LANE Releases Food & Beverage Beat 2014

PORTLAND, OR and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jan 30, 2014) -  LANE, a national, independent agency specializing in public relations, digital marketing and investor relations, has released the results of its fifth annual survey of food and beverage professionals from coast to coast. The LANE Food and Beverage Beat 2014 reports the results of interviews with half a dozen top professionals in their respective niches to gain insight to the influences on consumer preferences and the trends that the trade may adopt to keep up with evolving demands.

For its 2014 report, the agency's notable panel of experts included:

• Christopher Hastings: James Beard Award-winning chef of nationally celebrated Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Ala., and an Iron Chef America champion.
• David Machado: Restaurateur, chef and consultant, spearheading Nel Centro at the Hotel Modera in Portland, Ore., as well as neighborhood concepts Lauro Kitchen and Vindalho.
• Matt Moore: Writer, chef and lifestyle guru with the distinction of having his first book, Have Her Over for Dinner, named on the year's best cookbooks by The New York Times.
• Marnie Old: Renowned sommelier, past director of wine studies at Manhattan's French Culinary Institute, and author of four popular books focused on wine and wine education.
• Beverly Stephen: Executive editor of Food Arts magazine and a former writer and editor for the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Daily News.
• Mike Zupan: President of Zupan's Markets, a string of family-run, iconic gourmet markets for chefs, restaurateurs and other diehard epicureans in Portland, Ore.

"We turned to leading experts in the nation's food and beverage industry for information on what they're noticing in the trenches," said Wendy Lane Stevens, president of LANE. "Through one-on-one discussions, we've uncovered some trends to watch in the year ahead. For instance, our panelists are in agreement that although the recession has passed, lingering effects are shaping consumer and business attitudes."

Survey Highlights
Coming from various regions and areas of specialty, the LANE Food & Beverage Beat 2014 panel were relatively consistent in some themes expected to shape the industry in the year ahead. Some highlights include:

• Fussy, formal and overly complicated dining is out
• Consumers will remain selective in how they spend their food dollars
• Quality trumps quantity
• The GMO issue will be amplified
• Small, casual, intimate and authentic experiences will be in demand
• Products and flavors -- at markets or restaurants -- will better reflect their places of origin
• The craft and artisan movement remains strong

To view the complete 2014 Food & Beverage Trends Report, visit http://www.lanepr.com/food-and-beverage-beat-2014/, and for more information about LANE, go to www.lanepr.com.

About LANE
LANE is a national, independent firm focused on driving business and sales success for clients through strategic communications counsel. With offices in New York and Portland, Ore., LANE provides integrated public relations, digital marketing and investor relations services for clients in a host of industries, including financial services, consumer, food and beverage, and technology. Founded in 1990, the agency has won several awards, including the 2013 PRWeek Public Affairs Campaign of the Year, the 2011 Silver SABRE Award, the 2010 Bronze Bulldog Award for best new product launch, and the 2009 PRWeek Young PR Professional of the Year. For more information about LANE, visit www.lanepr.com. Connect with LANE on Twitter at Twitter.com/LANEPR and LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/company/lane.