Dive Brief:
- In its Flavor Forecast 2017: Grilling Edition, McCormick & Co. predicts Asian flavors, seared salads, hot potatoes, mayo-based barbecue sauce and spicy, fruit-based meat glazes will be trending this summer, according to Food Business News.
- The spice manufacturer anticipates Korean-inspired burgers, complete with ingredients such as grilled kimchi and ginger garlic mayo, and Poke, a Hawaiian raw seafood salad, will be popular grill items.
- Loaded smashed potatoes and charred sweet potatoes are expected to replace cold potato salads. White barbecue sauce and sweet and spicy grilled chicken wings also are predicted to be popular.
Dive Insight:
Every summer, new flavor and seasoning trends spice up the grill as barbecue lovers seek to distinguish themselves from their neighbors.
Many of the trends McCormick outlined have been shaping the food space for a few years now. Korean flavors have been greatly shaping the restaurant space, with consumers increasingly interested in barbecue and fusion offerings. Still, the popularity of these flavors hasn't waned, and condiment makers would be wise to introduce Asian-inspired meat rubs, meat glazes and barbecue sauces.
Spicy food also has become a mainstream demand, the result of increasing consumer interest in authentic Indian, Mexican and Asian cuisine. Savvy manufacturers should look for opportunities to integrate these trends into non-meat, grill-adjacent items like potato and tortilla chips, salsa, baked beans and other summer food staples.
Meat producers also can sell beef and poultry that has already been seasoned with these flavors, or package meat with trendy spice rubs consumers can apply at home. Manufacturers are no stranger to new trends and the shopper demand for these food items, so expect more companies to introduce a swath of new products incorporating these trends.