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Global Update on Consumer,
Market & Menu Insights
Top Nine Issue 3 | 2024
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01 Emerging Trends in Plant Protein
Veganuary brings plant-based into the spotlight every January. We have conducted a snapshot of product offerings on shelves and menus in retail and QSRs around the world, with some interesting findings. Unrecognisable and artificial ingredients are being rejected in favour of cleaner, more recognisable options, and while consumers are familiar with Mexican, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines, they are keen to explore more authentic spices and flavours. Lastly, product innovation will seek to evolve, expanding the source of protein, to meet the changing demands of consumers.
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02 Domino's Burger Pizza Fusion
Domino’s France is tapping into familiar favourite burger recipes by adding 3 new burger-inspired pizzas to their menu. The range includes the ‘Original Burger’ topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, flame-grilled beef, tomatoes, onions, pickles and burger sauce; the ‘Bacon BBQ Burger’ topped with barbecue sauce, bacon, flame-grilled beef, onions and cheddar sauce; and lastly the ‘Crispy Chicken Burger’ topped with roasted chicken, tomatoes, pickles, burger sauce and crispy fried onions.
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03 Goodbye Pie & Vegas Style Pizza
This Valentine’s Day, Pizza Hut is thinking outside the box by offering a ‘Goodbye Pies’ for those looking for help ending their relationships. The limited-edition Hot Honey pizzas will deliver the spicy news in a sweet way, in a custom pizza box for a name to be included. Papa Johns has introduced its unique pizza idea in advance of the 58th annual Super Bowl, with a Vegas $tyle Pizza. Papa Rewards Members can enter to win $58,000 and can earn extra entries by purchasing an Epic Stuffed Crust pizza during the entry period.
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04 Asian Cuisine Expands in the UK
Asian cuisine is taking the UK by a storm, with well-known brands announcing their growth targets and opening more locations. Chopstix, a pan-Asian QSR, has opened a new restaurant at Victoria Station London, as part of its strategic plan for greater presence in transport hubs. Meanwhile, Wagamama has plans to open ten new locations in 2024, after an exciting year of innovative launches, such as vegan k-dogs, Korean-style hot pots and gochujang rice bowls. Smaller Asian chains are also aiming high, with the likes of Bunsik, specialising in Korean street food, opening its 6th location in the UK.
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05 YUM Brands Performance
KFC UK enjoyed a 2% system sales boost in the last quarter of 2023, driving global system sales 7% higher. Sales in the U.S. remained steady, and KFC opened over 2,700 new restaurants globally. Pizza Hut’s global system sales climbed 4% in the year, while Taco Bell remained a bright spot, with global sales rising 9% in the year and operating profit jumping 16% in the quarter. Overall, Yum! Brands revenue grew 3% in 2023, fuelled by KFC's strength and Taco Bell's continued momentum.
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06 McDonald’s x Frank’s RedHot
McDonald’s UK and Ireland has teamed up with Frank’s RedHot for the new McSpicy burger. The new launch is hot and spicy, with a chicken fillet in a crispy coating, lettuce, jalapenos, Emmental cheese, onions, and the unique Frank’s RedHot Mayo in a sesame seed bun. While the McSpicy first launched as an LTO in July 2021, this collaboration allows McDonald’s to build on an already successful product. This taps into one of the trends we identified in our Trend Catcher Spring Summer report, where we see complex heat continue its evolution, with global peppers taking off in every aisle, on every menu - and the trend is only getting hotter.
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07 Sustainable Packaging Wins
Marks & Spencer, Upfield, and Sainsbury’s are leading the way when it comes to sustainable packaging in 2024. M&S has introduced recyclable cardboard for its sandwiches, reducing plastic by 79%. Similarly, Upfield has unveiled a plastic-free recyclable tub, while Sainsbury’s is swapping plastic punnets for cardboard. Collaboration is key, and real-time data is crucial for effective partnerships, enabling proactive responses to regulatory shifts and consumer demand for eco-friendly materials. Together, businesses can navigate the evolving landscape of sustainable packaging solutions.
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08 Chipotle Outlook & 2023 Results
Chipotle Mexican Grill released their financial results for 2023 earlier this week. The brand’s total revenue increased 14.3% year over year, reaching $9.9 billion. Chipotle opened 271 new locations, with 238 of those featuring a Chipotlane. Digital sales represented 37.4% of Chipotle’s total food and beverage revenue. The CEO attributes this success to be driven by throughput and menu innovation. Chipotle plans to open up to 315 new restaurants in 2024, and anticipates full year comparable sales growth in the mid-single digit range.
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09 Million Dollar Whopper
Burger King is playing out its slogan “have it your way” by asking Royal Perks members to submit ideas for the next Whopper innovation. Each submission can include up to 8 toppings, with the winning creation given the $1 million prize. More than 50% of Burger King guests are customising their Whopper creations, with 200,000+ combinations available. Before the finalist is chosen, 3 Whopper creations will be selected by judges and tested on menus nationwide, to see which has the greatest success.
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Dawn Farms, The Maudlins, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
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