Berman on OffenseBerman on Offense

Richard

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors and management of Nation’s Restaurant News.

In my decades in the food industry, I’ve seen consumer trends swing over the course of just a few years. Once, we couldn’t get enough fondue; we’ll see how long today’s cupcake craze lasts.


It’s always helpful to learn where attitudes stand so you know what requires your immediate attention, and a new survey of 800 Americans performed this past autumn offers some idea of where public opinion is.


Obesity is still a big, hot political issue, even if we haven’t heard of too many fast-food lawsuits recently. Developments in Europe might not surprise you: France imposed a soda tax, Denmark slapped a tax on products containing...