Consumers’ desire for sauces has grown as our food has become more globalized and our palates more sophisticated. According to Innova’s 2022 Flavor Survey, 39% of consumers said they’re most likely to experiment with flavors through sauces, seasonings, and toppings.
This experimentation extends beyond their own kitchens; Technomic’s Flavor Consumer Trend Report finds that 34% of consumers consider what sauces and condiments are available when deciding which restaurants to visit.
There are a few brands that have sauces that go beyond the restaurant and have a devoted following, like the Chick-fil-A sauce and Cane’s Sauce at Raising Cane’s. But research has shown that everyone’s most-desired demographic, Gen Z, has the broadest palette out of any generation before it, and brands are trying to meet that consumer.
The love for sauce is accompanied by an increasing demand for boneless chicken — the perfect vehicle for said sauce.
KFC CMO Nick Chavez recently said, Gen Z likes to “dip, drench, and sauce everything. Everything.”
Check out the latest sauces from restaurant brands.