As the trees start to turn colors and the weather cools, Americans can choose between watching the pennant race in baseball or cheering on their fantasy football team each week. These traditions are as “American as apple pie” as the idiom goes.

Pie, now with its own holiday fittingly held on 3/14 each year, is “the most traditional American dessert” as reported by the National Pie Council. And, the apple pie doesn’t fall far from the tree…according to Technomic’s The Desserts Consumer Trends Report, 55% of those surveyed would consider purchasing pie from a restaurant or other foodservice location after dinner.

“Desserts are still huge, but it’s all about the classics,” said Cathy Nash Holley, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Flavor & The Menu. “People are experimenting more with their dinner instead of at the end of the meal”. This trend is making traditional flavors like apple and cherry consumers’ pie and cobbler preferences, but richer pies like chocolate, cream and pumpkin are still very appealing, according to Technomic’s The Desserts Consumer Trends Report.

Sweet Street offers several pie options to satisfy patrons pie hunger—everything from fruit pies such as Caramel Apple Granny® and Big Apple Pie to candy bar pies such as The Big Blitz with SNICKERS® BAR Pie. Key Lime Pie will satisfy fans of tart treats while OREO® Cookie Bash and Chocolate Toffee Mousse are perfect for chocolate loving patrons.

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Have you heard the news? Americans love chocolate. And in other top stories, the sky is blue and the ocean is wet. Yes, forgive us for stating the obvious. But the numbers are truly remarkable when you take a closer look.

According to data from Euromonitor, Americans will consume almost 18% (or around $18.27 billion worth) of the world’s chocolate confectionery by value in 2015. Two of the biggest drivers of this total are Valentine’s Day, with an average of $400 million worth of chocolate purchased by sweethearts in the U.S. and around the world; and Halloween, which sees 90 million pounds of chocolate enjoyed by trick-or-treaters (not to mention sweet-seeking moms and dads).

As you can imagine, the numbers translate favorably to foodservice as well. Chocolate still holds the number-one position in top dessert flavors by a substantial margin in both LSR and FSR operations.¹

So what does this continued love affair with chocolate mean for you? A tried-and-true way to build incremental dessert sales. But just like any romance, you need to spice things up every now and then to keep the fire burning with your patrons.

At Sweet Street, we offer many luscious ways to bring new excitement to chocolate. Our Choc’late Lovin’ Spoon Cake® is a giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist chocolate-drenched chocolate cake. And our Molten Chocolate Cake is an individual dessert designed to be served warm, unleashing a rush of molten chocolate to your customers’ wild delight.

Beyond traditional cake offerings, Sweet Street dresses up chocolate in seductive new forms as well. The Just Chocolate Skillet Cookie and Sandy’s Amazing Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie are both as visually appealing as they are decadent. And our Brownie Bites are the perfect blend of bittersweet chocolate chunks, chips and HERSEY’S® KISSES® in fudgy, deep chocolate.

Finally, why not feature the Peruvian Swirl Cacao Bande made with single-origin, sustainably grown Peruvian chocolate. It’s the perfect way to give your patrons another great reason to love chocolate.

¹Technomic’s 2013 Center of the Plate Trend Report

The HERSEY’S® and KISSES® trademarks are used under license.

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The classic dessert cart (or tray) is a shining example of the power of visual stimulation. Slowly it makes its way around the dining room floor, tempting onlookers with a colorful and artistic array of decadent possibilities. And the better the desserts look, the bigger the opportunity to add impulse sales.

The fact is, visual presentation is proven to have an impact on how diners perceive the taste and value of a particular food, according to a study conducted by a team at Oxford University. That’s great news for operators who take full advantage with dramatic dessert presentations.

And the best part? Sweet Street has been dialing up the drama with dessert for over 36 years—appealing to both the eye and palate with luscious temptations. We can help you make the kind of impact that’s sure to thrill your patrons and drive sales.

When planning your menu, it’s always best to strike a balance of the most popular dessert flavors: chocolate, citrus, fruits & nuts and cheesecake. It’s no surprise that each of these makes its own unique visual impression.

For rich and indulgent appeal, chocolate is clearly king. One look at our Choc’Late Lovin’ Spoon Cake®, Molten Chocolate Cake and Just Chocolate Skillet Cookie says, “you are in for a decadent experience unlike any other.”

Meanwhile, brightly colored desserts promise a lighter and often more tart dessert experience. A classic example is our Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande, which tantalizes with its marble-like burgundy swirl in Greek yogurt mousse.

Additional Bandes from Sweet Street feature the colors and textures that patrons crave. From the lemony appeal of our Minted Lemonade Bande, to flakes of toasted coconut on our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande, to candied hazelnuts atop our Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Bande made with Nutella®, these offerings are skillfully crafted for stunning presentation.

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