Americas favorite side goes main menu

Even with trends towards healthier eating, the sale of one of Americas favorite side items, the French Fry, has continued to grow. According to 2017 Technomic Inc. – Menu Monitor menu presence of fries has increased 19.5% in the last five years.

While most consumers think of fries as an accompaniment to burgers and sandwiches in QSR’s (44%), it’s midscale restaurants where fries are the most prevalent, offered on 80% of midscale menus according to Technomic Inc., followed by 74% at casual dining establishments. Even fine dining is out ranks the QSR in service of fries, with 51% offering fries.

Traditional fries, whether thick cut, hand-cut, shoestring, waffle, or wedge are loved by consumers and top the list of French fries ordered. But, other types of fries are gaining ground, including sweet potato fries, seasoned fries and loaded, with 57% of consumers stating they would order sweet potato fries if they were available on the menu (Technomic Inc.). Toppings and seasonings have moved fries beyond the “sides menu” and onto shareable and even main dish options.

While healthy eating trends continue to grow, consumers are not willing to give up their French fries, whether as a side item, snack or shareable, making them an all- daypart profit opportunity for operators and a way to boost check average.

Let Frymaster help you find the fryer that will deliver the perfect fry or any other fried food. Start your research here. www.frymaster.com