Hispanic Foods & Drink Skyrocketing In Popularity
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8/26/07- Remember when burrito wasn't part of our lexicon? How about salsa? Or even refried beans. Right, ya can't remember. These food items have become so ingrained in our lexicon that they seem a part of American fabric.
Well really it wasn't but 15-20 years ago when people didn't know what tacos were,and not until 5-6 years ago that we knew what dulce de leche was.
Just last week I was talking to a friend of mine in Texas, who said she was going by McDonalds (who I see as THE leader of US food culture around the globe btw ) saying she was at a McDonalds driveup, about to order the Southwest salad, along with a dessert of empanadas. I nearly jumped outta my chair. I said what? They have empanadas at McDonalds now?
Apparently so. And it's a test market for McD's, so empanadas may soon be going national- just you wait.
And in my East Coast world they've recently launched a breakfast burrito which is selling gangbusters, (along with their existing chicken wraps - wrapped up in a chicken tortillas).
I gotta be honest, and say, what Latin food ain't going US mainstream these days?
Marketing Daily says licuados are on the verge of hitting mainstream life, and lemme tell you, I can't wait to try that Miller Chill beer that Miller is hoping will boost it's sales this year. (It hasn't hit us East Coast people's yet) But supposedly, it's a lime and salt flavored beer (coming outta Milwaukee y'all...but who am I to judge.) Budweiser's also coming out with it's own Budweiser Chelada, also a lime and salt beer...haven't tried that either...but am looking forward to it.
Okay, so back to McDonalds. I generally feel, that McDonalds doesn't catch onto a trend until it's been well established. Thus the preponderance of Latin inspired foods at McD's is a signal that Latin foods and trends are not just here for a season, but are here to stay.
So the lesson here is for marketers of all ilks to read into your own products, see what Latin trends are here to stay, and hold onto the wave, cause it looks like a big ride.