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Specialty Drinks Increase Menu Diversity, Culinary Creativity and Business Margins

Musselman’s Apple Cider and Juice Ideal for Wide Assortment of Signature Drinks for Adults and Kids

Peach Glen, PA, April 28, 2010—As the economy continues to force consumers to weigh their options when dining out, operators can remain competitive and recapture sales with an innovative signature drink menu with Musselman’s apple cider and apple juice. Beverages are a growing opportunity, serving as a prime area to excite new and returning diners.

According to Nation’s Restaurant News, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks is a savvy way to maintain margins on beverage offerings. Additionally, diners are trading up on the quality of the beverages they select, opting for more inventive offerings versus multiple, cheaper options. Knouse Foods highlights key ways to add a twist to any menu:

Non-Alcoholic:

• Cider Float: Spicy flavors combined with sweet creamy ice cream makes this drink a perfect summer menu addition that will attract diners of all ages.
• Apple Cider Punch: A bold refreshing mixture of allspice, apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, lemonade, nutmeg and orange juice.
• Classic Chilled Cider: Cooled to the perfect temperature, this is a great alternative to iced tea.

Mocktails:

• Mock Champagne: Apple juice mixed with ginger ale is a delicious version of the traditional bubbly drink. Add grenadine for color.
• Mock Bellini: Excite the palette with chilled apple juice, peach nectar and lemon juice.
• Cider Julep: Combine apple cider or juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and lemon juice to create this traditional favorite.

Alcoholic:

• Apple Breeze: Add Caribbean flare to the menu with this apple cider and coconut rum drink.
• Ruby Chai Appletini: Agave nectar, apple cider and vodka add a global twist to this appletini.
• Cinnamon Toast: A fun and festive drink made with apple cider and spiced rum.

"Chefs and operators are in a unique position to expand their focus and creativity to other areas of the menu as dayparts continue to develop beyond traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner," said Todd Michael, Food Service Sales Manager for Knouse Foods. "Apple cider and juice are the perfect ingredients to create an array of creative drink applications that will meet diners’ desires for something unique, while adding to an operation’s bottom line."

Musselman’s apple cider and juice are 100% juice, naturally sweetened by fruit, contain no added sugars and come available in 64 and 128 ounces.

For more information about Knouse products and recipe ideas, visit www.knousefoodservice.com.

Knouse Foods is an established grower cooperative and food processor for apple and fruit-related products. The cooperative includes fruit growers in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Mid-West. Known for its environmental stewardship, Knouse Foods is committed to ensuring all of its products meet the highest standard for taste, quality and consistency. Product brands include Musselman’s, Lucky Leaf, Apple Time and Speas Farm.