Dole Reinforces The Fruit Flavor Experience
In early August, the Dole foodservice team attended the 8th annual Flavor Experience to “dive in” to the “Next Wave of Flavor.” The conference gathered chain restaurant menu and marketing decision-makers to preview and sample the flavor trends on the menu horizon, and provided an ideal environment for testing new DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées.
We’re anticipating a lot of excitement about the purées (another 100% pure fruit product from Dole), and the Flavor Experience crowd didn’t disappoint. In fact, the pure fruit flavors and convenient form “wowed” them. So look for us to add another great DOLE fruit solution to our line in February 2013.
Speaking of trends, we cover two more hot topics – beverages and marketing “healthy” to customers – in this issue. Our editors also show you how to find the answer to most fruit-based menu questions on www.dolefoodservice.com/news.
Thanks for reading!
Chris Lock
Vice President,
Foodservice & Industrial
Dole Food Company, Inc.
Stuart McAllister
Field Sales Director,
Foodservice
Dole Food Company, Inc.
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Chain Operators Sample New DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées
One way to see how a new product will fare is sampling. At the Flavor Experience (www.flavorexperience.com), Dole had the opportunity to present DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées in menu applications to over 150 chain restaurant operators. Overwhelmingly positive response to the real fruit taste proved the powerful customer appeal of 100% fruit purée. “Competitive products can’t touch DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées’ impeccable ingredient list and pure fruit flavor,” confirms Stuart McAllister, Dole Field Sales Director-Foodservice.
David Commer, a top beverage consultant, demonstrated the purées’ behind-the-bar potential with a selection of popular fruit-based cocktails with fanciful names: Pineapple Cobbler, Gone Fishin’, Pineapple Cake and Raspberry Pimm’s. On the savory side, the operators tested trendy flavor combinations dipping pork, beef and shrimp into Raspberry Cayenne Sauce, Peach Mint Sauce, Sweet ‘n Tangy Pineapple Sauce and Spiced Mango Sauce.
Dole anticipates that sauces and dressings will be high volume usage categories for the new DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées, which fits synergistically with the rapid growth of custom condiments on menus. According to QSR Magazine (AM Jolt, August 20, 2012), “The Sauce is the Boss” as quick service and fast casual restaurants turn to condiment innovation to give guests customization opportunities. The possibilities are endless, from hot sauces to signature ketchups to mayonnaise and aioli. And don’t forget the sweet side! Customers want to change up their sundae, parfait or beverage experience with contemporary fruit flavors like Pineapple Butterscotch, Berry Chocolate Mousse, and Balsamic Strawberry.
Find sweet and savory sauce recipes on www.dolefoodservice.com/recipesnews, and look for the introduction of DOLE Chef-Ready Fruit Purées in February 2013.
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Tracking Trends to Keep Ahead of the Competition
As Your Fruit Solutions Partner, Dole is committed to bringing innovative products, services and information to help itss loyal operators keep ahead of the competition. By tracking industry indicators and following foodservice pundits, Dole identifies key trends that resonate throughout the industry.
Trend 1: Taking a Bite Out of the Snack Trend
Technomics, a leading foodservice research firm, confirms that consumers are heading towards restaurants for a fourth meal-part: snacking. Among QSR outlets, many of these snacks are termed “bites” to emphasize the small portions and quick consumption.
Solution: Ready-to-use dices, cubes, slices and spears, DOLE Chef-Ready Cuts are easy to add to a fruit salsa to enhance sliders, mini-tacos and mini-wraps. Offering healthy, refreshing snacks such as DOLE Pineapple Spears (as is or with a dip), or DOLE Fruit Bowls® in 100% Fruit Juice and Fruit Crisps (made with fruit and whole grains) is another way to tap into the fourth daypart.
Trend 2: Kids’ Meals Grow Up
With the focus on healthier eating, especially for children, more chains and restaurants are adding healthier, “adult-like” options to energize tired kids’ menus. In fact, the National Restaurant Association identified healthy kids’ meals as the top trend in 2012.
Solution: Add DOLE Fruit Bowls® in 100% Fruit Juice to the choice of sides on your kids menu.
Trend 3: Fruit-centric Menus
With the popularity of fruit at an all-time high, restaurants across the spectrum are adding fruit-focused items: from fruit-flavored iced tea, to fruit in salads, to fruit in desserts.
Solution: With DOLE Fresh Frozen Fruits, restaurants are able to serve real fruit with real fruit benefits (naturally sweet, nutritious, and an excellent source of Vitamin C) all year round. Operators offer customers the best quality ingredients from a trusted and reliable source.
Dole’s recipe database has innovative menu ideas for all menu segments from breakfast through dinner, appetizers through desserts.
Source: Compiled from QSR, June 8, 2012, “QSR Culinary trends of 2012 (so far)” and Nation’s Restaurant News, August 22, 2012, “Fall menu preview: Four Trends, A Fad and A Prediction.”
