Life in the Fast Lane – “Trend Bulletin”
For Immediate Release
Life in the Fast Lane – “Trend Bulletin”
The increase in carryout and other portable foods is on the rise in every foodservice segment. Capture the trend and attract new customers with Life in the Fast Lane, free from Basic American Foods.
Life in the Fast Lane features recipes for snacks, grab-and-go items and mealtime favorites; as well as tips for packaging, marketing and food safety. For more ‘to go’ ideas, visit Basic American Foods’ expansive online recipe library at baf.com.
To create new opportunities in the portable food trend, consider these tips from Life in the Fast Lane:
- Ease of use: Look for packaging that keeps foods fresh for customers and is easy for operators to handle.
- Healthy options: Customers look for nutrition as well as convenience. Opportunities for both exist in breakfast programs, particularly in schools and B&I settings; and in after-hour availability of grab-and-go items in hospitals, hotels and colleges.
- Variety: Bold flavors are ‘in’ with customers, even when the food is fast.
Life in the Fast Lane provides guidelines for packaging, with these ideas:
- Build customer relationships: Get feedback directly from customers about their preference and experiences when they finally eat or reheat purchases.
- Investigate and invest: Use innovative packaging, thanks to technology that keeps pace with food consumption trends. Look for microwave, oven-safe and other carrying containers that maintain the integrity of foods you offer.
- Work with your local distributor: Use distributors as a resource for packaging solutions, including containers that are dual ovenable, compartmentalized, durable for travel, and environmentally sound.
- Use packaging to market your operation: Print your name or food brand names on containers and bags, for maximum publicity from packaging.
Carryout and grab-and-go programs create a new opportunity for operators to educate customers about food safety. Life in the Fast Lane provides safety tips for operator prep and customer reheating; as well as time guidelines for consumption of hot and cold carryout foods.
Life in the Fast Lane also includes innovative recipes for varied dayparts. Chili-Chicken Pie with Cheddar Crust features Quick-Start® Home Style Chili with poblano and jalapeno peppers, topped with a tasty pastry crust. Bake in individual aluminum pie tins for ultimate mealtime convenience. For an easy snack variation, offer as a handheld pie; just form dough into a circle, then fill, fold and bake.
Hashbrown Cornmeal Crepes with Maple Glazed Apples feature Nature’s Own Hashbrown Potatoes as the base for a unique crepe, stuffed with maple syrup-glazed diced apples. For a grab-and-go line variation, wrap rolled crepes in paper lined foil or wax paper. Change crepe fillings to work for breakfast, lunch or dinner items.
Life in the Fast Lane also offers a global look at the most popular flavors in portable foods, with recipe ideas for Southwestern, Latin, Caribbean and Asian items. Full recipes are available free at baf.com. Sample recipes include: Chili Potato Empanadas, Au Gratin Ole Potato Cups, Jamaican Chicken Wraps, Mandarin Moo Shu Crepes and Bean Burrito with Veggie Sausage.
Recipes feature Basic American Foods’ family of convenient, great-tasting products, including: Quick-Start® Home Style Chili; Nature’s Own® Hashbrown Potatoes; Nature’s Own® Premium Mashed Potatoes; Classic Casserole® Au Gratin Potatoes, and Scalloped Potatoes; Golden Grill® Hashbrown Potatoes; Potato Pearls® Extra Rich Mashed Potatoes; Santiago® Refried Beans and Santiago® Seasoned Vegetarian Refried Beans.
For a free copy of Life in the Fast Lane (Bulletin #14 in the ‘Ideas You Can Build On™’ series) and for past issues – or for ideas to build your menu with Basic American Foods products – call 1-800-722-2084, or visit Ideas You Can Build On™ at baf.com.
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Editorial contacts:
Betsy Krugliak
(510) 444-0412
betsy@thepacificgroup.com
Jamacian Chicken Wrap
