Joan Treistman

Fair Food Choices Take in Ethnic Variations

September 2, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Brad Wolverton of The Washington Post describes the summer fair as "an annual eating extravaganza that seems to guarantee every American the freedom to leave their diet at the door for at least one day." Is there a significant opportunity to broaden the range of ethnic foods found at fairs to retail food stores?      [more...]

I can remember a trip to Arlington Heights, IL about 20 years ago (longer?) when my colleague, Sanjeet, ordered a bagel. The waitress asked, "What's a bagel?" Sanjeet explained. I could not help but think the waitress went home and told her family that she learned about an unusual Indian delicacy. Then Lender's spread the word.

I think that fairs can introduce new ethnic dishes to some of the people some of the time. But it will take something on a grander scale to get the word out on particular taste treats. Where I do think that fairs probably play a pivotal role is introducing their visitors to the possibility of trying something "new" to them. Once you've experimented and had a pleasing taste outcome, you're willing to try another food experiment.

There would probably be greater financial success in retail stores because there is greater access to those of age and wherewithal to actually buy the food. Think about the long lines of food tasters at Costco.

As our country's population continues to become more diverse, widespread introduction and distribution of a variety of "new" ethnic dishes is bound to happen. Helping this along at fairs and retailers seems natural to me.