For quick-service restaurants (QSRs), burgers and snacks are the perfect one-two punch. Quick, filling, and wildly popular across generations, burgers and snacks help QSR menus shine while offering endless opportunities for customization.
Speaking of customization: Today’s consumers are looking for more than your standard patty and fries. They’re looking for elevated twists on old favorites, along with indulgent opportunities to spice up their day. And with 42% of restaurants expected to feature burgers on their menus by 2025 (Technomic 2023), you’ll need a way to stand out. That’s where custom sauces come in.
With inflation on the rise, affordable value adds have never been more important. Custom sauces and private label condiments can add bold, unexpected flavor notes to QSR standbys – hot, spicy, smoky, sweet, and savory, just to name a few – while also keeping costs down for customers. Read on to find out more about the best sauces for burgers and snacks to set your brand apart.
BBQ Burgers: Trending for 2024
We’re fired up about custom BBQ sauce, and it’s easy to see why: BBQ-inspired burgers continue to be a major draw for QSR consumers in 2024, with 32% of consumers interested in BBQ sauce as a burger topper or side (Technomic 2023).
And while traditional BBQ sauce can be one of the best sauces for burgers, QSRs need to get creative to stay competitive. Consider, for example, a mouthwatering Carolina BBQ Burnt Ends Burger: a delectable twist on a traditional summer BBQ favorite with a sauce that draws inspiration from the distinctive tastes of South Carolina’s Golden Mustard BBQ and the savory flavor of Texas-style pork burnt ends. We can taste it now!
Chicken Sandwich Wars 3.0
If you’re a foodie like us, you know that the demand for chicken menu items has gone through the coop – i.e., the roof! Chicken sandwiches have emerged as the top entrée added on menus in recent years (Technomic 2023) – and with such a major influx in chicken sandwich offerings, standing out from the competition is crucial. With that in mind, offering consumers delectable custom sauces for chicken dishes can be a game-changer.
If you’re looking for the maximum bang for your cluck, consider implementing one sauce with numerous applications. For example, a crowd-pleasing Buffalo Sauce can work as a drizzle for juicy breaded chicken patties or as a dip for crispy chicken tenders.
Custom Sauces for Veggie Burgers
About 46% of consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 order plant-based burger patties with the environment in mind (Technomic 2023). Lucky for them, dry, crumbly veggie burgers are a thing of the past.
While QSRs are certainly still leaning into plant-based meat substitutes that mimic the real thing, customers are increasingly looking to put the “plant” back in “plant-based.” That means embracing the next generation of veggie burgers crafted with plant-forward products like mushrooms, walnuts, and legumes in place of complex, pricey meat alternatives. And what better way to compliment a plant-forward dish than with a plant-based sauce – like Creamy Chipotle Aioli?
Ultimately, veggie burgers are one of the top up-and-coming trends for 2024, and you’ll want to be ready. QSRs have an exciting opportunity to explore custom sauces for veggie burgers, which help plant-based options stand out. With the right sauce, you can attract plant-based and meat-loving consumers alike with a totally new flavor experience
Don’t Forget Snacks and Sides
We’re smack dab in the middle of a snack revolution, with 74% of consumers enjoying a snack in place of a traditional meal at least once a week (Datassential 2023). Today’s customers are motivated to snack for a variety of reasons:
● Convenience: QSRs have a unique opportunity to serve busy students and adults who don’t want to skimp on quality.
● Nostalgia: Today’s customers want comfort food with a twist to make it through the workday.
● Cravings: Statistically, millennial and Gen X consumers seek out snacks with specific cravings in mind.
All of these factors can help fuel your QSR sauce strategy. We recommend opting for custom-formulated options like creamy, spicy Honey Sriracha for pretzel dippers or custom Chipotle Ketchup for fries and tots. Either way, don’t neglect your snack sauces. Paired with a juicy handheld sandwich, QSR snacks have the power to turn your customers’ day around.
Ready to up your burger and snack game? Collaborate with Giraffe Foods to elevate your menu offerings and take your brand to new heights. Our experts are on hand to chat through the best sauces for burgers, andwe can also help implement limited-time offers (LTOs) for menu testing.
Today’s customers have a lot of choices. To elevate classics like burgers and snacks, you’ll need a custom sauce manufacturer with the flexibility and ingenuity to deliver in the QSR space.
