Reports Forecast Big Opportunities for Rice in 2023

ARLINGTON, VA – A series of end of year industry reports and trend analysis present big opportunities for rice in 2023 for both the foodservice and consumer segments when it comes to global flavors, plant-based eating, and affordability.  Specific rice-related dishes spotlighted in the major trends were grain bowls and burritos, signaling a rise in the importance of rice for consumers and potential growth areas for the grain in 2023.

Plant-based eating, once considered a “trend,” has evolved into a lifestyle.  According to data collected by Dataessential, a market research firm focusing on food and beverage, the term “plant-based” on menus is up a whopping 1,500 percent over the last four years with interest in plant-forward diets showing no signs of stopping.  One out of three Americans now fall into the category of “meat limiters” and that statistic jumps even higher among younger consumers.  These eaters believe plant-forward food not only supports the environment, but also long-term health and disease prevention, all which indicate consumers are participating in plant-based eating not as a quick health fix but as a long-term commitment.

For affordability, Innova Market Insights and the National Restaurant Association’s What Hot 2023 Forecast have confirmed the continuation of prioritizing affordability and identified “redefining value” as one of the top 2023 food trends.  Both organizations expect to see shoppers explore more money-savings strategies to offset food prices and stretch family budgets such as buying in bulk, choosing less expensive private label brands, cooking from scratch, and reducing food waste.

The 2023 Hospitality Trend Report indicated continued growth and investment in consumers exploring new flavors and global cuisines.  The report anticipates “global flare” will be even bigger in 2023 as consumers seek to expand their palates with foods from around the world, with the rice-heavy cuisines of Japan, China, Africa, and the Philippines as ones to watch for next year.
 
Specific rice dishes were also called out in the reports with both rice bowls and burritos taking center stage.  Food Management reported grain bowls as the #2 trend in their Top 10 Foodservice Menu Trends of 2022 and claimed bowls will be edging out sandwiches as a menu staple for 2023.  Dataessential research supports this claim highlighting the fact that bowls have surpassed both tacos and pizza on menus, and that there were more than 10,000 foodservice bowl concepts on menus in 2022.  Both publications say the rise in the popularity of bowls stems from their ability to be portable, customizable, and healthy.

As for burritos, Grubhub reports that burritos are the most ordered item on their platform with more than four million burritos ordered during the year, jumping seven spots on the list of most ordered items from 2021.

“The takeaways from these different industry reports and research firms point toward a lot of strong opportunities for rice in 2023 and not only from a purchase perspective, but also an overall increase in usage and appreciation as an ingredient that can speak to those trends,” said Robbie Trahan, chair of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee.  “Continuing to position rice as a key and versatile component in satisfying these new consumer and foodservice demands will be a priority for 2023.”