Page 11 - Ohio Restaurant Association Summer 2022

GEN Z ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TRENDS – RESHAPING THE BEV ALC MARKET
Navigating consumer trends is a constant challenge for alcohol brands. Gen Z – anyone born between 1997 and 2012 – is the latest focus for these companies and is showing interesting insights into their consumption and spending habits.
Gen Z makes up approximately 40% of consumers and has a projected spending power of $150 billion according to GoKnit, a Gen Z Insights Panel. They are noted as consuming significantly less alcohol than previous generations and are less swayed by branding and influencers and more
Spirits and flavored malt beverages like seltzers and hard teas/lemonades are preferred
by a wide margin over beer and wine. Vodka – specifically Tito’s
– and White Claws are tied for Gen Z’s favorites. Price, mixability, and being health-forward with fewer calories and less sugar are the driving factors behind their popularity.
Gen Z workers tend to drink more wine than their student counterparts, with red wine and rosé being the favorites, and beer is still popular among males. Males also spend nearly twice as much per month as females.
As a financially conscious generation dealing with inflation, Gen Z needs their money to go a long way. They prefer brick-and- mortar retailers over delivery apps with additional fees for shopping and favor a night in over going out
to clubs and bars.
While boiling down Gen Z’s
preferences to an exact science can be tough, their emphasis on financial and physical well-being plays a huge part in their consumption habits. We are seeing an influx of new ready-to-drink canned cocktail products and that is surely a sign of the growing demand with portable, easy-to-consume alcohol options. It will be interesting to see how Gen
Alcohol data is complicated. Fintech makes it simple. For more data insights to help grow your alcohol business, visit us at Fintech.com or go to ohiorestaurant. org/fintech-alcohol-management to learn more.
Matthew Bruner
Fintech
Z continues to shape the alcohol industry.
likely to rely on social proof or recommendations.
OVERCOMING RISING FOOD COSTS
As the restaurant industry continues to perform at record revenue levels, increased food, and labor costs hamper operators from fully capitalizing on the additional revenue. How quickly restaurants adapt and change in the current landscape will prove critical to their success. Leveraging your partnered suppliers to get through the challenging times is more important than ever.
Menu profitability doesn't have to be a project the restaurant
operator tackles themselves. Consider utilizing your partnered supplier to help analyze your menu items' profitability while giving guidance on when a change is needed. The art of menu design work can be a powerful piece if appropriately executed; attracting your customers' eyes to the items that drive a higher profit margin
for the restaurant is critical while developing the menu.
The key to success is staying true to the items and brands
that have made the restaurant successful. The consumer would much rather pay an increased price for their menu favorites than have that item swapped out for
an inferior product to cut costs. Stay true to your brand, and your customer base will stay true to you.
Visit ohiorestaurant.org/sysco to learn more and reach out to your ORA Sysco Representative Michelle Lebo.
this new season, and every day, an understanding one. Visit healthy- hospitality.org for resources to help you and your team stay physically and mentally healthy throughout the year.
Contact your ORA Healthy Hospitality Representative Amy Hathaway at 269.792.1207 or amyhathaway@uhg.com.
Sources:
PTSD: National Center for PTSD Home (va.gov) www.ptsd.va.gov/ index.asp
PTSD Awareness Month: What is PTSD? - Home Base Program homebase.org/
Erik Reid
Sysco
SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES
as summer comes to a close,
we enter a season of change. The fall season, a start of a new school year, perhaps a stressful jumbling of schedules, or the
start of the “off-season” or “busy season” for restaurants: such a transitional time for everyone
can also bring about a time of reflection.
For some, these reflections may generate feelings and traumas that are difficult to face. The National Center for PTSD estimates that 60% of men and 50% of women will experience at least one incidence of trauma in their lives, any of which can cause long-term PTSD. Considering that statistic, it’s likely that you or someone in your
workplace is experiencing PTSD of some kind.
What can PTSD look like,
you ask? PTSD results from experiencing or witnessing
a traumatic event. PTSD can cause lasting, disruptive impacts on someone’s life, including nightmares, heightened anxiety, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and avoiding daily situations that remind someone of the incident.
That’s where employers come in: it’s essential to understand
how PTSD can impact employees of all levels and to meet it with knowledge and compassion.
No one should suffer alone, and everyone deserves to live their happiest, healthiest life. Let’s make
Andrew W. Baughman
Healthy Hospitality
à la carte | Summer 2022 11
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