The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is known as the largest foodservice trade association in the world, supporting over 500,000 restaurant businesses, constantly empowering owners and operators to learn and achieve more. Every year, the NRA holds an event, the size and scale of which is comparable to its worldwide reach. This past May marked the NRA Show’s 99th annual event, and it was held in Chicago’s McCormick Place, a 715,000 sq. ft. venue full of the best and brightest stars of the foodservice industry.

Of course, Houston’s was in attendance to see what incredible new products our partners had to showcase and to better inform the decisions we make in pursuit of growth. From janitorial products, food storage, tableware, and food safety, to the newest consumable products, there was no shortage of awe-inspiring innovation that was perfectly in line with the trends we expect to see becoming more and more popular.

Layering & Melamine

In the world of tabletop design, we partner with some of the best names who are constantly predicting and manufacturing around rising trends. This year, we saw bold approaches to design layering from Libbey, Oneida, and Cardinal/Dudson, matching some of their intricately designed pieces with others in more base but complementary colors and styles.

Libbey was showing off quite a bit of color this year, displaying a wide range of styles, in part to celebrate the company’s 200th anniversary. We got to see the Dulcet collection, a set of hand-brushed stoneware china colored in pink, cream, and grey. We were also introduced to the Master’s Gauge of flatware, a high end collection that comes in a variety of finishes, even one that features a vibrant chromatic surface.

Libbey displayed its foray into the world of melamine, a trend that was difficult to ignore over the course of the entire NRA Show. This premium plastic and aluminum tableware offers a lightweight alternative to similar styles, but more importantly is a highly durable material that promises to cut down on replacement rates. TableCraft was also showing off its melamine lineup by offering an exhaustive supply of their product in various shapes and styles. Ramekins, skillets, salad bowls, and even displayware! Do you need any further proof that this material is taking over?

Style on the Tabletop

It’s clear that certain styles have a way of coming back around. Libbey, not wanting to let its birthday pass by without paying a little nod to its heritage, displayed some context for how glassware had been historically crafted. This was alongside its 1924 line, a glass collection that fuses jazz-age style with modern day cocktail trends.

International Tableware (ITI) is innovating the tabletop in other ways. By offering more sloped plate options, ITI is blurring the lines between plates and wide bowls to beautiful effect. Some of their designs look like artistic sculptures, suggesting that wide bowls may be the new plate.

Having only just announced that they would be merging the week of NRA, Arc Cardinal and Dudson’s partnership has already begun to bear fruit in some gorgeous ways. One element that proved very popular was the introduction of some new additions to the Sequence collection, as well as Dudson’s foam spray-on pattern for a new 37-piece fine china set. We can’t wait to see what else this new combination can create.

Environmentally-Focused

Recycling and reusability are BIG right now, and Thunder Group has decided to make both a priority. That’s why the company is now offering ramekins that are made from recycled plastic, as well as plastic utensils that are capable of withstanding high heat environments, significantly extending their usable lifespan. These small shifts are important to an environmentally-conscious consumer and are likely to become more popular as time goes on.

Gessner has also been investing in increasing the reusability of its products by crafting drinkware made from polycarbonate plastic. This scratch-resistant and nigh unbreakable drinkware is also extremely affordable and ready for any retailer looking for a product that looks just like real glass. With a spectacular durability and a wide range of styles to choose from, Gessner aims to redefine the premium glassware market.

WNA/Eco Products is another company taking a cue from the rising environmentally-friendly tide. Seeing the growing resistance to plastic straws as an opportunity, Eco Products is introducing straws that are completely compostable. In a world that is quickly banning the sale of plastic straws, getting ahead of this phenomenon may be a recipe for success, and also the right thing to do.

Healthy Food & Beverage Options

With a focus on healthy eating and a dash of pure innovative thinking, we were introduced to some very intriguing and somewhat surprising new products at NRA Show 2018. For starters, Modern Oats was displaying its newest Premium Oatmeal, a new,organic food product aimed at providing flavor without sacrificing nutrition. Crafted completely gluten-free, organic certified, and with only 5 grams of added sugar, this product is set to shine bright.

Two Leaves and a Bud was also at NRA, featuring its incredible matcha lineup. Their greener than usual matcha blend is grown using the “true shade” Japanese method, which results in a much more fragrant flavor that isn’t too sweet. To really drive the traditional nature of their matcha, Two Leaves even paired their display with adorable Japanese “lucky cat” figurines.

