Craft, artisan or locally made are top beverage trends for 2019
Beverages are going to make a splash in 2019 according to early results from the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) annual “What’s Hot” survey.
Beverages are going to make a splash in 2019 according to early results from the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) annual “What’s Hot” survey. A barometer of food and beverage trends at U.S. restaurants, the What’s Hot survey looks at the responses of approximately 650 professional chefs—all members of the American Culinary Federation.
Nearly 65% of respondents indicate that craft, artisan, and locally produced spirits is the No. 1 alcoholic beverage trend on the “What’s Hot in 2019 Culinary Forecast.” In addition, almost 60% of respondents said locally produced spirits, wine, and beer would be among the hottest beverage choices in 2019. More than 50% identified house-brewed beer as a hot trend. On the non-alcoholic side, 51% said craft/house-roasted coffee would simmer over in 2019.
“At restaurants and other foodservice operations today, beverages, including wines, spirits, beers, and nonalcoholic drinks are big traffic drivers,” said Hudson Riehle, the NRA’s senior vice president of research. “Offering craft liquors, wines, and other beverages, allows restaurants to distinguish their drink programs from their competitors. At the same time, putting a more local, sustainable spin on beverages is particularly appealing to millennials, who, in general, are more apt to support smaller, different, more socially responsible businesses and products.”