\n<\/p>\n
Consumers are still dining out, but instead of higher-priced entrees, many are ordering more appetizers. <\/p>\n
As food inflation<\/a> and affordability<\/a> dominates the conversation about the U.S. consumer, new restaurant purchasing data shows even among Americans who are going to restaurants, many are in the mindset of cutting back.<\/p>\n \u201cAppetizer orders are up 20% year over year, even as entrees and desserts are largely flat or declining,\u201d said Jim Pazzanese, executive vice president of global strategic procurement of Buyers Edge Platform<\/a>, which tracks supply chain data within the food service industry. \u201cThe shift is visible at the item level,\u201d he said, with some popular appetizer sales to restaurant operators experiencing growth rates north of 30%.<\/p>\n Top-growing appetizers<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: Buyers Edge, year-to-date data<\/em><\/p>\n Pazzanese is calling the current restaurant environment the \u201cappetizer economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, he says dessert orders are down 2 percent year over year.<\/p>\n One reason for the rising popularity of appetizers, Pazzanese says, is their link to promotions, which are key to getting Americans to spend in the current economic environment.<\/p>\n \u201cConsumers realize appetizers are more frequently tied to promotions and drink specials,\u201d he said. \u201cThis makes eating out more affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that buying of frozen or shelf-stable appetizers, which are the fastest-growing appetizer SKUs, makes sense from an economic perspective for restaurant operators, too. \u201cThis is helping owners and managers reduce waste and manage unpredictable demands,\u201d Pazzanese said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe K-shaped economy we are seeing is being reflected in food spending,\u201d said Brian Choi, CEO of the Food Institute. <\/p>\n In the grocery store, he said that is being seen in the continued migration to private label brands<\/a> as food inflation influences consumer purchasing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe top 10 percent are increasing their spending in novel products and are willing to pay, but the vast majority of consumers are moving down to private label versus national brands,\u201d said Choi. \u201cConsumers can save anywhere from 10-20 percent by switching to a private label,\u201d Choi added.<\/p>\n In a recent Food Institute survey, consumer perception of private labels has gone up substantially over the last five years, and it is now on par with national brands.<\/p>\n \u201cAlbertsons<\/a>\n