Guest Writers: Annette Kramer and Jenny Johnston

We’ve embarked on what we hope is the beginning of a new holiday tradition here at Houston’s. This year, we wanted to find a fun and worthwhile way to give back to our local community during this time of giving. We chose to participate in the Les Schwab Toy Drive due to the fact that Les Schwab Tires is a well known Pacific-Northwest company that has been sponsoring this event for many years and it supports kids, teens, and families in the local community that we call home.

We are fortunate to be able to participate in this effort with thanks to our extremely generous employees who gave willingly. We as a company donated hundreds of dollars worth of gifts for all ages: coloring books, Hot Wheels, action figures, games, stuffed animals, dolls, sports equipment, and craft sets.

On Monday, December 12^th, Annette Kramer and Jenny Johnston loaded up all of the unwrapped gifts that had been left under the lobby Christmas tree, and delivered them to the local Wilsonville Les Schwab. The Les Schwab staff was thrilled and very thankful for all of the donations. It’s such a great feeling to be able to make a difference in the lives of children and families that otherwise may not have had a Christmas this year.

Thank you, to all of our generous employees who contributed, and we look forward to carrying on this Christmas tradition for many years to come.

View the local news footage of the culmination of the Les Schwab Toy Drive here.

The post The Season of Giving! appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Sipp® Sparkling Organics

Bottled Beverages: The bottled beverage category is predicted to continue to expand.  In line with the third wave of
coffee and the age of craft and artisan everything, bottled cold brew teas and coffees will broaden.  Probiotic beverages like Kombucha, despite being around for a while already, will hit their stride and go mainstream.  Fresh juices, water infusions, and more craft sodas are hitting the shelfs to satisfy the desire for more specialty, hand crafted drink options.  Sipp® Eco Beverage, for example, is already expanding its line of handcrafted sodas to include its newest flavor, Zesty Orange.

New Product Origins:  Consumers today are constantly seeking new flavors and are more interested now than ever in learning where their food came from and how it was produced.  In the search to taste new experiences, adventurous consumers are seeking out pure, authentic products or techniques from all over the globe.  Specifically, traditional “Old World” ethnic dishes satisfy the curiosity of many.

2016 will be the International Year of Pulses.

It’s All About Vegetables: Vegetables are growing in popularity and as the average consumer becomes more health conscious, we’ll be seeing vegetables replace pastas and meats on menus.  Pulses (including beans, lentils, and chickpeas) specifically have become a winner for their sustainable, economical, and nutritious value.  According to Global Food Forums, “The United Nations is so certain that pulses will peak in popularity that it has dubbed 2016 the International Year of Pulses”.  Pulses are being added to things like chips and pastas to create more nutritious options, as well as to add a new flavor twist to dishes.

The Delivery Revolution:  These days there’s an app for everything.  The growing number of order and pay apps along with online ordering and delivery services is making it easier than ever to dine in your own home.  Consumers are into unique, quality, artisan foods and the ability to order more than a fast food pizza at home is key in deciding whether to stay in or dine out.  “With 48 million time-strapped Americans describing themselves as foodies, gourmet convenience will be among the megatrends”, says Global Food Forums.

Changes in Labor:  Much more discussion will be had about raising minimum wage and new technologies will change the need for workers in certain areas of food service.  These types of issues will shake up the workforce system as restaurants may have to review pricing and create a new way to distribute resources.

The post Food Service Trends of 2016 appeared first on Houston's Blog.