SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARDS | 2005 FOODSERVICE WINNERS
Latitude Adjustment
According to the National Restaurant Association (Washington), some 89% of U.S. consumers report ordering foods with unique and distinct flavors, for which ethnic cuisines are well qualified. Furthermore, food manufacturers are realizing that 39 million U.S. consumers are foreign born, and consumer awareness of ethnic foods has increased by 57% in the past 10 years, according to Yankelovich Monitor (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
This year's Spirit of Innovation Award--Foodservice winner, McCain Foods USA (Lisle, Ill.), has focused at least part of its attention to Caribbean cuisine to feed Americans' desire for new, on-trend ethnic dishes. As McCain has discovered, Caribbean cuisine combines bold with sweet and spicy flavor, fresh meats, seafood, fruits and vegetables.