Dishes introduced by Bidfood include vegan chocolate caramel brownies, freekah (a cereal made from green durum wheat) and lamb kibbeh (a Levantine dish made with finely ground meat and spices).
Developed following “extensive” research by Bidfood, Create Summer showcases a variety of new-to-market food and drink products, enabling businesses to capitalise on the trends driving consumer choice in 2018, said the company.
Sugar targets
Working alongside Public Health England (PHE), Bidfood’s summer range includes products which address operator needs to meet the latest sugar targets. New products include a Lemon & Raspberry Ginger Crunch dessert and Vegan Coconut and Chocolate Tart.
Bidfood has also developed a nutritional screening tool for new product development, used to review the nutritional content of products within its own-label range to build its nutritional credentials, as well as to support its healthy eating agenda.
Laura Mason, campaign manager at Bidfood, said: “Central to the range is our in-depth industry knowledge, which ensures caterers can stay ahead of the curve with on-trend and bespoke menu suggestions that directly cater to their diners.
“This year, consumer desire for new flavour combinations and experience-led dining will continue to dominate. Equally, government mandates around sugar and the ever-growing demand to meet dietary requirements with interesting menu options will be top of the agenda. Bidfood’s Create Summer range ties all this together to provide caterers with a wide variety of options to meet these needs and more.”
Four key trends
When developing its Create Summer range, Bidfood was inspired by four key trends it had identified for 2018:
‘Moreish MENA’: To provide solutions to the rising demand of Middle Eastern flavours, Bidfood has expanded its range, showcasing products such as za’atar chicken breast skewers (succulent chicken flavoured with za’atar spice mix).
‘Americas Discovered’: According to Bidfood, there is an array of Latin food styles and flavours for all foodservice operators to consider. They offer plenty of opportunity to incorporate various cooking styles and a range of ingredients from grilled, fried, and stewed meats and fish, to vegetables and chilli-infused salsas.
“The Latin American influence on street food continues to explode on the scene, with sushi burritos, street fries, wraps, tacos, and yet more inventive hand-held dishes continuing to evolve and grow,” according to the company.
‘Asian Appetites’: Bidfood is looking to the trend of consumers being well-travelled, and with long-standing Asian take-away favourites, the Asian flavour experience has had a real boost as consumers look for deeper and more exciting flavours from across the continent of Asia.
‘Better Me’: The focus on healthy eating continues, with consumers expecting transparency and traceability from food manufacturing companies. According to Bidfood, there has been a steady increase in the number of people choosing to avoid meat and embrace a vegan/vegetarian diet, with most believing that a meat-free lifestyle will improve their health and weight.
Research conducted by the Vegan Society and Vegan Life Magazine has shown the number of vegans in the UK has risen by nearly 360% in the past decade. To satisfy the cravings of these consumers, Bidfood has launched products such as Everyday Favourites Fruity Vegan Flapjack.