Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) has published its third annual Future Menus, highlighting four key foodservice trends for this year. In depth research shows Asian flavors are overtaking traditional European culinary strongholds like France and Italy. Chinese and Japanese cuisines now rank in the top five global favorites across all age groups, while Korean and Mexican flavors are also increasing in demand.
The big culinary shift from West to East and North to South is influencing this year’s four distinct global menu trends, which are:
Street Food Couture – Traditional street foods are being elevated to gourmet offerings with chef expertise in every food service channel, including fine dining. Gen Z is a major driver of this trend, with 65% seeking value for money when it comes to food and dining experiences. Mexican, Indian, Korean and Filipino street foods are surging, with Filipino cuisine gaining the most traction in the USA and Asia.
Borderless Cuisine – Globalization and migration are blending diverse food traditions as chefs honor their multicultural origins. Travelers eager to expand their palates are driving this trend – 76% of tourists are keen to explore local food cultures.
Culinary Roots – Chefs are reviving culinary heritage by uncovering lesser-known and forgotten recipes, ingredients and hyperlocal cuisines like Hunan, Emirati, Basque, and Oaxacan.
Diner Designed – Growing demand for personalized and immersive dining experiences is driving this trend, with 47% of people now preferring to spend money on experiences over material goods. UFS supports businesses with training, menu engineering, and the easy integration of menu trends.
“Future Menus ensures chefs are prepped to meet evolving diner demands by tapping into the top menu trends,” said Star Chen, chief executive officer of Unilever Food Solutions. “We provide more than 3 million customers worldwide with expert insights, recipe inspiration and professional products to satisfy growing appetites for the Asian and South American flavors identified in this year’s research.”
The Future Menus trends book will be followed by locally tailored editions on ufs.com throughout the year, showcasing top dishes and recipes designed to meet specific diner demands in the countries where UFS operates.
