Technomic has released three different whitepapers for the U.S., Canada and global markets, sharing foodservice industry predictions for the New Year. The good news is that there is one thing the predictions have in common: a clearer road to recovery. With the approval and distribution of vaccines, we’re able to see a light at the end of the tunnel for the following predictions to thrive.
Overall, Technomic foresees strong to moderate growth—specifically in the U.S. and Canada—over the next 12 months, being led by aggressive strategies. One commonality across regions is the streamlining of menus. Restaurants are expected to focus on core menu items and, in some cases, revamp them as “new and improved” with higher-quality ingredients or launch safer LTOs with ingredients they already have on hand. In general, the focus is also shifting toward better-for-you, local and clean-label menu items. In the U.S. and Canada, greater emphasis on social justice issues can be expected of restaurants in 2021, meaning consumers will be looking for impactful efforts regarding fairness and inclusion—not just the use of hashtags and buzzwords.