ROSEMONT, IL - As you know, we get excited for foodservice stories around the ANUK office, especially when those foodservice stories are summer-adjacent. US Foods recently put out its Summer Scoop 2019 lineup, which introduced 21 innovative foodservice products, all geared toward convenience-dining and environmentally-conscious consumers.
“We recently surveyed more than 500 independent restaurant operators and found that only 53 percent felt confident in their ability to utilize delivery services,” said Stacey Kinkaid, Vice President, Product Development and Innovation. “Right now, we know that delivery and on-the-go dining is causing major shifts in the restaurant world.”
38 percent of U.S. adults—including 50 percent of millennials—affirm they are more likely to have restaurant food delivered than they were two years ago, a press release noted.
Kinkaid continued, stating that, “More than 80 percent of consumers report using services that let them enjoy restaurant food outside of the restaurant at least monthly. This Summer Scoop lineup gives our customers the tools, the products, and the confidence they need to provide delivery, take-out, grab-and-go, and retail solutions for anytime, anywhere dining.”
Convenience Meets Environmentally Conscious
Diners these days are sustainably savvy, and as a result, US Foods’ Summer Scoop features an assortment of environmentally-friendly options, like bowls—which appear on one-third of U.S. menus and have grown at a 16 percent rate over the past four years. New items include the following:
- Monogram Molded Fiber Bowl: This bowl is 100 percent compostable and Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified, sustainably made from molded wheat fiber, and can be used for hot and cold meals. It’s also a Serve Good product, meeting rigorous criteria set by US Foods for responsible sourcing or waste reduction
- Monogram Wheat Fiber Soufflé Cup: This Serve Good item is used for sauces, dips, dressings, and other condiments. It is 100 percent compostable, made from molded wheat fiber, as well as BPI certified
- Monogram Pulp Folding Container: This item is 100 percent compostable, BPI-certified, and is designed with a double-locking system that requires no lid. This Serve Good product comes in a 32-ounce size
On-the-Go Proteins and Greens
- Cross Valley Farms Baby Leaf and Herb Mix: This pre-washed, ready-to-use product contains parsley and dill for an aromatic, on-trend mix that can be used in a variety of applications. From salads to burger toppers, this item requires no extra attention, so it is the ultimate back-of-house product
Online Ordering Made Easy
Last but not least, US Foods’ Summer Scoop lineup also includes ChowNow, which builds online ordering systems directly into a restaurant's own website, social media page, or branded mobile app. The CHECK Business Tool is commission-free, offering restaurants a flat rate and an innovative solution to protect their brand.
To see the entirety of the lineup, click here. And for the latest in foodservice innovations, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
