There’s quite a bit of gray area when it comes to certain industries promoting or supporting certain causes or groups of people. For example, cigarette companies aren’t exactly known for their sponsorship of high school athletics programs - or any school for that matter. Not that they’re allowed, either. Many countries have banned tobacco companies from this type of advertising or limited it severely.

 But when we look at fast food, we see a very different story. With entire menus for children, free toys, funny characters and more, we can see without a doubt that many fast food brands specifically target children. And with fast food not having the greatest track record in terms of healthy menu items (admittedly, it’s getting better) many question the fact that these brands market to kids in the first place.

It never fails - new years bring new trends which always seems to bring new words and phrases to describe them. This year is no different, so we figured we’d give you a head start on 5 new industry words you’re likely to hear now - and moving forward.

Chef-driven. There was once a time when chefs were the hidden faces of restaurants. They were rarely seen, but often revered as the hidden hero of the menu. Today is a much different story. With so many celebrity chefs on the map there is a new trend of having the chef be at the center of...well...just about everything. Whether a brand cashes in on a chef’s celebrity status, or they merely use chef-developed menu items to signify healthy and natural offerings, this trend is a response to increased demand for healthier items that are rich in creativity and dimension. And those things come from, usually, chefs.  

As more and more people are becoming health-conscious in their dining habits, vegetarian and meatless options are growing in their popularity. And, with Vegetarian Awareness Month being celebrated in the U.S. in October of every year, the idea of increasing the number and quality of vegetarian or “veggie” menu options is catching on.

Hard Rock Cafe, as an example, is doing a vegetarian limited time offer (also known as an LTO) with a number of veggie options. Last year, the global chain included such items on its menu as a Quinoa Burger, Southwest Spiced Tofu and a Black Bean Wrap.

According to Wikipedia, Bacon Jam is “...a bacon-based relish, similar to the Austrian starter Verhackert. It is made through a process of slow cooking the bacon, along with onions, vinegar, brown sugar and spices, before mixing in a food processor.”

So it’s like relish. But it’s jam. Bacon-based jam, at that. So, what exactly are we using this for again?

Well, let us tell you: You can use bacon jam for just about anything. Throw it on your burgers, your dawgs, your sandwiches - whatever you like.

If you open your lunch container and see leftovers or that sandwich you made last night, you’re not alone. More and more people are choosing to NOT spend money on sandwiches, soups and salads and are instead saving a few bucks by making their own lunch at home.

New data from the USA suggest that lunch traffic in QSR/fast-casual restaurant locations is slowing faster that it has in recent years - down seven percent in 2016 as compared to 2015 numbers.

Part of the reason is that more Americans are working from home than ever before (on at least 1-2 days each week) and lunch is either too expensive to eat out every day, or there is no dining option nearby.