NEWS & TRENDS

Read the latest foodservice news from Red Gold, plus trends and insights important to your business.

Hot Consumer Insights for Sales Success

Heading into the best-selling months for QSR operators, there are some quick insights that can add more success to the season. Our research team took a deep dive for the latest intel to give  quick facts that can help.

1. Hot Key Words for Your Menu This Summer

Red Gold's Folds of Honor Ketchup associates your brand with a worthy cause.
Red Gold's Folds of Honor Ketchup associates your brand with a worthy cause.

Technomic found that certain key words on menus, especially those of LTOs, scored more sales in 2021. The winners and some suggestions on how to use the insight can help.

28% had a brand mentioned in the menu description. For example, a mention of Red Gold’s Folds of Honor 1 oz. Ketchup Dipping Cups, or even Red Gold’s 7-gram ketchup packets, are an easy way to show customers your support of families of fallen military heroes. Red Gold also supports chains that serve its Folds of Honor Ketchup with everything from window decals to TV spots and billboards in selected U.S. markets. Contact your Red Gold representative for more information.

Other great ideas are that if you are using Nutella® (+30%* since 2018), Reese’s (+16%*), or Hershey’s (+16%*) chocolate in your shakes or desserts, call out the brands in your menu description.   

2. Last-Minute Decisions on Where To Eat

The Datassential Decision Tree Process on dining out or eating at home.
The Datassential Decision Tree Process on dining out or eating at home.

Datassential finds that the consumer decision process on choosing whether to eat in or dine out has shifted since the pandemic. In 2017, 26% of consumers “planned ahead” to dine out while today, that number has been cut by more than half at 12%! While the number of “last second” decisions are about the same, those who say they “briefly decided in advance” jumped from 39% in 2017 to 52%. The takeaway is to look at your advertising/social strategy and push your social messaging an hour or two before the next daypart.

3. Top Sauce Ingredients to Play Up

You know that the best way to pump up the flavor on any menu item is the sauce. Quick and easy to prep with condiments that have multiple menu applications is the secret to offering easy flavor enhancements with limited kitchen staff training.

Are you ready for the latest from Datassential on the top sauces on U.S. menus?

The top sauces with double-digit menu growth since 2018 according to Datassential.
The top sauces with double-digit menu growth since 2018 according to Datassential.

Only three sauces scored double-digit growth over the past four years from Datassential research. Red Gold® offers a variety of ketchup packaging for drive-thru or takeout as well as back-of-house options, from disposable pumps to plastic bottles, dispensers, and bag-in-box. Red Gold also offer Huy Fong® Sriracha Ketchup 7-gram packets for a sweet, spicy Asian flare. Request your free sample now.