Why Latin Flavors and Celebrity Partnerships Are Taking Over the Food & Beverage Industry
From Miami to Los Angeles, the hottest food and beverage trends in 2025 are all about bold flavors, cultural authenticity, and star-powered collaborations. As consumer cravings evolve, restaurant owners and hospitality industry leaders eagerly seek innovative solutions that combine craveable taste, operational ease, and a dash of cultural storytelling.
Enter Sofia Vergara—a Golden Globe-nominated actress and dynamic entrepreneur—alongside her son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, and their vibrant Latin culinary brand, TOMA™, now in partnership with the global powerhouse Nestlé Professional Solutions. Together, they’re reimagining Latin food experiences for the food and beverage industry with the nationwide launch of chef-crafted empanadas, delivering “grandma’s kitchen” flavors in an easy, operator-friendly format. This partnership is making waves—positioning Latin cuisine as more than just a viral flavor, but a movement that’s here to stay.
Food and Beverage Trends: The Rise of Latin-Inspired Menu Innovation
Food and Beverage Trends: The Rise of Latin-Inspired Menu InnovationFood & Beverage News: Meeting the Growing Demand for Global Flavors
The latest food and beverage news confirms what foodservice executives already know: diners want adventure. According to Datassential, 54% of operators in the food service industry are actively adding portable, globally-inspired snacks. Technomic reports that 40% of consumers are more likely to visit restaurants featuring new and innovative flavors—a trend that puts menu innovation at the forefront of profitable food and beverage management.
Operators & Chefs: Why Latin Cuisine Resonates
- Latin flavors offer mass appeal: Empanadas, salsas, and other Latin specialties tap into the growing demand for comfort foods with a global twist.
- Cultural storytelling: Platforms like Food & Beverage Magazine celebrate brands that champion diverse heritage and authentic recipes—giving a powerful marketing boost.
- Flexibility & speed: Latin-inspired grab-and-go items align with evolving consumer habits and operational realities.
For food and beverage directors, procurement directors, and hospitality managers, adding TOMA empanadas is a smart way to keep menus fresh and patrons coming back.
TOMA & Nestlé Professional Solutions: A Powerful Food and Beverage Company Partnership
Building on Latin Culinary Traditions with World-Class Distribution
TOMA is no ordinary food and beverage company. Rooted in Sofia Vergara’s Colombian heritage, and built in collaboration with the Everybody Eats Hospitality Group led by visionary Sam Nazarian (everybodyeatsbysbe.com), TOMA is designed for cultural pride, nostalgia, and the modern consumer’s love of convenience.
Key Empanada Varieties for Foodservice:
- Beef Empanada: Savory beef, tomatoes, kalamata olives, onions, paprika, and chilis
- Chicken Empanada: Pulled chicken in a tomatillo, jalapeño, cilantro, and garlic salsa verde
These chef-approved empanadas are now available, thanks to Nestlé Professional Solutions’ commitment to food safety trends, food and beverage sustainability, and supplier reliability. TOMA’s back-of-house solutions are engineered for real-world kitchens and small-footprint operations—a win-win for foodservice executives and institutional buyers.
Innovative Launches: A Hit at the National Restaurant Show
Innovative Launches: A Hit at the National Restaurant ShowThe TOMA/Nestlé Professional Solutions empanada line debuted at the 2025 National Restaurant Show, earning rave reviews from food & beverage directors, managers, and media alike.
- Operator-friendly formats: Cook from frozen or thawed (perfect for Turbochef, convection ovens, or fryers).
- Consistent quality: Frozen, but flavor-fresh; meets the high-quality standards Nestlé Professional Solutions is famous for.
- Versatile use: Great for upscale menus, fast-casual dining, grab-and-go, catering, or best [Latin] restaurant near me.
Food Service Industry Insights: Why Portable Snacks and Menu Innovation Drive Profits
Data & Actionable Takeaways for Operators
Food industry awards and F&B magazine features increasingly spotlight brands that bridge convenience, authenticity, and culinary creativity. Portable Latin snacks like empanadas are consistently ranked among “most wanted” menu additions for 2025.
Why?
- Easy to merchandise (think display cases, quick-serve, concessions, minibar, or catering)
- Ready-to-heat = lower labor costs for food and beverage managers
- Year-round appeal for breakfast, lunch, snacking, happy hour, and late night
- Aligns with hospitality technology trends (e.g., mobile ordering, delivery)
Tips for Successful Rollout:
- Market with authenticity. Use digital storytelling and restaurant marketing strategies to highlight the Latin heritage (TOMA even shares recipe stories for menu/build-your-own stations).
- Leverage trend data. Pair with other viral flavors (ube, pistachio milk, plant-based dining) for LTOs.
- Utilize food safety trends and high standards as a differentiator.
Solving Operational Challenges: The TOMA Empanada Advantage
Solving Operational Challenges: The TOMA Empanada AdvantageIf you’re a procurement director, foodservice executive, or hospitality manager, these are the advantages:
- Minimal prep, maximal flavor—ideal for smaller kitchens or multi-unit chains.
- Ships frozen for foodservice reliability; no need for large prep teams or scratch-cooking.
- Flexibility—serve as entrée, side, appetizer, snack, or catering item.
- Access to Nestlé Professional Solutions quality assurance and support.
Operators are already reporting higher guest satisfaction and increased sales where the TOMA empanadas have been added—a testament to getting food and beverage services right by blending operational efficiency with trending flavor profiles.
Real-World Examples & Inspiring Partners
TOMA’s Expansion and Partnerships
After launching in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, TOMA expanded through strategic food and beverage company alliances—including sbe’s properties, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, and aviation partner FlyXO. The brand’s collaboration with Nestlé Professional Solutions means you can now bring these cherished Latin recipes to nearly any hospitality environment in the U.S.—and benefit from the strength and trust of the world’s largest F&B distributor.
Read more about how strategic partnerships drive growth: Tradition Meets Innovation at Holladay Distillery
For additional menu trend inspiration, check out: Sipping Into the Future: The Hottest Drink Trends Making Waves in 2025
Taking the Next Step: How to Add TOMA Empanadas to Your Operation
Want to give your customers the flavors they crave while keeping operations smooth? Operators can place orders or request samples of TOMA empanadas as of today, ahead of the official nationwide rollout in September 2025.
Act now and stay ahead of the food & beverage trends:
- Visit Nestlé Professional Solutions for ordering information and additional food and beverage news
- Connect with the TOMA team at EatTOMA.com
- Learn more about custom menu innovation, food safety trends, and hospitality technology in Food & Beverage Magazine
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
