Let the Tasting Begin!

Say you’re looking to streamline menus while adding some excitement this summer. No doubt that will involve sourcing more inclusive, nutritious items like SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter.

You’ve sourced a product your team loves. It makes serving simple and tastes great in a variety of applications. How do you introduce a new-to-you item to diners in a way that gives you the most constructive feedback and greatest success moving forward?

Start With Clear Objectives 

Launching new items on foodservice menus often involves many phases. The first step is to pinpoint the purpose – the problem the new item will solve. From there, test and determine the best-fit applications for your menu. For example:

• Can it replace worrisome ingredients in recipes?
• How well does it work as a standalone item?
• What are the most appealing ways to describe and menu it? 

A preliminary taste test – or soft launch – will help you answer the bigger questions. 

Try out a tasting sampler during summer programs. You could even find space to sample at special events that are already scheduled – no need to create your own.

Pay Attention as You Go

Remember that body language can be as important as what people say.

Before the preliminary tasting (soft launch), you’ll want to:

• Get your staff on board with how to present the new item
• Follow best practices for tastings (see below)
• Have a good system in place to track evaluations

Before the full menu launch, you’ll want to:

• Train your staff on the what and how of the new item
• Determine the best way to describe and launch the new item
• Keep evaluating and training staff accordingly

Here’s what our foodservice experts have learned from working with chefs and directors who have added nutrient-rich SunButter® to their menus.

Tips for a Successful Tasting

1. Keep the Format Simple

Choose a complementary ingredient for the item you’re sampling that won’t overwhelm or distract.

For example, SunButter® can be enjoyed in a variety of ways for testing. Here are a few ideas to start: 

• Spread it on crackers
• Serve it with apple slices or celery sticks for dipping
• Bake it into cookies or scones
• Stir a spoonful into hot oatmeal
• Prepare simple SunButter® and jelly sandwiches

Or offer a straight spoonful right from the cup!

2. Sample on an Empty Stomach

Choose a standard mealtime when everyone's ready to eat. 

Set up a sample station at the entrance of the dining hall or cafeteria, or have a staff member bring samples around.

3. Give the Right Context

A little setup goes a long way toward helping people focus on the kind of feedback you’re seeking. For example, you could say: “We’re creating globally inspired menu items and would love your opinion. Is this something you would [order/eat]? Why or why not?”

One word of caution: Avoid making comparisons that will set expectations based on familiar foods. For example, if you’re sampling a new fruit like starfruit, don’t describe it as “like an apple or grape, but …” because then they’ll just be thinking about apples and grapes.

When testing SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter, simple does it!

• Explain that it’s Peanut Free and Tree Nut Free
• Tell them it’s made with sunflower seeds
• Let them experience the toasty taste

Once you have data, you can plan ahead for a successful launch.