The Winning Food Franchise Trends In 2019

What is the latest restaurant that everyone is talking about? The new one, where you can order sugar free activated charcoal ice-cream on the tablet and pay for it without having to wait for the bill. These are your latest food franchise trends for 2019.

It is also interesting that franchising itself is the trend in the restaurant business this year. The market share of franchises in the food business is growing at a fast rate. This business is one that is very dynamic and continually sets the benchmark one notch higher. Only those that can match steps with customers' expectations can last in the long run. 

To understand the reason for the trends that are actually in vogue, we need to understand the market. The millennials have just gained adulthood and are getting their presence noted in all sectors. This is more so in the food business in India.

The millennials have grown up with ample access to information and communication technologies. They check ratings on the internet, make reservations on the app, post trendy pictures of their coffee as they update the status on social media, make cashless payments and rant about the awesome food on their blogs. They are highly mobile themselves and while they are here today, next week can see them abroad, and the third week on an official tour across the nation.

It is this very lifestyle of millennials that is reflected in the food franchise trends in 2019 in India.

Global: 

There is a lot of exposure to trends all around the world through the internet. Customers in India have been abroad for work or leisure and are aware of the high standards in developed countries. They are delighted to find similar quality and high standards of service back home and become loyal customers of the food outlet. The global trends in food tastes, for example, sorghum grain are reflected to some extent in India too. The interesting thing is that the food business is very quick to respond to such trends.

Healthy:

The current generation has faced the brunt of pollution at every level due to large scale industrialization. To this, they also have the added woes of unhealthy lifestyles. This has resulted in a very cautious approach that seeks to ensure health in every aspect of life. Food is obviously the basic pillar of health and hence there is an enhanced focus on healthy eating habits. Right from healthy ingredients to healthy processes, everything is noted.

The food joints that serve fresh, fat-free, and sugar-free foods are trending this year. There is a good demand for organic, vegan, and dairy free foods. Demand for food that is free from allergens such as gluten-free or nut-free foods is rising.

Presentation:

Nowadays there is an emphasis on presentation in every area. In the food business, presentation and plating of the food are becoming increasingly important. People order ice cream frozen with liquid nitrogen just for the sake of watching those pale twirls of gas rise up and fade away beautifully in the air. Ice-cream franchises that serve desserts frozen with liquid nitrogen are evincing a lot of interest. Whether it is a cup of coffee or a simple bowl of fruit salad, it has to be served in a pretty way that will make for a fine photograph drawing a hundred likes on your social media account.

The focus on presentation is not limited to vegetable carvings or rainbow colored cakes, it is becoming an essential part of the service too. The serve-ware has to be eye-catching and cool. Even if it is your daily cuppa tea, it feels better to be served in a clay kullad. Even the waiters and other staff are expected to be presentable, knowledgeable and able to converse well. There is a popular franchise in Mumbai where waiters suddenly break into an impromptu dance that is actually choreographed very well. Even in tier III cities like Rajkot, it is not impossible to find innovation in presentation. There is a soda shop in Rajkot where the server has presentation and serving skills that are no less than a bartender in an upscale international franchise.

Presentation and plating are becoming extremely important for franchises that target children and teenagers. Categories such as ice-creams, bakery, and confectionary can just not afford to miss out on presentation. Pretty colors, clever names, and cool packaging are what children side with. If you do not have lovely pastel colored macaroons sitting in your window to invite the cool kids out there, forget about being the market leader right away.

Needless to say, the competition is tough. Earlier, customers were easier to impress but now it is tough to beat even the average mom in plating skills. It is a trend that will extend for some years.

Technology: 

Technology is trending in every sector be it education or travel so how can be food left behind? Restaurants all over the world are seeing major changes in the way food menus are used, dishes ordered and checks paid.

Alexa and Siri are competing to serve you not only at home but at the restaurant too. Restaurants are incorporating voice ordering systems where you can use Alexa to order your usual dish at a favorite restaurant. If you wish to try a new dish, the self-order kiosk or a tablet will give you a detailed menu and help you to place your order. No more waving hands at the waiter to catch his elusive glance at peak hours of the weekend. You don't even have to wait for the bill. It will be visible in your mobile and your online payment app will pay it. How great it would be if you would not even have to earn that money and an app could do it in return of a five-star rating of the restaurant? Did I just hear that it is possible? Well, nothing seems impossible now!

Take away:      

This trend is so entrenched in the food business that it is hardly fair to call it a trend. Trends go away after some time but the takeaway trend does not seem to be going away. With most of the big cities facing a crunch for space or time, this model of the franchise business is gaining popularity at a fast rate. There are franchises where you can order food online, by phone or through the food delivery apps. These kitchens are clean and hygienic but they do not have any eating area attached to it.

At a time when peak hours see a lot of waiting time and traffic, such options are getting more popular.Eating out has all been about the experience for a long time but it is becoming more so now. People look towards a restaurant as a social place and a café as a meeting place increasingly. A food business that are able to offer customers a specific feel of character, high standards of service, and make the experience as hassle-free as possible, tend to stand out of the rest. The trend is to be one step ahead of the millennials. Those franchises that succeed in doing it will always pull crowds.

The trends of 2019 are basically about new experiences that engage the attention of the customers and either make them feel at home or make them feel awed while respecting their time and comfort.