Sponsored by J&J Snack Foods
People are flocking back to all sorts of restaurants and foodservice outlets this summer, reveling again in foods that are flavorful, fun, and exciting.
If this isn’t a tailor-made scenario for menuing authentic Bavarian-style pretzels, cinnamon sugar-dusted Spanish-style churros and Italian gelato cups, then nothing is. It’s time right now to satisfy consumers’ pent-up flavor cravings by promoting the beloved snacks that give them a moment of pleasure and a mini vacation from the daily routine.
Along with delicious flavor, classic snack foods have a unique ability to evoke pleasant emotions for consumers. They are indulgences and impulse buys that delight the palate and uplift the spirit at very affordable prices. This is important now that economic conditions are making consumers watch their spending. Moreover, the familiar snack foods that consumers know and love bring them much-needed comfort and reassurance in unsettled and uncertain times.
Partnership pays
Right from the get-go, restaurant operators will have greater success selling snack foods if they join forces with a market-leading food manufacturer with a broad, varied portfolio of products, plus the wherewithal to support clients.
J&J Snack Foods Corp., a publicly traded company with more than $1 billion in revenues, encompasses more than 30 brands across all snack food categories, ranging from soft pretzels, churros, frozen novelties to funnel cakes and baked goods.
In addition to great products, an alliance with J&J Snack Foods can provide operators with helpful marketing and point-of-sale support in the form of table tents, posters, price signs, beverage coasters, cutting boards and pretzel hooks, all helpful for optimizing snack food merchandising.
New snacking sensations
The J&J Snack Foods lineup of snack sensations includes Brauhaus Pretzel™, which delivers the authentic taste of the Munich Oktoberfest in a Bavarian-style soft pretzel, and ¡Hola! Churros™, a new brand of sweet treats that comes in two styles—authentic Spanish and crispy Southwest recipes.
The traditional soft pretzel has spread from its German roots to become one of the most recognizable and popular snack foods around the globe. Their Brauhaus Pretzel™ is Handcrafted with an earthy rye flavor and a light, fluffy interior and crunchy baked exterior, it is the perfect addition to menus as an appetizer, snack or pairing with beer.
Churros, desserts of Spanish origin with a unique playful persona, have likewise won a widespread snacking audience. These delicious fried sticks, bites and loops are typically rolled in a cinnamon-sugar and paired with a signature dipping sauce. These sweet delights are an ideal dessert snack for restaurants, sports venues, convenience stores and colleges. One of the fastest-growing food categories in foodservice, Churros are projected by Datassential to grow +10.7% within casual-dining restaurants and +5.4% in fast-casual settings by 2025.
The exciting news in churros is the debut of ¡Hola! Churros™, a colorful rebranding of the successful J&J Snack Foods foodservice churro portfolio. It is now the master brand for all the company’s churros.
The two new ¡Hola! Churros™ recipe variations will attract newcomers to churros as well as long-time aficionados. The authentic Spanish recipe is cake-like, while the Southwest recipe features a light and fluffy interior and a crispy exterior. Each style is available in a variety of shapes and sizes and choices of delicious fillings.
Yet another new globally inspired treat is LUIGI’S® Gelato, now part of the LUIGI’S® Real Italian Ice frozen family. The creamy new product comes in indulgent flavors such as Mint Chocolate, Sweet Cream Churro and Italian Cannoli. Each flavor features a swirl or chip inclusion for an elevated tasting experience and is packaged in convenient 4-ounce portion-controlled cups.
Managing labor woes
The fact that many snack foods are ready to serve with minimal handling and employee training is a big plus for operators grappling with the labor crisis. In fact, 70% of operators say they don’t have enough staff to support their current service demand, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry Report.
Fortunately for operators, many of J&J Snack Foods’ products need little or no handling to be ready to sell. In the case of their soft pretzels, it takes just a few minutes of heating the product from a frozen or refrigerated state prior to displaying it in a pretzel merchandiser.
Reaching out to flavor-craving consumers with delicious, globally inspired snack foods can bring operators much-needed sales and profits. Partnering with the snack food experts at J&J Snack Foods Corp. is the first step on the path to success.
