Serving Chicago-style hot dogs for 59 years, Portillo’s is proving that you can "teach an old dog new tricks" by introducing its first-ever plant-based hot dog.

The company’s new brand identity reflects the significant transformation that has already taken place across the platform, as well as the team’s forward-looking approach to assessing market trends and product innovation. 

The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show announced the 2022 recipients of the Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, which recognize companies for developing extraordinary food and beverage products that are leading the way in new tastes, flavor profiles, creativity and their potential to boost sales.

The ground-breaking new product makes it easier than ever before to have ripe avocado spread on-hand, regardless of the season, for a variety of quick serve dishes.

 Datassential research shows that more than half of all consumers consider the flavor of a dessert as one of their top three factors when ordering a dessert away from home. 

In response to travelers’ changing alcohol consumption habits and increased focus on wellbeing, Zero Proof, Zero Judgment features products from leading liquor replacement Ritual Zero Proof and carbonated mixer supplier Fever-Tree. 

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I love surprises—especially when they are of the culinary sort. When Prepared Foods asked me to write about future food trends, it led me to think about all the change our food and beverage industry has endured during the past few years. I also am thinking how we’ve adapted so quickly, and with such extraordinary ingenuity. I started to reflect on what surprised me the most and what sort of change we can expect in the future.

When the pandemic emerged in early 2020, the entire foodservice industry faced fast and unexpected change. Across segments, operators were forced to rapidly adjust operations—initially to stay afloat and then ultimately succeed long term in this new industry environment. Some of those quick-adapts will continue to shape foodservice as we head into 2022.