When it comes to spicing up the convenience-store foodservice menu, going global can be a great way to increase excitement while maintaining broad appeal. Mainstream global flavors in particular, such as Mexican inspirations, can help increase flavor variety while keeping things familiar.
Demand for global cuisines has trended upward in recent years. According to Technomic’s Dec. 2020 Global Food and Beverage Consumer Trend Report, 55% of consumers report ordering global foods from grocery or convenience-store prepared foods sections at least once a month, up from 47% of consumers in 2018.
For retailers looking to leverage the global flavors trend, menuing Mexican flavors—while keying into concurrent consumer food trends—can be a successful strategy. Here are three compatible trends that can help maximize sales of globally inspired cuisines.
- Super convenient offerings
According to Forbes, one of the biggest food trends, especially among millennials, is convenience. Being able to grab a meal or snack and go is key when shoppers choose foodservice items from convenience stores.
Try offering snacks and entrees featuring global flavors and, to boost the convenience factor, focus on portable, handheld formats. E.A. Sween’s San Luis® line of quesadillas and burritos, for example, includes a variety of delicious, high-protein options such as Chicken & Cheese and Pork Carnitas quesadillas as well as burritos in flavors such as Spicy Red Hot Beef & Bean; Chicken, Rice & Cheese; and more.
- Meatless meals
There’s a significant overlap between consumers seeking global flavors and those interested in meatless meals; according to Technomic’s Global Food and Beverage report, 30% of consumers prefer global flavors over traditional American flavors for plant-based foods.
Mexican flavors lend themselves especially well to approachable meatless proteins that even a carnivore can enjoy, such as beans and cheeses. San Luis’ Bean & Cheese Burrito, for example, packs a plant-based protein punch thanks to pinto beans and cheddar cheese, and the Three Cheese Quesadilla offers a meatless meal that doubles as a kid-friendly option.
- Breakfast all-day
Consumers resuming their pre-pandemic commuting routines are already driving morning meal purchases at c-stores, but breakfast food is more than welcome beyond the morning rush. In fact, according to Technomic’s 2021 Breakfast Consumer Trend Report, nearly half (47%) of consumers strongly agree that they enjoy eating breakfast foods at nontraditional times.
Breakfast wraps from the San Luis line are a great way to leverage this trend. The Breakfast Scrambler Wrap features eggs, bacon, cheddar, potato shreds and a cream sauce, plus green peppers for a nod to Mexican flavor inspirations. The Sunrise Breakfast Burrito offers the same tasty combination, trading out bacon for sausage.
To learn more about E.A. Sween’s San Luis line of quesadillas and burritos, visit https://sanluisburritos.com/.
This post is sponsored by E.A. Sween