CHICAGO — Ethnic cuisine, creative caffeinated beverages and Gen Z-focused offerings are a few of the highlights of this year’s 2017 Canadian Trends Forecast from Technomic, which highlights the top five food-and-restaurant trends to try in the coming year.
Foodservice operators have been facing a number of challenges this year and as the definition of health evolves in the Canadian market, the report says customers are looking for cutting-edge menu items and emerging restaurants that satisfy the palate and balance unique and familiar flavours.
“Eating establishments face some very intense competition today, which makes menu innovation critical,” says Erik Thoresen, principal at Technomic Inc. “Canadian consumers want creative, innovative menu items and we see both restaurant and non-commercial foodservice operators stepping up to the challenge.”
Highlights from Technomic’s 2017 Canadian Trends Forecast include:
• Ethnic sparks menu creativity: Mainstream cuisines such as Chinese and Mexican are making way for more intriguing global fare. Newcomers from across the globe will bring with them exotic recipes and ingredients, spurring fresh inspiration for chefs. In 2017, specialties such as Filipino pancit (noodles) and sinigang (soup), Pakistani roadside bun kebabs and Iranian gheimeh (stew) will flourish in Canada’s diversifying ethnic food landscape.
• Creative caffeinating: Expect operators to take coffee in unexpected directions in 2017 in order to stand out in a crowded segment. On the radar: lemon coffees, coffee jelly, Indonesian avocado espressos, coffee plus butter or salt and intricate and customizable latte foam art.
• Engaging with Gen Z: Operators will pay closer attention to Gen Z — the maturing cohort of ethnically diverse digital natives accustomed to constant convenience, social sharing and a fast-changing world. Look for more ethnic mashup foods, desserts and drinks worthy of Instagram, emoji speak on the menu, chatbots, Snapchat filters, packaging hacks (think a meal box that can charge a smartphone) and a greater emphasis on corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship. Trends already on the rise, such as delivery, mobile payment and kiosk ordering, will continue to solidify.
You can download the full 2017 Canadian Trends Forecast here.