MOCAFE has been of a similar mindset, focusing on exceptional taste and a product that health-minded consumers will be proud to put into their bodies. The Activated Charcoal Mocha Mix may at first seem off-putting by its dark nature, but it is surprisingly delightful and certain to persuade anyone with doubt in their mind. Made from real charcoaled coconut shells and combined with cocoa, this bold new mix offers the detoxifying properties of activated charcoal while also introducing an exciting spin on traditional lattes and frappes.

Cold, Hard Convenience

Few trends in the specialty coffee industry are taking off quite as quickly as cold brew. That’s why Kohana has introduced its own cold brew coffee concentrates and ready-to-drink cans. Whether you’re a consumer or a retailer, Kohana wants you to know that cold brew can be convenient and delicious!

Cold brewing is branching out even further with nitro brews, and iSi wants to be at the forefront. This NRA, we were introduced to the company’s new Nitro Whip dispenser and Nitro Charger, two products that promise to simplify the process of creating nitro brew beverages of any sort, whether it be coffee, tea, or even cocktails. Now, anyone can join the nitro sensation for a much lower cost than the price of expensive taps and gas tanks. Plus, these dispensers are just fun to watch in action!

As a redistributor in the foodservice industry, Houston’s finds itself in a unique position to compare our own research with that of the companies who partner with us, and to come to a greater understanding of what makes for practical and successful business decisions. Together, we can assess what the markets are demanding, whether they are solutions for healthier living, a greater sense of responsibility for the environment, or even something as simple as a shift in fashion and taste. Events such as the NRA Show are opportunities for people of all corners of the foodservice industry to come together and share their ideas in one place. You can be sure that we’ve taken note of some of those spectacular new ideas.

The post NRA Show 2018: Innovation & Insight appeared first on Houston's Blog.

whip-it whipped cream dispensers from United Brands.  Photo courtesy of United Brands

There are many reasons why whipped cream dispensers make good sense, especially in comparison to its store-bought aerosol counterpart. One may ask, though, why buy a whipped cream dispenser when the up-front cost is so much more than using aerosols? Or Whipped cream from a can may seem more convenient and cost-effective, but at what cost to your customers? Let them see your commitment to high quality. And then let them taste the difference.

Hands-down, fresh natural cream with no preservatives or chemicals simply tastes better. You can choose to use only the best ingredients, resulting in a luscious, creamy goodness that will melt in your customers’ mouths and leave them wanting more! Believe me, they will notice the difference if you serve them real cream in place of the aerosol brands. And they will appreciate your desire to deliver superior beverages—even if the price of their favorite drink is slightly higher.

With a whipped cream dispenser, you can also serve up a variety of flavors of whipped cream. There are flavored whipped cream chargers available, but the options are virtually endless simply by using ingredients you probably already have on hand. Make hot chocolate with caramel whipping cream by sweetening the cream with caramel syrup. Or concoct a vanilla milkshake with strawberry-flavored cream topping. Mocha, butterscotch, chocolate, fruit flavors…if you can dream it then you can make it happen! Have a second dispenser on hand for a special flavor each week. Or celebrate special days with a little added food coloring—pink whipping cream on Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, or orange for Halloween. The holidays will seem just a little merrier with your personal touch of flavor and color.

iSi Brand Whipped Cream Canisters (#02-0019)

Whipped cream dispensers are also a more environmentally friendly choice. Opting for a dispenser over the disposable aerosol alternative can go a long way toward significantly reducing your coffee shop’s ecological footprint. You will feel good about your decision to go green and your customers will notice your efforts too!

One may argue, however, that even though dispensers eliminate the need to purchase aerosol cans, one must still purchase (and thus dispose of) chargers. While this is true, the cost of the charger is substantially less than that of a dispenser. And since the size of the charger is considerably smaller than an aerosol can, the impact to the environment will also be significantly reduced.

There are a lot of decisions that factor into purchasing a whipped cream dispenser; cost is only part of the overall equation. But I challenge you to try one out for yourself before dismissing the idea. I think you will be surprised at the convenience, the smaller amount of waste, and, of course, by the exceptional flavor benefits that this handy device has to offer.

The post Why Whipped Cream Dispensers? appeared first on Houston's Blog.