The HoReCa sector is experiencing a transformation phase driven by structural changes in consumer habits and customer expectations. The market is influenced from economic, social and cultural factors that redefine purchasing paths, preferences and consumption methods. These changes are reflected both on domestic food choices and in the selection of places frequented.
For industry professionals, understanding these trends is not optional, but a necessity. The challenge is to interpret these general trends and apply them to one's own reality, adapting the offer to your target audience. Only those who are able to anticipate and respond effectively to these developments will be able to prosper in an increasingly segmented market.
In this article, we will analyze the main trends that are redefining the HoReCa landscape and, above all, we will highlight how pinsa can represent an ideal choice to respond to these needs, guaranteeing an excellent investment-return ratio.
Convenience and speed
Convenience and speed are top priorities for many consumers. The growth in scheduled orders for delivery, takeaway and delivery attests to a increasingly pressing demand for gastronomic solutions that combine quality, flexibility and immediacy. The sector thus finds itself having to balance the need to offer a satisfying culinary experience with the need to ensure increasingly shorter preparation and delivery times.
Even in this case, pinsa must be carefully evaluated, because not only is it prepared in a few minutes (even starting from the flours, not necessarily from the pre-cooked base), but it maintains its organoleptic characteristics intact even during transport, resisting humidity and temperature changes well. The outer crust and the soft, honeycomb interior retain their consistency, ensuring a satisfying eating experience even when the product is not consumed immediately after cooking.
Innovation and experimentation
The ability to innovate and experiment is a differentiating factor for HoReCa market professionals. Consumers, especially the younger generations, are increasingly more attracted by proposals that blend different culinary traditions, creating memorable food experiences.
In this context of continuous contamination, pinsa is in fact a blank canvas on which to explore creative possibilities. Its characteristic base lends itself to interpretations ranging from Mediterranean tradition to Asian, South American or North African influences, without losing its distinctive identity.
Health and wellness
Growing attention to health and wellness is redefining consumers' food choices. In 2024, shopping carts have become healthier, with 18% of families planning to increase their purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables and 14% planning to buy more fish. This trend towards lighter food choices inevitably reflects in out-of-home consumption as well.
The pinsa was conceived from its origins as a lighter and more digestible alternative to traditional pizza. Its dough, characterised by high hydration and long leavening, guarantees a final product with fewer calories and fat, keeping intact the taste profile that consumers seek. Pinsa also responds to the growing demand for transparency on ingredients, because its relatively simple preparation and the use of easily identifiable raw materials make it a reassuring choice.
Sustainability and environmental awareness
Sustainability is a fundamental requirement for consumers.
Reducing food waste is at the top of the list of priorities, to the point that a large part of restaurateurs have already implemented Strategies for waste minimization, obtaining in return not only customer loyalty, but also significant cost savings.
Pinsa is an ideal solution because its processing, relatively simple compared to other preparations, requires a limited number of ingredients and a more natural and less complex process, which translates into lower energy requirements compared to numerous alternatives in the food industry. An important aspect is the longevity of the product: the pinsa base for catering, supplied frozen, ensures optimal conservation, reducing food waste. At home, the possibility of using the same base in many different preparations (sweet, savoury, one-dish meals, appetizers, etc.) is an additional advantage in terms of versatility and optimisation of resources.
Digitalization and technology
Digitalization is a strategic pillar of the Horeca sector. The integration of advanced technological solutions is transforming order management, customer communication and delivery processes, redefining the entire consumer experience. Consumers, accustomed to the immediacy offered by large e-commerce giants, expect the same level of responsiveness and flexibility from any operator in the food sector, regardless of its size.
Although at first glance there is no direct connection between digitalization and pinsa, a thorough analysis reveals synergies. The speed of preparation and the extraordinary versatility of the pinsa, highlighted in the previous points, make it particularly suitable for integration into processes modernized by digital. In a context in which food delivery platforms require increasingly compressed preparation times, the possibility of maintaining a high quality of the product represents an important competitive advantage precisely because it adapts to the new ways of ordering and consuming.
