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Consumer Insights and Menu Ideas for Burger and Salad Recipe DevelopmentConsumer Insights and Menu Ideas for Burger and Salad Recipe Development
Our series focuses on what makes the perfect entrée salad & burgers in the eyes of your customer.
August 31, 2021
1 Min Read
Sponsored by Litehouse
Building Better Burgers (Total U.S. Consumers)
With Americans consuming millions of burgers each year, it’s one item you want on your menu. But which kind of burgers should you offer? To make your sales soar, you will need to do more than put traditional ground beef between two basic buns. There are so many options it can be overwhelming to decide which burger ingredients and flavors will appeal to your target consumers. To help you build and menu better burgers, Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among almost 2,000 burger eaters and developed this Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide.
Learn more about:
Which ingredient categories (ex. Proteins, cheese, etc.) are most important to your consumer when building a burger
The most preferred ingredients in each category
The proteins preferred most (and least) in a burger by men and women.
The significance of having a signature sauce (This isn’t its own bullet on the webpage-please adjust)
The produce topping more than half of consumers crave, but that rarely shows up on burger menus.
Find out how these preferences and others align with current restaurant trends, and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entrée burgers to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Collective’s Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Crafting Burgers Younger Consumers Crave (18-24)
Burgers are huge with younger consumers—and so are their expectations of these essential menu items. Innovation and unique combinations are must-haves. But with so many burger components, it can be difficult to understand exactly what will resonate with consumers at this age. To help you build and menu better burgers, Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among almost 2,000 burger eaters and developed this Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Learn more about:
The sauces that are the most preferred by young consumers (including differences between men and woman)
The three most important components of a burger.
Consumers’ cheesiest preference .
The surprising burger protein young men most prefer.
Which ingredient category offers an opportunity for the most variety.
Find out how the youngest generation’s preferences differ from other consumers, how they align with current restaurant trends and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entrée burgers to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Burger Ingredients that Can Boost Sales (25-37)
The food game has changed as millennial consumers demand dishes that include fresh foods and lots of options. Millennials are more open to a variety of ingredients than other generations and have a lot of buying power. So, as on-trend flavors and ingredients are rapidly changing, operators must determine which will appeal to the millennial generation. To help with menu and recipe development, Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among almost 2,000 burger eaters and developed this Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide.
Learn more about:
The wide variety of ingredient options consumers are open to and prefer on their burgers
The alternative proteins consumers are very interested to try.
Most preferred toppings (hint: some like it fried).
The underutilized topping nearly two-thirds of consumers wish was an option on more burger menus.
Which cheeses do (and don’t) cut it.
Find out how young millennials' preferences differ from those of other consumers, how they align with current restaurant trends and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entrée burgers to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Collective’s Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Building a Balanced Burger Menu (38-55)
Generation X consumers prefer comfort foods and familiar flavors, but are also open to the most variety of ingredients compared to any other generation. As a result, operators must find a balance between traditional and fresh takes on their burger menus. To help with menu and recipe development, Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among almost 2,000 burger eaters and developed this Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide.
Learn more about:
What Cheeses Gen X love and haven’t tried and would be very interested in trying on their burgers
Top attributes of a burger.
The underutilized add-on consumers wish was an option on more burger menus.
Non-traditional types of burgers consumers have or would like to order.
Find out how preferences of Generation X differ from other consumers, how they align with current restaurant trends and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entrée burgers to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Collective’s Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Mixing Up the Menu (55-74)
The image of seniors has changed as today’s older adults are craving a wider variety of foods than previous generations. When it comes to burgers, this age group is open to everything from new sauce options to alternative proteins. With so many ingredients and flavor combination possibilities, it's key for operators to understand what appeals to seniors. To help build and menu better burgers, Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among almost 2,000 burger eaters and developed this Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide.
Learn more about:
Top attributes of a burger (hint: size matters).
The sauce consumers are least familiar with, but are most interested in trying.
The fruits consumers are interested in trying on a burger.
Where consumers get their burgers most (and least) often.
Find out how seniors' preferences differ from those of other consumers, how they align with current restaurant trends and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entrée burgers to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Collective’s Burger Breakdown Entrée Guide, which includes Consumer Insights, Market Insights and Thought Starters.
Salad Components That Can Boost Sales
Consumers in the U.S. have certain preferences for their entree salad components, but sometimes they wish for more variety on menus. While people like having their region’s famous toppings on their salads, diners would also like to see additional proteins and other ingredients they are not currently finding on salad menus. Operators must decide which ingredients to include in these popular entrees. To help with menu and recipe development, the Litehouse Foodservice Team conducted a survey among 5,000 entree salad consumers, and developed this Essential Entree Guide.
Learn more about:
Which ubiquitous vegetable is under-utilized in salads
The favorite salad dressing among women, which is different from men’s favorite
Two plant-based ingredients that consumers would like to try on salads
The refreshing summer fruits consumers wish were more abundant on salads
Find out how these preferences lined up with current restaurant entree salad trends and where the opportunities exist for introducing new entree salads to your menu. Click here to download the Litehouse Collective Essential Entree Guide, which includes consumer insights, recipes, and Entree Salad Thought Starters.