Looking at the fast casual segment opens up some of the key categories as new movers based on consumer changes in the past few years. Operational restaurant trends in 2022 included an ongoing focus on off-premises dining, which put snacks and desserts front and center for operators seeking to optimize sales in the drive-thru and via carry-out and delivery.

This has led an array of brands like Orange Leaf, Red Mango, and others to excel in meeting the new demand of consumers. Our Foodable Labs rating for the dessert segment in Fast Casual has risen 4.8 points in sentiment vs. overall sentiment in the Fast Casual sector is down 3.4 points YOY.

Researchers report that consumers continue to gravitate toward savory flavors, citing popular dessert ingredients such as hot honey, salted caramel, Mexican hot chocolate, and smoked toffee. For menu food and beverage trends in 2023, look for new iterations of these savory-sweet combinations, particularly in sauces and other typically sweet toppings, such as spicy or hot maple syrup, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and others.

In this episode, I dive in deep with Sherif Mityas, President of BRIX Holdings, to analyze this trend development and way. We get into consumer trends, demographics, shifts in tastes and dining and snacking habits, and what technology may bring to the sector.

Make sure to check our 2023 Trends to watch!