MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVES “Connecting Partnerships” FOOD GUIDE 1st Edition 2021 NEXUS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 7042 Commerce Circle, Suite B, Pleasanton, CA 94588 | T 800.482.6088 | F 510.567.1005 www.nexus-now.com 12/20 MISSION STATEMENT Our mission, as Manufacturers Representatives in the food industry, is to ensure that our product knowledge and application expertise is properly shared with our customers so that they can make prudent business decisions that not only positively impact their food operation’s bottom line, but also help their business transcend to a higher level of dining experience for consumer customers as well as among the community as a whole. Chris Matson President, Nexus | 3 FOOD GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 MISSION STATEMENT 95 ASIAN CUISINE 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 101 AMERICAN CUISINE 7 INTRODUCTION 106 MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE 8 INDUSTRY FOOD 113 EASTERN REGIONAL STATISTICS CUISINE 16 HISTORY OF FOOD & 117 DESSERTS CUISINE 123 BEVERAGES & COCKTAILS 20 VEGETABLES & FRUIT 131 FAST FOOD 31 NUTS AND SEEDS 134 FOOD ON DEMAND 35 VEGETARIAN, VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE FOOD 136 RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT 40 ORGANIC FOOD 144 MENU ENHANCEMENT 46 DAIRY PRODUCTS 148 CATERING 53 GRAINS 152 GROCERY STORES 56 MEATS 156 FOOD PROCESSING 62 SEAFOOD 164 SAFE FOOD HANDLING 66 SMOKED SALMON 171 FOODSERVICE 69 SAUCES DISTRIBUTION SUPPLY PIPELINE 73 SOUPS 176 THE FUTURE OF FOOD 77 FRENCH CUISINE 182 INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 82 ITALIAN CUISINE & TERMINOLOGY 88 MEXICAN CUISINE 191 CONCLUSION 4 | INTRODUCTION The purpose of this food guide is to provide a deeper understanding into the different types of food that we all put into our bodies, what it does to us, how it makes us feel and how money is, and can be, made from it. Throughout this guide are chapters on different types of food, like vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, meats and seafood, as well as beverages and desserts. The guide will provide information on a variety of ethnic foods, recipes, restaurant menu enhancement, portion costs, budgeting and even a projection into the future of food. Food is such an important part of our lives, is a huge part of the economy and impacts us on so many levels, which is why this guide was written. Let this guide help you see the possibilities in how food can become more to help your business thrive! | 7 FOOD INDUSTRY STATISTICS The foodservice industry is one of the largest segments In 2019, the share of food at home was 45.2 percent, and of our national economy with over $890 billion in sales food away from home was 54.8 percent. projected for 2020, which is a long way from $42 billion spent in 1970. This chapter of the guide will provide you with the latest statistics on the food industry along with projections of what to expect after COVID-19 restrictions lift completely and the economy returns to normal. RESTAURANT INDUSTRY FACTS AT A GLANCE ■ $890 billion dollar industry annually in the U.S. ■ 1 million+ restaurant locations in the United States ■ 15.6 million restaurant industry employees ■ 1.6 million new restaurant jobs projected to be created by 2030 ■ Restaurants employ more minority managers than any other industry ■ 63% of consumers would rather spend on an Managing a restaurant is more than just serving food. It experience than purchase an item also involves knowing how much the food industry is worth, and the food industry’s market size. With a good overview ■ The number of middle-class jobs in the restaurant of everything happening in your business, you can plan well industry grew 84% between 2010 and 2018, more and execute effectively to help your bottom line. Here are than 3 times faster than in the overall economy. more interesting facts about the food industry: Commercial foodservice establishments accounted for the ■ Over 200 million U.S. consumers went to a sit-down bulk of food-away-from-home expenditures. This category restaurant in 2018 includes full-service restaurants, fast food outlets, caterers, some cafeterias, and other places that prepare, serve, ■ 65% of restaurant guests like to control how much they and sell food to the general public for a profit. Some are tip, rather than adopt the tip-free movement located within facilities that are not primarily engaged in dispensing meals and snacks, such as lodging places, ■ 13% of consumers are brand loyal to their preferred recreational facilities, and retail stores. Schools and restaurants nursing homes are types of non-commercial foodservice ■ establishments. Such establishments are often called 48% of the average American’s food budget goes to “institutional” foodservice facilities. restaurants ■ 60% of restaurants that offer delivery generated incremental sales Almost everybody has a smartphone. This