Restaurant Trends '06

There are some interesting trends predicted to affect the quick service restaurant industry.

• Battle of the brands. The largest fast-food chains will attempt to encroach on each other's established territories. McDonald's and Burger King lust after Starbuck's morning coffee crowd; Starbuck's wants a piece of McDonald's lunch; and Dunkin Donuts wants a bite of both.
• Automated food kiosks will be introduced. Fast Food News introduced the story of RoboServer's "Line Buster", allowing customers to place and pay for their order on a touch screen display. Expect the beginnings of food and beverage dispensers too.
• Technology to attract people into restaurants. Expect WiFi Internet access, DVD rentals, games and more television to be used to bring in new customers and gain favor with families.

Now on to overall food trends in the restaurant industry. Meat & Poultry magazine interviews one well regarded restaurant consultancy, Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co.. They share their vision of food trends for 2006. Chocolate will receive renewed mass-market snob appeal; snacks will appear on more upscale restaurant menus; vinaigrettes will be the new sauces; watermelon will be the new tomato; and fat is back.

• Mini will be in, with mini-sandwiches, shot glasses filled with soups, mini-muffins and other smaller sweets.
• Fat is back. Kentucky Fried Chicken's tonnage of greasy breaded bird parts has taken flight around the world. Burger chains are straining to see who can cram the most calories onto a bun.
• Health, one more round. Stand by for more labels on foods and branding for healthy product lines.
• Exotic vinegars are flavoring salads and sauces in upscale restaurants and will be a hot item this year. Up-and-coming super-fruits like pomegranates, mangosteens and black sapote will appear on menus.