The Food Channel just released it’s Top Ten Snack Trends for 2010 and with snacking itself seeming to be a big trend, people are enjoying smaller meals and more of them. So how can we capitalize on some of these interesting ideas?
Chips and dips top the list, why not help your customers feature some seafood-focused twists on that easy theme – perfect for appetizers, happy hour bites or snacking during NFL season. What about calamari? Dress up that old standby with a few twists - switch up your seasoning or swap out your dipping sauce. Shrimp cocktail can go any direction your palate leads you. Smoked salmon or other seafood can dress up dips, and some fancy potato chips can act as a fun, approachable base for caviar and other roes.
Nuts are popular snack choices and can easily be worked into seafood recipes. Macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans – all of these add crunch and flavor when used to crust fish like rainbow trout or tilapia. Stay on trend by offering small plates of bite size, nut-crusted fish as part of your happy hour menu.
“Bodaciously Bold” is how the report describes big flavors – easy enough to apply to seafood! Fish (or shrimp) tacos, a favorite of snackers everywhere, take naturally to this trend. Bold seasonings or sauces could also enliven small seafood sliders – think mini wild salmon burgers with a chipotle mayonnaise...
Fruit is on the minds of snackers everywhere (especially the younger generation). Plenty of room to market your seafood focused snacks with fruit pairings – top fillets with fruit focused salsas or simple fruit-based sauces. Ceviche with fruit worked in could easily find its way onto your small bites menu.
At first glance, yogurt and seafood might not seem like a natural partnership, but an appetizer of mini salmon cakes with a dilled yogurt sauce is a delicious and healthy snack your customers will love.
Customers may also be looking for a return to nostalgia, your game time menu or suggestions for seafood focused snacks can meet that need. Classics like oysters Rockefeller or clams casino make for perfect small bite offerings.
I admit I struggled to come up with how to turn seafood into bars (granola and grouper just doesn’t do it for me) but smoked fish in the form of small, bite size strips, like a tasty salmon jerky, might tap into this trend just fine!
Wholesalers and retailer - keep your sales people on top of these trending ideas. Your customers are always happy to hear suggestions on how to better utilize the products you’re selling them.
Happy Snacking!