is why it only makes sense for businesses to use the internet’s digital platform to get their business to where people can easily notice you. ■ 56% of traffic to food brand websites come from search engines, making SEO the best marketing strategy for their business ■ 88% of restaurants use a marketing service to advertise their store 8 | ■ 90% of customers take the time to research a purchase meals and snacks. Many restaurant companies restaurant before dining opened outlets in nontraditional locations such as department stores, airport kiosks and even corporate Additionally, when you pair your efforts with the best cafeterias. In addition to convenience, a household’s marketing system or CRM solution, you can then extend demand for food-away-from-home is affected by its income your reach and even grow your business with ease. and demographic characteristics. Globally, fast food generates revenue of over $570 billion, larger than the SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE FOOD economic value of most countries. In the United States INDUSTRY revenue was a whopping $200 billion in 2015 — quite a lot of growth since the 1970 revenue of $6 billion. The Social media use is at an all-time high at 243.6 million industry is expected to have an annual growth of 2.5% for users in the United States last year. It is the current and the next several years — below the long-term average but future battlefield to gain customer trust. coming back from a several-year slump. ■ Facebook ($6.28 CPM), Instagram ($5.68) and Today there are over 200,000 fast food restaurants in the LinkedIn ($2 CPM) are the best ways to advertise your United States and it is estimated that 50 million Americans business at a low cost eat at one of them every single day. The industry employs ■ 77% of Americans are currently active on social media. over 4 million people and counting — restaurant franchises added over 220,000 jobs in 2019. ■ 67% of restaurants pay for social media ads in 2019 ■ 33% of restaurants use Instagram as their social media platform of choice Utilizing social media in your marketing efforts, aided by a social media management tool, will give your customers a chance to reach out to you about their experience in your store, providing valuable food industry data in the process. RESTAURANT REVIEW STATISTICS User reviews are critical to your business today more than ever. Make sure you have a strategy to manage your online customers. ■ 92% of diners read restaurant reviews before visiting ■ 77% of restaurant-goers trust peer reviews rather than critic reviews ■ 33% of consumers refuse to go to restaurants that have Any shift in market share between fast food and full- fewer than four stars on their reviews service restaurants could influence the mix of foods and services offered by both types of restaurants. For example, ■ 35% of diners say that online reviews help influence if trends favor full-service restaurants, the market could their decision when choosing a place to dine shift to include more full-service restaurants that offer a Full-service and fast-food restaurants, the two largest wider range of menu selections and dining amenities. In segments of the commercial foodservice market, account response, fast food restaurants might introduce comparable for about 73.1% of all food-away-from-home sales in foods and services. 2019. Full-service establishments have wait staff, and From franchises to sit-down restaurants to packaged goods, perhaps other amenities such as ceramic dishware, non- the food industry is vast and diverse. So, what does your disposable utensils and alcohol service. In contrast, fast food-related small business need to know? Below you will food restaurants use convenience as a selling point; they find even more food industry statistics to keep you in-the- have no wait staff, menus tend to be limited, and dining know and help you advance your business this year. amenities are relatively sparse. According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants are the nation’s Total food sales in 2019 nationwide amounted to more second-largest private-sector employer, providing jobs for than $2 trillion. Whether it was purchased in a restaurant one in 10 Americans. or a retailer, the United States spent an astonishing $2 trillion in food in 2019. It makes sense, after all, everyone As part of their growth strategy, fast food companies needs to eat several times per day. It’s a need that never have built more outlets closer to consumers’ homes and goes away. work places to make it more convenient for consumers to 10 | | 11 Specialty food sales are at a high, with $130 billion in sales McDonald’s is the most valuable fast food brand worldwide in 2019. The American people are growing increasingly This food industry statistic certainly comes as no surprise, health-conscious, opting for fresh foods and nutritious considering how long McDonald’s has been around and its alternatives to fast food chains.