Restaurant trends for 2012: Importing new tastes and ideas

Observation:  A recent Marketing Daily story featured insights from Mintel that point to more international flavors and styles coming to the restaurant business next year.  Click here to see the story.

Implications:   This MD piece cites many reasons why the out-of-home dining industry will reach across the pond for new ideas.  But one motivation that I did not see mentioned in the piece is that the U.S. palate, like its population, has simply become more diverse. 

With a broadening tapestry of race and ethnicity, it only makes sense that our menus would expand, too.

Has your company embraced new ideas from beyond our shores?  Has it recognized the changing composition of the U.S. population?

Mike Anderson, for the Elm Street Economics consumer trends blog. A service of The Center for Sales Strategy, Inc.