PRODUCT ZONE
FOOD
CATCH OF THE DAY:
SEAFOOD TRENDS
International cuisine has transformed beyond recognition in recent decades. Greater exposure to cuisines from farflung corners of the world, via digital platforms such as social media, has introduced us to new dining concepts that meant little to us just a few years ago. With this in mind, Abdul Kader Saadi, founder and managing director of Eighty6 Shop, gives us the lowdown on seafood and why it is becoming more popular by the hour.
Seafood trends have garnered particular attention recently, especially among those with less-adventurous palates. Key factors, such as the relative value and affordability of seafood, nutritional benefits and overall trending popularity, have contributed to this phenomenon. The numbers speak for themselves; Straits Research valued the global seafood market at an estimated USD 160.2 billion in 2021 and has forecast that it will reach USD 207.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.9 percent from 2022 to 2030.
Taking advantage of social media We live in an era in which social media imagery and viral posts have a direct effect on what we perceive as “trending,’’ and this is especially true in dining. When Instagram first launched in 2010, it almost immediately spawned a sub niche of people — so-called “food bloggers” — who took images and documented their visually stunning meals. With the advent of greater video content, boomerangs and reels, this gradually evolved into a holistic
62
HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | DEC 2022-JAN 2023
documentation of meal preparation and the cooking process itself. Today, recipes that have gone viral on TikTok have become so widespread and popular that a sizeable number of on-boarded viewers have either tried to prepare or have been enticed to try a new recipe they encountered on the video platform. Seafood chefs who use the platform to showcase their craft have become more creative with their offerings, which has, in turn, increased the demand for innovative seafood creations from consumers who use the platform. Furthermore, home chefs, without any formal training, now possess a visual medium where they can display their home-cooked seafood recipes that, in certain cases, yield viral success and an element of fame. Recipes like seafood boil ramen and ‘’traditional’’ seafood dishes, such as steamed Chinese fish prepared by actual natives, have all played a part in increasing the popularity of seafood options.
Protein matters A vast number of people prioritize protein in their main course. While chicken and beef are always likely to be popular, their relative price in the market may be directly proportionate to the increased intake of seafood. In layman’s terms, a higher price in alternative proteins will trigger a greater number of consumers to shift to seafood. Customers are always seeking to maximize the perceived value of their meal versus how much they actually spend. In this respect, certain seafood options, which include an array of cuts of fish and shellfish, provide extremely economical choices while retaining high nutritional value. Canned fish like tuna, herring and mackerel offers an attractive option for consumers seeking a sure-fire high-quality protein that can be incorporated into a variety of dishes. Salmon, tuna and shrimp top the list of most popular seafood. Salmon has grown in popularity due to its well-documented nutritional value as a good source of
