Steak P
izza
Specia
lty Fr
ies
Specia
lty A
pp/Sta
rter
Specia
lty C
hicke
n Dish
Casual D
ining Resta
urants
Mexic
an Bowl
Kids’
Taco D
ish
Chili Con Q
ueso
Burrito
/Chim
ichanga
Fast
Casual R
estaura
nts
Chicke
n Sandwic
h/Wra
p
Macaro
ni and C
heese
Specia
lty Fr
ies
Cheese Fr
ies
QSR
s
Year over Year Growth in Menu Mentions (2017–2018)2
FASTEST GROWING CHEESE SAUCE APPLICATIONS
SoupsSauces
Cheese Filling for Desserts and Pastries
BaseSoft Pretzels
Potato ChipsFrench Fries
Dip ForNachos
Hot Dogs & HamburgersBaked Potatoes
ToppingMac and Cheese
EnchiladasPizza
Ingredient
CHEESE SAUCE APPLICATION CATEGORIES
TALKING TRENDS:Cheese Sauce 85%
Nearly 85% of highly craveable dishes feature cheese.1
1 Datassential SCORES (does not include desserts, breakfast pastries or beverages)2 2018 Technomic, MenuMonitor3 Datassential INSIDER™
Queso BlancoMild CheddarMonterey JackSalsa Con Queso
CheddarAged CheddarSharp CheddarJalapeñoNacho
AFP advanced food products llc CHEESE SAUCE FLAVORS
OPEN-FACED SANDWICH featuring Italiansausage, giardiniera,
fries and beer CHEDDARSAUCE
Specialty Dining: Horseshoe Sandwich at an MLB ballpark
Hand-breaded
CHICKENbreast stripssauced andtossed in aSIGNATUREbuffalo sauce with
FOUR-CHEESEsauce andPENNE NOODLES
Casual Dining: Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
HomemadeTORTILLA CHIPSsmothered in3-CHEESE QUESO,beans, sour cream and salsa and topped withFIRE-ROASTEDSHRIMP
Fast Casual: Shrimp 3 Cheese Nachos
A SOFT
PRETZELtwisted intoa tasty treatand served with
SIGNATURECHEESE SAUCE
QSR: Soft Pretzel Twist
Creative examples from around the foodservice world
NEW MENU ITEMS AND LTOs
In average number of new menu items and LTOs per chain in ten years —from 14 in 2007 to 23 in 2015.3
NEARLY
50%INCREASE
NEARLY
50%INCREASE
