TREND BITES:
Little Treats
Little Treats are having Big Menu Impact
Like it or not, we've found ourselves firmly in the middle of "Little Treat Culture." Whether we have TikTok, the economy, or decreasing impulse control to blame, consumers are ready and willing to spend $5 to $10 on single serve treats. The question is, do you have something compelling to offer?
What counts as a "Little Treat?"
According to Datassential's "2024 Food Trends" report, "34% of consumers say they treat themselves to an indulgent food treat a few times a week." Due to the rising cost of living, expensive goods and vacations seem far-fetched to many Americans right now, so they're turning to smaller luxuries for pleasure. The "little treat" is something a consumer buys for themself as a reward for completing a difficult task or a quick purchase to make running errands more fun. Luckily for foodservice operators, more often than not, consumers' treats of choice are snacks or drinks!
All Day Options
There are two important parts to selling "little treats." First, consumers need to know that you have $5 to $10 snacks, and second, you need to have them available whenever the consumer's impulse hits. To help with this, we created recipes with morning, mid-day, and afternoon flavor profiles! For a quick morning commute snack, serve these Savory Breakfast Squares or Mini Quiches. For lunchtime errand-runners, prepare some Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta. And as a fun afternoon pick-me-up, offer the snackable "Popcorn and Popcorn Chicken" mix described below.
Try these Snack Applications!
Serve these fast and tasty breakfasts to delight your morning customers. We made them with Chicken Breakfast Sausage Crumbles and Diced Chicken - both were delicious!
This Cheesy Chicken Bruschetta takes a classic appetizer and makes it snackable! It's the perfect combination of toasty bread, savory chicken, and refreshing tomatoes.
Popcorn and Popcorn Chicken
To make this sweet and salty snack, just prepare popcorn chicken, coat it in cheesy seasoning, and combine with caramel popcorn! This treat is sure to be a hit with on-the-go customers, kids, and your gameday crowd.
Ready to serve Little Treats?
Once you have your "little treat" menu set, it's time to promote your offerings so consumers think of you when they want an indulgent snack. Prepare your social media profiles so you can be tagged in snaps and stories when happy customers "Stopped for a quick treat!" Customers on social media are your best source of "little treat" advertising, because their social circles are likely to crave a treat soon and will be looking for recommendations from their peers!
Our Favorite Chicken for Indulgent Snacks
Table of Contents
Want more Trend Bites content? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletters for menu ideas, back-of-house tips, and updates on our latest products!
