TREND BRIEFING Operators are learning that marrying breakfast Appeal of breakfast snacks with snacks is a recipe for success. Both are popular foodservice occasions with consumers and together (Top 2 box = somewhat and very appealing) offer a tremendous amount of opportunity for operators to drive traffic. Further, breakfast snacks fit Overall % into consumers’ demanding on-the-go lifestyles that 66 leave little time for traditional sit-down meals. Larger Mixed ethnic background 82% industry trends, such as the growth of all-day and second breakfast, also showcase the need for more Hispanic 76% breakfast snacks at restaurants. Black/African-American 71% Breakfast Snacks Appeal Asian 65% Two-thirds of consumers (66%) find breakfast snacks Caucasian % appealing. This sentiment is particularly strong 62 BREAKFAST with consumers who come from a mixed ethnic background (82%), although more than seven out Base: 1,000 consumers ages 18+ of 10 Hispanic (76%) and black/African-American consumers (71%) also respond favorably to breakfast SNACKS snacks. Of all ethnicities, Caucasians express the 18-34 show more attraction than men within that lowest interest in breakfast snacks (62%). age bracket (76% and 65%, respectively), whereas men ages 35-54 are more likely than their female Although men and women find breakfast snacks counterparts to express interest in breakfast snacks equally appealing (66% and 67%, respectively), (73% and 66%, respectively). greater skews appear when breaking down gender responses by generation. The highest interest in Not only do most consumers find breakfast snacks breakfast snacks comes from men within the 25-34 appealing, but over half (54%) would like to see more age bracket (84%), while women within that bracket breakfast snacks on restaurant menus. Millennials express less interest (73%). Younger women ages are most likely to want to see an uptick in breakfast © 2018 Technomic Inc. 1 Breakfast snacks purchased snacks (66%), followed by Gen Z and Gen X (both Responses between men (54%) (once every 90 days) 59%). While some interest in breakfast snacks and women (55%) are relatively occasionally exists for baby boomers (44%) and matures equal for wanting an increase in TAKEAWAY: % (36%), many of these individuals prefer Since three out of 10 breakfast snacks. Fruit 66 traditional plated meals. Other notable consumers (29%) occasionally demographic skews include: purchase breakfast bars as Hispanic is the ethnic group with % snacks, operators can enhance Breakfast sandwich 53 the appeal of these items by the highest proclivity to want more Consumers in the South have the making them from scratch using breakfast snacks (68%), whereas Cereal % highest response of all regions for common kitchen staples such Caucasian and Asian consumers tie 53 wanting more breakfast snacks at as oats, nuts, seeds and for the least likely (both 50%). nut butters. restaurants (58%), while those in the Doughnut 51% West have the least interest (49%). % Breakfast Snack Options Eggs/egg-based dishes 49 Of all breakfast snacks, consumers indicate that they Bagel 48% I would like to see more breakfast are most likely to purchase fruit at least occasionally snacks on restaurant menus. (66%). This preference speaks to consumer interest Hash brown/other potato 46% in better-for-you options during snacking occasions. (Top 2 box = agree and agree completely) Other lighter breakfast snacks purchased from time Yogurt 45% to time include cereal (53%), yogurt (45%) and % oatmeal (41%). Overall 54 Muffin 43% Gen Z 59% On the other hand, indulgent offerings are also Oatmeal 41% % sought out by many individuals. More than half of Millennials 66 consumers say they occasionally purchase breakfast Gen X 59% sandwich snacks (53%), and slightly fewer also agree Croissant 37% to buying doughnuts (51%), bagels (48%) and hash Baby boomers 44% browns (46%). The popularity of these items speaks Danish 29% to consumers’ gravitation toward comfort foods, even Matures % 36 during snacking occasions. Breakfast bar 29% Base: 1,000 consumers ages 18+ © 2018 Technomic Inc. Base: 1,000 consumers ages 18+ 2 Create a WAYS TO “SNACKIFY” 3 Portable Presentation BREAKFAST ITEMS Sticks, cups, bowls, wraps