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You’re A Winner with Dole!
To be eligible to win a $100 American Express Gift Cheque from Dole at your next trade show, just make sure you’re on the pre-registration show list. Prior to the show (Pizza Expo, SNA and NACUFS), look for the Dole mailing with a detachable form. Fill out the form and stop by the Dole booth during the show to drop the form in the entry box. At the end of every show day, Dole randomly picks a winner and calls the lucky recipient.
While you’re at the booth, talk to the Dole representatives about the entire line of DOLE Packaged and Fresh Frozen Fruits, including DOLE Smoothie Starters® and DOLE Chef-Ready Cuts, and DOLE Fruit Bowls® in 100% Fruit Juice and DOLE Fruit Crisps. Dole offers a fruit solution to fit every operational need!
Check out the winners from the 2012 shows:
National Association of Colleges & Universities Food Service, July 12-13, 2012
Greg Kader, Yale University Law School (CT)
Cindy Mosley, Hendrix College (AR)
School Nutrition Association, July 16-17, 2012
Linda Pardy, Palmetto High School (FL)
Sherry Brokenberry, DeSoto Parish School Board (LA)
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Beverage Trends on Tap at Tales of the Cocktail
Beverage sales can contribute significantly to menu profitability, so paying attention to a few of the industry trends showcased at the 2012 Tales of the Cocktail event is one way to stay ahead of your competition.
Brunch Cocktails: As a growing number of restaurants add a morning daypart, beverage menus are likewise expanding with milk punches, sparkling wine cocktails, spiked juices and coffee-based concoctions. For a colorful, fruit-filled, alcohol-free punch, check out Dole’s 1-2-3 Punch.
Asian Flavors: Think ginger in beer, ale and syrups, exotic citrus (yuzu), and green tea. Dole’s Chinese Apple Ginger Cocktail fills the bill.
Carbonated Cocktails: A growing number of bars and restaurants are making carbonated water and sodas in-house, which are being repurposed for fun, fizzy adult drinks. Start your test with Tart Cherry Lime Crush.
Skinny Cocktails: There are a number of premade mixes for low-cal cocktails, or you can use sugar substitute to create a selection of refreshing Aguas Frescas.
Dessert Cocktails: Some cocktails can pass as candy, but are twice as dandy. Who could resist a Black Forest Martini made with DOLE Fresh Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries?
Tap into refreshing beverages at www.dolefoodservice.com/recipesnews.
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Ask Dole
Q. We’re a small operation and going through a case of product takes a while, plus we’re always concerned about menu fatigue.
A. Dole Corporate Chefs have invested hours in the test kitchen to develop recipes and ideas to maximize your investment in DOLE Foodservice Products. For each fruit, we have more than fifty ideas on how to pair our fruit with other popular ingredients found in most operations.
For example, a case of DOLE Fresh Frozen Sliced Apples goes from breakfast (Cinnamon-Apple Kuchen) to lunch (Open-Faced Turkey and Brie Sandwich with Warm Apples) to dinner (Latin-Crusted Pork Loin with Smoky Apple Cranberry Sauce). Enter your favorite fruit into the “search recipes” function to find recipes for any meal occasion.
Also at your fingertips, download our Match This with That brochure from www.dolefoodservice.com/news for menu inspiration.
Q. I’d like to offer my diners a healthier option. Can I do it without a major menu overhaul?
A. DOLE products, from Fresh Frozen Fruits to Fruit Bowls® in 100% Fruit Juice, are all natural and provide a low calorie, fat-free ingredient option for your menu. Offer DOLE Fruit Bowls® in 100% Fruit Juice on the Kids’ Menu, tap into the fruit smoothie trend with DOLE Smoothie Starters®, or add fruit salsas with DOLE Chef-Ready Cuts. For additional ideas, visit www.dolefoodservice.com/recipesnews.
Ask Dole questions at dolefoodservice.com/askdole. We’ll respond to you and share the answer with other operators in upcoming newsletters.
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Minty Tropical Salsa
Prep: 15 min. Makes: 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cups DOLE® Chef-Ready Cuts Mango Cubes, partially thawed
- 2 cups DOLE Chef-Ready Cuts Pineapple Cubes, partially thawed
- ⅓ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
METHOD
1. Combine vinegar, sugar and crushed red pepper in medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high to reduce mixture by half. Add red bell pepper and cool mixture in saucepan.
2. Place mango and pineapple in food processor container and pulse until fruit is coarsely chopped. Place in large bowl.
3. Add cooled vinegar mixture, mint and salt, stir well. Serve with grilled seafood or chicken.
Per Serving: 177 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 72mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 52g sugars), 0g protein, 5% Vitamin A, 23% Vitamin C, 0% calcium, 1% iron
For this recipe and more, visit www.dolefoodservice.com/recipesnews.
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For online product training videos and innovative recipe ideas, visit www.dolefoodservice.com or call 1-800-723-9868.
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©2012. ™ & ® Dole Food Company, Inc.