Add Queso To Boost Appeal Of Seasonal Offerings And Student Favorites

C&U foodservice facilities are gearing up for seasonal menu offerings as the spring semesters conclude and summer classes approach. For operators looking for ways to appeal to diners in the coming months, offering craveable, familiar favorites along with a mix of new options that are destined to become student favorites is key. One common thread in all of these offerings? Queso. 

By adding queso to seasonal offerings, takeout and student favorites alike, operators don’t have to worry about revamping the entire menu or stocking dozens of new ingredients. Rather, they can just add indulgent cheese sauce that can be made with products from Land O’Lakes Foodservice.

According to Datassential, queso has 13% menu penetration.  Already-popular items with a hint of a global theme, such as nachos and quesadillas, continue to grow in menu penetration as well.

Student favorites and new classics

When developing your menu to maximize student appeal, consider bold flavors, comfort food classics and signature options. For instance, loaded fries are a perfect dish that can only be enhanced with queso and other toppings—the sky’s the limit. Try barbecue pulled pork and queso, or queso, bacon and green onions for classic options, or kick things up a notch and top them with zesty chorizo, queso, black beans and pico de gallo for a globally inspired twist.  Mac and cheese is perfect with Land O Lakes® Performance Dairy cheese sauces, and can be offered with customizable toppings to put your dining service’s own signature spin on it, think smoky bacon, broccolini or buffalo mac and cheese.

As far as signature items, thanks to social media and the desire for novelty, operators have the opportunity to encourage trial by highlighting menu choices as “signature” items. Highlight dishes made with queso as “signature” to boost appeal—exclusivity sells! Land O Lakes® Performance Dairy cheese sauces make it easy to create an endless number of signature options perfect for both summertime and all year long. To learn more, visit https://www.landolakesfoodservice.com/channels/college-and-university/.