Click here to view this email in your browser.

Global Update on Consumer,

Market & Menu Insights

Top Nine Issue 6 | 2024

01 Trending Now on Social Media 

Cheese stands out as a consistent theme across social media this month. We see this with the Birria Grilled Cheese, Cheeseburger Wrap and Cheesy BBQ Chicken, all pushing indulgence to the max. Although Veganuary is behind us, demand for plant-based dishes has not diminished, as demonstrated by the viral vegan cheeseburger wrap hack. Ask about Dawn Farms Cheeseburger Crumble which is bursting with authentic cheeseburger flavours. High protein indulgence is another trend that has not swayed in popularity, with fitness and gym lovers showcasing meals such as Garlic Steak & Eggs, complimented by crispy potatoes. Lastly, Irish recipes were trending around St. Patrick’s Day with content creators combining two Irish staples with a Guinness and Beef Stew.

02 Subway Plots Growth in Europe

Subway has announced its partnership with McWin, a private foodservice industry investment fund, to grow business across France, Belgium, Czech Republic and Luxembourg. The alliance grants McWin exclusive rights to oversee development of Subway restaurants in the four countries. There are currently 400 franchise restaurants, with plans to open another 600 over the next ten years. Consumers in these regions will benefit from modernized locations, improved operations and overall guest experience.

03 Meal Deals Reign Supreme

The fast-food industry is seeing a surge in promotional offers, such as combo bundles and meal deals, according to Meaningful Vision. With data from over 100 fast-food chains across the UK, they reported that meal deals continue to reign supreme, representing 41% of all special price offers in 2023, with meal deals up 15% YOY. Pizza remains the most popular choice, offering greater perceived value for consumers, with 38% of total offers. Fittingly, KFC launched its first lunch-only meal deal, offering the Kentucky Mayo Twister Wrap or Fillet Burger as the main, a packet of crisps or a cookie, and a choice of beverage, starting at £5.49.

04 PizzaExpress Launches Spring Menu

PizzaExpress has launched a Large Classic pizza that comes with a base that is double the amount of dough as its classic base. The latest addition is a delivery-exclusive menu item offering a thick crust and is designed for sharing. The Spring menu also offers a Calzone Chicken Italiano, Mushroom Arancini, and a Romana Double American Cheese with double the pepperoni, and another delivery exclusive, the Classic Chicken and Bacon pizza. PizzaExpress is also bringing back its American Hottest, Soho ‘65 and the Romana Vegan Mezze.

05 Chick-Fil-A Mobile Pick Up & Pizzas 

Chick-fil-A has opened its first ever mobile pickup restaurant this week in New York City. The new restaurant has no seating, but instead pathways for mobile orders and delivery drivers, which continue to increase in popularity. Status boards will update customers and drivers of their order in real time, to mitigate congestion and increase speed of service. Chick-fil-A’s other test concept, Little Blue Menu, is adding five new pizzas. The new items include The Chick-fil-A Pizza, topped with nuggets, Buff-lo-Ranch Pizza made with buffalo sauce and house-made ranch dressing, the Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Meats-n-Veg Pizza, and a Pepperoni Pizza ‘Round, a twist on the classic calzone.

06 M&S Taste of Asia ready meals

Consumers looking for a flavour-packed lunch or dinner with minimal fuss will be interested in M&S Food’s new Asian-inspired ready meal range. The Taste of Asia Soul Bowls are available in nine different flavours: Chilli Chicken Ramen, Hot Sriracha Chicken, Spicy Beef Noodles, Hoisin Duck Rice Bowls, Sticky Chicken Udon Noodles, Teriyaki Salmon & Prawn Noodles, Kimchi Sticky Rice Bowl, King Prawn Pad Thai and Spicy Prawn Laksa Noodles. The ready meals use authentic, high-quality ingredients from double-fermented soy sauce to slow-cooked bone broths, fiery toban jhan chilli bean paste and umami-rich red and white miso.

07 Pizza Hut x Yeastie Boys Food Truck

Pizza Hut teams up with Yeastie Boys, a bagel food truck, to launch the Big New Yorker Pizza Bagel in LA and NYC. This innovative creation blends the famous flavours of a New York-style pizza, with the convenience and mobility of a bagel. While Pizza Hut’s Big New Yorker pizza originally launched in the late ‘90s, this is the first time the brand has ventured into the pizza bagel space, giving the menu item an even bigger New York twist. The Yeastie Boys food trucks will be serving the limited-edition bagel collab on both coasts this month.

08 American QSR Success in France 

France, while renowned for its fine dining and Michelin stars, is surprisingly obsessed with American fast food. The nation ranks third in Europe for fast food sales, which exceeded €19 billion in 2023. Iconic American burgers like the Big Mac and Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich are fueling this trend, as French consumers crave convenience and affordability. Both McDonald’s and Burger King view France as their biggest market outside the US. The pandemic accelerated online ordering and deliveries, with Domino's reporting 60% of its orders made online. Fast food's quick recovery outshines traditional restaurants, forcing French fine dining to adapt to keen competition.

09 Hormel’s New Pepperoni Format

Hormel has announced their latest innovation product – Ribbon Pepperoni. The Hormel Ribbon Pepperoni was created to improve operational efficiency in preparing pizzas and open up possibilities for other applications. The innovation team asked themselves, “what if pepperoni could be handled and applied like shredded mozzarella cheese?”. The shredded pepperoni is made from select pork and beef cuts and has a bold flavor with extra garlic, black & cayenne pepper and paprika. The brand debuted the new product at the International Pizza Expo show this week.

Dawn Farms, The Maudlins, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland

Click here to unsubscribe or to change your Subscription Preferences.