and other portable presentations will appeal to the nearly two-thirds of Go Miniature 1 consumers (62%) who like to Because smaller items often resonate take their snacks on the go. as snack food, operators can enhance This may include fruit kabobs, the appeal of their snack selections by pancakes on a stick or yogurt shrinking the portion size of popular parfait cups. dishes. Muffin tops, pancake balls, French toast sticks and mini quiches are all examples of how to turn well-loved breakfast foods into smaller morsels. Showcase 4 Liquify It Highlighting flavors from 2 Lighter Proteins popular breakfast items in The filling aspect of some meats, such drinks such as smoothies or as pork and beef, may deter guests from coffees is one way to create purchasing protein-filled breakfast craveable beverage snacks. snacks. Try swapping better-for-you Morning fare that translates meats or plant-based items—such as well as a flavoring in liquid turkey bacon, chicken sausage and form include cinnamon rolls, tofu—in place of traditional breakfast French toast and doughnuts. proteins such as bacon and sausage. © 2018 Technomic Inc. 3 I typically order a BY GENDER TREND second breakfast Male 37% SPOTLIGHT: (Top 2 box = somewhat agree and agree completely) Female 31% Second Breakfast BY GENERATION BY ETHNICITY Gen Z 44% Asian 43% Some consumers are shunning big breakfasts in favor of a smaller morning meal followed by a second Millennials 57% Black/African-American 45% breakfast, which is another morning meal or snack Gen X 35% Caucasian 27% that is eaten after breakfast but before lunch. Second breakfast is a traditional custom in European countries Baby boomers 16% Hispanic 50% such as Bavaria, Poland and Hungary. A third of Matures 10% Mixed ethnic background 9% consumers (34%) agree that they usually consume a Base: 1,000 consumers ages 18+ second breakfast, with male, millennial and Hispanic consumers skewing highest for this response. ON THE MENU: Pret A Manger’s Pret Pots are small grab-and-go offerings presented in plastic cups. Selections include a Banana & Honey Pot, Blueberry & Granola Pot and Egg & Spinach Pot. © 2018 Technomic Inc. 4 FEATURED RECIPE: Fruit-Glazed Bacon Brush cooked bacon with your favorite fruit spread, sprinkle with black pepper and bake 2 – 3 minutes or until bubbly © 2018 Technomic Inc. 5 TECHNOMIC TAKEAWAY: Breakfast snacks Stay tuned for our 3 Areas of 2 beyond commercial forthcoming issues on: Although restaurants with breakfast menus are the Sweet snacks most obvious fit for breakfast snacks, other operators Opportunity should also consider how these offerings can benefit The fourth meal them. Noncommercial operations such as colleges Plant-based protein snacks and universities and K-12 programs can have fun for Breakfast with food by offering snacks with a breakfast twist to appeal to younger diners. Recreation facilities, which are known for their funky food formulations, may also take advantage of an item like breakfast snacks, Snacks such as a breakfast pizza bite. And convenience-store and grocery operators are also well-positioned to add more breakfast snacks as they continue to grow their foodservice programs. Market throughout the day 1 Keep innovation simple Breakfast snacks are gaining popularity as 3 consumers’ busy on-the-go lifestyles force them to Menuing breakfast snacks doesn’t need to be a seek more portable options over plated breakfasts. challenge. Operators with breakfast can create Further, consumers continue to express interest in snacks by reducing the portion size or changing the purchasing breakfast fare outside of morning hours. presentation of a dish. Even non-breakfast operators This is a prime opportunity for operators to promote can easily craft breakfast snacks using common kitchen a selection of craveable and better-for-you breakfast staples such as eggs, peanut butter and oats to make snacks throughout the day, including as a second items such as mini quiches and breakfast bars. And breakfast and late-night munchie option. don’t forget liquids as viable breakfast snacks, which opens the door to any operator offering drinks such as coffee and smoothies to capture these snacking dollars. © 2018 Technomic Inc. 6.