Latest news with #CristenMilliner
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Chicken burgers dethrone beef as America's favorite, DoorDash data reveals
Burger season is back. And with National Hamburger Day celebrated on May 28, DoorDash has revealed the most popular burger in every state in America, based on the most-ordered burger on the food delivery platform in 2024. So what kind of patty is the heavyweight champion of home delivery? That distinction, perhaps surprising to some, belongs to chicken burgers. "We've seen a shift in what Americans define as their go-to burger, and chicken is clearly leading the charge," Cristen Milliner, consumer trends expert at DoorDash, told Fox News Digital. "The viral fast-food chicken sandwich wars that ignited a few years ago sparked a nationwide appetite for chicken, and the momentum hasn't slowed," Milliner added. "From spicy to grilled, restaurants are continually innovating their chicken burger offerings, especially as the high-protein craze takes over social media and influences what's trending." There's data to support that, as 74% of Generation Z and 69% of millennials said they've ordered a restaurant item after seeing it go viral, per DoorDash's 2025 Delivery Trends Report. "When you combine that with chicken's perceived health benefits, it's no surprise DoorDash data shows chicken burgers topping the charts in 17 states," Milliner said. Among the 17 states whose residents prefer chicken burgers are California, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. Milliner believes there is a practical side to the poultry craze as consumers increasingly seek out satisfying and affordable alternatives amid rising beef prices. Other industry insiders agree about Americans' poultry-loving palates. "Chicken burgers have become more than a trend – they're a staple in the modern diet." "With a 48% year-over-year increase in consumption and 3.1 times growth since 2020, chicken burgers have become more than a trend – they're a staple in the modern diet," according to Alon Chen, CEO at Tastewise, a consumer intelligence platform for the food and beverage industry. He cited data from his company's platform. Chen, based in New York City, said the leading motivations behind chicken burger consumption include indulgence (17%), wellness (14%) and taste (13%) — highlighting its wide appeal among health and flavor seekers alike. Meanwhile, veggie burgers flipped up the competition in 13 states, based on DoorDash data, including Colorado, New York and Wisconsin. Chen sees this as part of a larger movement toward vegetarian and vegan eating among Americans. He said Americans are embracing plant-based foods like never before, referencing a 13.3% year-over-year growth in consumer interest, based on Tastewise insights, and standout ingredients such as lentils and quinoa surging over 8% and 6%, respectively. "This goes far beyond being just a menu shift," he told Fox News Digital. "It's a cultural pivot toward sustainable, nutrient-rich eating." The traditional hamburger was a favorite in 10 states, among them Alaska and Hawaii, while the cheeseburger was a favorite in just four states: Arizona, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan. Turkey burgers were the favorite in six states: Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming. Overall, Chen perceives the chicken and veggie burger craze as one bite out of larger societal shifts. For more Lifestyle articles, visit "As the lines between indulgence, wellness and sustainability continue to blur, chicken and veggie burgers are no longer at opposite ends of the spectrum – they're both icons of modern eating," he said. "Today's consumers aren't just choosing between meat or plants; they're selecting based on mood, moment and motivation." That fluidity, he said, "is reshaping menus, grocery aisles and product development across the country."
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Will The Margarita Be The Drink Of The Summer?
In the last decade, the rainy, spring months have birthed a new trend: predicting the summer's hottest drink has become as conventional as betting on who might win the NBA playoffs. And the margarita is this year's top contender. Last week, DoorDash predicted that the margarita will become the drink of the summer. 'There's something about this classic that people trust because it's a cocktail you know, and you know it delivers,' Cristen Milliner, consumer trends expert at DoorDash told Forbes via email. Milliner and her team combed through data to discover that 'consumers are reaching for margarita ingredients like never before.' According to DoorDash data from January 1 - April 14, 2025, as compared to the same timeframe in 2024, orders for reposado tequila are up 95%, gold tequila up 65% and añejo tequila up 60%. Even orders of ready-to-drink (RTD) tequila cocktails have increased 55%. In terms of margarita ingredients, DoorDash witnessed a 125% increase in mixed seasoning blends for rims, as well as an 100% increase in agave syrup, 80% increase in limes sales and 80% increase in jalapeños. After years of the Spritz category reigning supreme as the drink of the summer — whether the Aperol Spritz or Hugo Spritz — Milliner says it's not a surprise that margaritas are back in the spotlight. 'There's a lot of change happening. With rising costs and tariff implications, these changes are impacting how people are thinking about what they eat and drink,' she shared. 'The margarita is built on simple, accessible ingredients that aren't currently being disrupted in the same way and that sense of stability is what consumers are craving.' Another factor in favor of margaritas is the consistent growth of the tequila category. In the latest Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Association's SipSource Data Insights, tequila is the only spirit with category growth in the first quarter. The spirits category declined -3.8% by volume over the past year but tequila managed to grow +1.3% in the same 12 month period to March—up from +0.9% in February. 'Part of what's driving the margarita's comeback is that it's reliable and also customizable,' said Milliner, adding that whether you're making one at home or ordering out, the flavor choice is yours. DoorDash has a prediction for the flavor of the summer, too: watermelon. The year-over-year data shows an 89% increase in watermelon orders. Beyond watermelon, Milliner mentions the bold, flavorful and superfood of pomegranate is a flavor to watch. 'Just like watermelon, pomegranate taps into consumers' growing interest in drinks that feel light, functional, and balanced, and our data shows that all things pomegranate, from the fruit to even seeds, are continuing to trend,' said Milliner. Whether or not you're ready for a margarita summer, there's no escaping tequila's growth. Below, discover three new tequila bottles riding the category's surging popularity. Tequila Purísima Tequila Purísima Guided by Master Distiller Carlos R. Huizar, this 100 percent Mexican-owned and operated tequila just entered the market with a blanco and reposado expression. Laelia Tequila was founded by Fernando Pérez Ontiveros, a fourth generation agave grower, to be distinctly agave-forward with notes nurtured by traditional brick-oven slow cooking and copper pot distillation. SRP $59.99 (blanco), $69.99 (reposado) Another May brand launch comes from Brent Hocking, master of Tequila, as he returns to the category he helped define (he founded Deleon Tequila in 2006 which he later sold to Diageo). Tequila Purísima is an ultra-premium blanco tequila reflecting a double entendre: tequila in its purest form and crafted in Purísima del Rincón, Guanajuato where it is made with some of the most unadulterated water in Mexico sourced from three 1,300-foot-deep natural spring wells. SRP $400 Last month, Tequila Don Julio 1942 unveiled their inaugural global cultural collaboration in partnership with DJ and fashion icon Peggy Gou. The limited edition bottle of Don Julio 194구 (구 is pronounced 'Gou') is wrapped in a mint green decal and topped with a chrome cap to appeal to the 'next-gen cool' vibe of Gou. The limited edition is one to snag as a collector's bottle to stand out on the bar cart. SRP $225
