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Mintel offers insights to minimize seafood supply disruption
May 10, 2010
Since the late April oil spill on the Gulf Coast, several restrictions on fishing have materialized for cities along the Gulf Coast, according to a Mintel Special Alert issued May 7. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration has issued a 10-day restriction on Gulf Coast fishing, and Louisiana also has closed specific shrimping areas.
Such events threaten the supply economics to restaurants, whose patrons increasingly demand seafood for its healthy attributes. The pizza industry is not exempt. Mintel's October 2009 "Menu Insights" piece focusing on pizza trends highlighted the importance of seafood on the segment's menus. Not only is shrimp, lobster and clams a means for premium, check-boosting toppings, their inclusion in pizzeria appetizer menus and pasta dishes is especially popular lately. In fact, seafood appetizers were ranked fourth most popular for pizzerias in the report.
To stem the tide of this demand in the face of a possible shortage, the foodservice research company recommends operators do the following:
- Develop a communication plan for your customers. Be pre-emptive about assuaging customers' concerns about seafood safety, and upfront about reasons for rising costs.
- Diversify ingredient sources. Substitute unaffected seafood sources in a popular dish, or use non-seafood ingredients.
- Emphasize menu items that use seafood sparingly. For example, create such as seafood-studded pasta dishes.
- Learn from the past. Talk to operators who dealt with shortages post-Katrina, and learned what worked before for them – or you.
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