Around the first of the year, there are a number of “top trends” articles released to cover the full range of the food industry. Pick any food category out there, and you can find a list, from alcohol to jams & jellies. You want burger trends? Here you go, and have fun working on your breakfast burger. Want general consumer trends for meat? There are literally dozens of reports out there. We did one, of course.
Depending on the type of company you are, these trends reports may or may not be vital information. It all comes down to your customer base. Are you a national brand? Do you have a substantial presence on the East Coast or West Coast? If so, then you ought to pay attention. If the flavor of the moment is something from Argentina, Korea or western Africa, then it’s probably time to start experimenting with those flavors and see if it’s something you can incorporate into your portfolio.