Last month Datassential traveled to galaxies not far, far away to uncover the latest pop culture concepts, culling insights and key takeaways any operator can take inspiration from.

Plant-based products and diets have been center stage as of late, making it easy to overlook that many consumers are still very interested in actual meat and poultry.

There’s a new seafood diet in town – and no, we’re not talking about the “see food and eat it” diet.

Not that long ago, “eating in” could only mean one of two things: buying groceries and cooking from scratch or ordering delivery or take out from a restaurant. Today “foodservice at home” means much more.

In the US, street foods are a menu category in their own right, taking the industry by storm as operators look to add a bit of authentic “street cred” to menus with globally-inspired street foods.

While salads may have had the reputation of being a ‘diet’ food or just a side, that’s no longer the case.

The breakfast landscape has certainly shifted, especially since McDonald’s led a QSR revolution by offering breakfast outside of its traditional daypart, sparking breakfast battles across the industry.

For the fifth year in a row, the number of operators offering breakfast has increased, making the space one of the most competitive dayparts in the industry today.

As the kids’ menu changes, whether it’s at home or in restaurants, Datassential surveyed parents and guardians for insights into what they already buy and what they want to buy.