Food Trends

How Elior Collegiate Dining Caters to Gen Z Students

University dining halls haven’t always been known for culinary excellence. For many college grads, the cafeteria brings back memories of bland, boring buffets.

Today, that stereotype is being phased out of the curriculum, thanks to such campus foodservice providers such as Elior Collegiate Dining. The company—which serves more than 35 million meals annually at college and university campuses throughout the U.S.—tailors its offerings to what students want. Whether that’s the latest TikTok food trend, a macro count with every meal or the ability to order through the dining plan on Grubhub, Elior is meeting Gen Z students where they are.

2026 Wedding Trend: Creating Experiences with Guests in Mind

If there’s one wedding trend poised to fully solidify in 2026, it’s this: Couples are designing their celebrations with guests squarely in mind. From how budgets are allocated to how weekends are structured, the focus has shifted from checking traditional boxes to creating memorable, immersive experiences for the people in the room.

Plant Based World Expo 2025: Promising a Fertile Future

The 6th annual Plant Based World Expo (PBWE) North America sowed the seeds for an industry resurgence. The event—which took place Dec. 2-3 at New York City’s Javits Center—combined a lineup of educational programs and a selection of plant-based food product lines, many new to market and most targeting foodservice.

Single-Use Packaging Makes Catering Easy

Catering plays an increasing role in today’s foodservice industry, especially with a return to offices and foodservice options continuing to diversify. As a result, the demand for convenient, sanitary and scalable catering solutions continues to grow.

At the heart of this is foodservice packaging—a reliable, convenient and sanitary solution that meets the evolving needs of caterers and their customers. From off-site or workplace events to corporate fundraisers and galas, single-use foodservice packaging, used at least once a week by more than 50% of Americans, is proving to be an essential part of modern catering success.

A Breath of Fresh Air

The allure of the great outdoors is proving irresistible to a growing number of catering clients.

“At Constellation Culinary Group, we’ve seen a continued and growing preference for outdoor events across a wide variety of occasions,” says Katia Ponomareva, director of catering for off-premise events. “The pandemic certainly reshaped how people think about gathering spaces, elevating the appeal of fresh air and natural surroundings.”

To meet the rising demand for outdoor affairs, caterers and venues across the country are creating events that are a breath of fresh air.

What’s Hot in Hospitality

Caviar carts, sensorial cocktails and corporate events that emphasize flexibility.

Those are just a few of the 2025 industry trends identified by Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP), a collaborative network of leaders from the world’s top catering and hospitality organizations. The organization released the ECEP 2025 Trends Report, compiled during this year’s ECEP Symposium in Napa, California.

Pouring Profits

Have you tapped into the brewing demand for specialty coffee?

If not, the robust revenue stream may be just the jolt your menu needs. As of 2024, 45% of American adults reported consuming specialty coffee in the past day—an 80% increase since 2011, according to a report from the National Coffee Association. In fact, for the first time, specialty coffee consumption surpassed that of traditional coffee.

Eco-Friendly Events

There’s a growing appetite for sustainable events. Are you meeting the demand?

According to a recent report from Food for Climate League and Datassential, the foodservice industry research firm, 79 percent of consumers plan to eat more sustainably in the next year. That includes 33 percent who say they never eat sustainable foods but plan to start.

Whether you’re just starting out on your sustainable journey or looking to become even greener, we’ve rounded up 10 strategies to follow to minimize your company’s impact on the environment.

ECEP Caterers Are Mad for Mocha Mousse

The rich, warm hue of Mocha Mousse—Pantone’s Color of the Year 2025—is adding sophistication to both desserts and décor. Caterer members of ECEP have embraced the earthy brown tone, creating irresistible desserts in the indulgent shade.

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