The popularity of the traditional soup and salad bar in restaurants is slowing a bit, according to the 2018 Soup & Salad Consumer Trend Report by Technomic. But that doesn’t mean these staples in the American diet have seen their day.

While soup and salad sales are lagging in some restaurant chains, others are getting creative with their offerings and capturing the attention of patrons (and capturing market share). Though some restaurateurs see the downward trend as a potential threat, others see it as an opportunity.

Fast-casual restaurants had a come-back year in 2017 compared to 2016. Sales for fast-casuals exceeded expectations for 2017 and grew by 9% among the top 250 restaurant chains. They remain one of the most popular dining destinations across the country and have hit the sweet spot with consumers by offering higher quality, healthier options compared to traditional fast food restaurants, while still maintaining quick service and an affordable price range. 

The sooner people are introduced to a product, the more likely they are to become loyal, lifelong customers. This is perhaps most notable when it comes to food and its influence on individuals. One study showed that your earliest recollections of meals as a child create strong, associative memories and can influence your psychological and physical well-being throughout your lifetime.

A recent report by Packaged Facts stated that “industry players must engage kids earlier and retain relationships through the teen years to realize full market potential.” Developing products that children love can have a significant impact on a food manufacturer’s future market share, but those products need to cater to families in different ways now than they did in the past.

The popularity of almond milk, soy milk, rice milk and other plant-based dairy alternatives continues to rise, and they’re forecast to represent 40% of the combined total of dairy and dairy alternative beverages.

A major contributing factor to the increased market share is the 36% of consumers who believe these non-dairy alternatives offer greater health benefits. Aside from a small percentage of the population that is allergic to dairy or chooses a vegan lifestyle, however, these marketing claims — among others — often don’t ring true.

Have you reached for a snack lately? If so, you’re among the 91% of consumers who do so multiple times every single day. Cultural shifts and lifestyle changes have upended traditional eating patterns and will continue to drive the snack market, as demonstrated by more than one in five consumers saying they snack a lot more or somewhat more often than they did five years ago.

The types of snacks that consumers buy have shifted throughout the years, too. Sugar-laden treats and high-fat products are increasingly being replaced with more nutritional options to appeal to those who choose healthier and more active lifestyles. 

Unlike some food trends of the past, the trend toward all-natural food products has some serious staying power and shows no signs of slowing. According to a Nielsen survey, 88 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for healthier foods. And more than 60% of consumers think that healthfulness has an impact on the way they buy food and drinks according to the 2017 Food and Health survey.

Instead of reaching for products on grocery store shelves, many consumers are reaching for their mobile devices or computers. Online grocery sales are on the rise and, according to Nielsen, the number of U.S. consumers buying groceries online could triple in less than 10 years.

Meeting the growing demand for online grocery sales presents some major challenges for food manufacturers. Let’s take a look at three problematic concerns, as well as some solutions.

Consumers in the U.S. eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup every single year. Tomato soup is the second favorite, topped only by chicken noodle. However, it’s hard to argue that any other is more versatile than creamy tomato soup which can be enjoyed on its own or used in other recipes such as chili, casseroles, stews, Mexican dishes, Italian classics and more.

Before your taste buds have a chance to decide whether a forkful of food is savory, sour, salty or sweet, your very first impression is determined by its texture. If you get that wrong, flavor won’t matter.

Many food manufacturers were scrambling to meet the FDA’s July 26, 2018 deadline that required a sweeping overhaul of how nutritional facts and serving sizes are listed on food labels. Manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales are giving a sigh of relief over the rule to extend the compliance dates to January 1, 2020. Food manufacturers with less than $10 million in sales get an extra year, with their deadline being January 1, 2021.