Panel: From Menu to Mainstream: How Chefs and Foodservice Drive Consumer Acceptance

Foodservice remains one of the most powerful channels for introducing new ingredients and formats. This session explores how chefs, operators, and foodservice brands influence normalization and adoption long before products reach retail shelves. Speakers will discuss menu innovation, culinary credibility, operational constraints, and the role of foodservice as a testing ground for alternative proteins, global flavors, and functional foods. Attendees will gain insight into how collaboration between brands and foodservice partners can accelerate learning, reduce risk, and build consumer familiarity at scale.