CHICAGO — Restaurant industry research firm Mintel has released new findings about two of the hottest food and drink markets: ice cream and coffeehouses. Flavor wars: Men and women want different things from (ice cream) relationships Mintel found that seven in 10 men prefer plain ice cream flavors, like chocolate or vanilla, while 74 percent of women seek out those containing chocolate or candy bits. Still, each gender seems to enjoy the other's taste preferences: 66 percent of women say they also look for plain ice cream, and 63 percent of men go for jazzed-up flavors too. Fruit flavors don't bode well for either male or female ice cream eaters. Less than one in three respondents told Mintel they look for fruit-flavored ice cream. Coffee dilemma: Americans are torn between Starbucks and independents; plain and fancy drinks Mintel's latest survey shows people firmly split between the coffee conglomerate and the shop next door. One in five respondents say Starbucks is their favorite, but another one in five choose an independent. America remains equally undecided on its preferred coffeehouse drink. Coffee with milk or cream leads in popularity — 30 percent of respondents say they drink it most often — but black coffee, lattes, cappuccino and iced coffees all enjoy near identical favor among respondents.
