles, but the same hand-torn and variable-size pieces and qualities.
With demand for global-style meats growing amongst American consumers, and Chorizo sales in retail are up 11% over last year,4 a great way to meet consumer demand is by using it across your menu from breakfast to dinner. Start the day with a Chorizo Breakfast Flatbread to appeal to your morning crowd. Get creative as the day goes on with a Chorizo Queso or Mardi Gras Pizza.
As more and more consumers are looking for authentic dishes, the convenience of fully cooked solutions with premium meat and all-natural ingredients can’t be overlooked. Hillshire Farm® brand has you covered with options so you can menu more authentic items that consumers will love from first sight to first bite.
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*Minimally processed, no artificial ingredients
Sources
¹ Datassential, Authenticity: The Consumer Perspective, Jan 2024
2 Datassential, Authenticity: The Operator Perspective, Feb 2024
3 Datassential, Casual Dining Keynote, Jan 2024
4 Nielsen IQ, Meat Department Trends: What’s New for 2024, 2/15/24
