As 2020 comes to an end, we can’t help but look back on the year and notice some unique memories.

Throughout all of the ups and downs we experienced this year, one thing has remained consistent: our love for cheese!

Whether you are dressing up your burger or just looking to add some flavor to your sandwich, natural sliced cheese from Great Lakes Cheese is undoubtedly your solution. Great Lakes Cheese offers natural slices in many different flavors, expanding your ability to stay up-to-date with the hottest trends. In today’s edition of IPAP Monthly, we will be visiting the most prominent trends in natural slices for both limited-service restaurants (LSR) and full-service restaurants (FSR).

Even though they serve the same types of meals, FSR and LSRs show different trends when it comes to natural slices. According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Menu Insights, the top five sliced cheeses to top a burger at LSRs are:

  1. Cheddar
  2. American
  3. Pepper Jack
  4. Monterey Jack
  5. Blue Cheese

Trending upwards is Mozzarella, Provolone and Pepper Jack.

While FSRs follow a similar trend in flavor profile, the tops five cheese to top a burger cheese at FSRs are slightly different:

  1. Cheddar
  2. American
  3. Monterey Jack
  4. Pepper Jack
  5. Swiss

Likewise, Queso, Parmesan, Smoked Gouda and Gorgonzola are four trending cheese flavors in FSRs.

When comparing menu items like burgers and sandwiches, at first glance the flavor of cheese preference is the most obvious difference between the two menu categories. However, when we look deeper into what causes the flavor difference, cheese is in the top three on the list. Sandwiches at LSRs list Provolone as their top cheese followed by:

  1. Provolone
  2. Cheddar
  3. Mozzarella
  4. American
  5. Parmesan

Trending cheese at LSRs show Gruyere and Muenster are both on the rise. FSRs top cheeses for sandwiches start with Cheddar at number one, followed by:

  1. Swiss
  2. Provolone
  3. Mozzarella
  4. Monterey Jack

Currently trending upwards includes Queso and Fresh Mozzarella.

While understanding what’s trending in sliced cheese is advantageous, it’s even more important to understand where to procure some of the best natural slices at the most advantageous price points. Great Lakes Cheese (GLC) offers a variety of flavors of natural sliced cheese. From Cheddars to Provolone to Mozzarella and many more, GLC can provide flavor for your burgers and sandwiches in 2021. With product pre-sliced and available in resealable packaging known as rapid packs, GLC not only offers the top trending flavors of cheese; they also provide customers one of the most efficient products for foodservice!