Hot Honey Ranch: A Power Pairing

Sauces have become one of the most dynamic places on the menu, giving operators a nimble way to introduce trending flavors and turn familiar favorites into something new. Honey is particularly well suited to that innovation, adding a hint of sweetness while rounding out savory and spicy notes and building body and depth. It’s showing up across a number of today’s fastest-growing sauces and condiments, from hot honey and honey barbecue to honey butter.

Few combinations demonstrate that potential quite like hot honey ranch, pairing one of America’s most ubiquitous sauces with one of its fastest-growing flavors. According to Datassential, ranch is found on 51.5 percent of U.S. menus and earns love-or-like scores from 75 percent of consumers. Hot honey, meanwhile, has grown 239 percent on menus over the past four years and is projected to grow another 122 percent over the next four. Consumer interest adds another tailwind: 49 percent of consumers have tried hot honey, and of those who have tried it, 74 percent report either liking or loving it.

Put ranch and hot honey together for menu magic. Hot honey ranch is projected to grow more than 77 percent over the next four years, according to Datassential. Combining cool, creamy ranch with craveable sweet heat, it offers operators a versatile platform that extends well beyond the dipping cup—from fried chicken and pizza to sandwiches, wraps and hot dogs—with plenty of room to make it signature.

Visit honey.com for this and other sweet (and savory) inspiration.