Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Blurred
QSR
The line between appetizer and main is blurred in casual dining.
1.9
Trend score
Trend
What is the Blurred QSR trend?
Blurred QSR: As the mainstream consumer becomes more health-conscious, the world of QSR finds a happy home among divergent Millennials and members of Gen Z who seek a mix of novelty and convenience from their food. Hybridized flavors and formats show a sense of adventure and imagination that bodes well with this new, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
Trend themes
Themes within the Blurred QSR trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Hybridized Flavors and Formats
As the mainstream consumer becomes more health-conscious, QSRs that offer hybridized flavors, formats, and mixed appetizer-entrees show a sense of adventure and imagination that attracts the new, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
02
Bite-Sized, Shareable Foods
The growing demand for bite-sized snacks requires QSRs to expand their menus with finger foods that are shareable amongst friends, family, colleagues, and the community at large.
03
Novelty, Fun-Focused Food
With an Internet culture-obsessed demographic, QSRs that cater to a sense of novelty and fun with menu items such as festive pizzas, chicken chips, nacho-inspired fries, and breadstick pizza crust have a strong appeal.
Industry implications
What the Blurred QSR trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
QSRs
QSRs that specialize in appetizers and entrees have a great opportunity to hybridize flavors, options, and formats, introducing unconventional dishes that align with the new, healthy-focused, Internet culture-obsessed demographic.
For
Food Retail
Food retail stores selling finger food items are in a prime position to offer clients small-bite options that are shareable and incorporate unconventional ingredients/flavors such as cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and even chocolate.
For
Food Delivery Services
Food delivery services that augment their menus with unconventional food items such as hybridized appetizer-entrees, shareable snacks, and fun-focused foods associated with lifestyles of innovation and adventure will draw a space in people's hearts as well as stomachs.
Workshop question
If you could create a new product category within your industry, what would it be and how would you do it?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Blurred QSR
Trend score 1.9 out of 10, from popularity 16%, activity 33%, freshness 8%.
Popularity16%
Activity33%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Blurred QSR trend
5 featured examples from Sep 24, 2015 to May 14, 2017CategoryLifestyle
Chicken-Based Chips
Taco Bell's New Crispy Chicken Chips Put a Creative Twist on Chicken Tenders
Fast food chains can experiment with unconventional food shapes and bite-sized snacks to attract customers.
CategoryLifestyle
Breadstick Pizza Crusts
This Unconventional Pizza is Specially Designed for Sharing
Fast food chains can explore the concept of interactive and shareable dishes, like Pizza Hut's Twisted Crust pizza, to enhance customer engagement and differentiate their offering…
CategoryLifestyle
Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
This In-N-Out Egg Roll Recipe Contains Burger Ingredients for Asian Fusion
Incorporating different cultural cuisines into their menus can attract new customers and revitalize their brand.
CategoryLifestyle
Nacho-Inspired Fast Food Fries
The Taco Bell Nacho Fries Come with Warm Cheese Dipping Sauce
The fast food industry can adopt and refine the concept of nacho-inspired fries to attract customers looking for new and exciting menu options.
CategoryLifestyle
Shareable Festive Pizzas
This Pizza Hut Singapore Creation Features a Treat for One Lucky Person
Opportunity for pizza chains and food manufacturers to create innovative and shareable food options for special occasions.
