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Global Update on Consumer,

Market & Menu Insights

Top Nine Issue 21 | 2024

Monday 28th October is a Bank Holiday here in Ireland so the Top Nine team will be taking a short break, and back to our regular schedule on 8th November. 

01 Chipotle's Boorito EU Expansion

Chipotle is expanding its annual Halloween event, "Boorito," to Europe for the first time, offering discounted entrées to customers in costume at its 20 U.K. and 6 French locations on October 31. "Boorito" began in the U.S. in 2000 and in Canada in 2009. Chipotle also launched its first-ever Halloween costume collection based on popular memes, including a Chipotle napkin, fork, water cup, burrito and to-go bag.  

02 Gen Z's 'Chaos Cuisine'

As Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, reaches adulthood, food producers are adapting to their diverse tastes, challenging traditional food norms. Gen Z is less concerned with classic cuisine distinctions and seeks authentic global flavours. With more first-generation students, inauthentic international foods are less accepted, and social media amplifies criticism. Gen Z’s preference for creative, bold flavours, like "chaos cuisine" and spicy foods, has spurred new combinations, such as Nashville hot chicken in a bao bun. Additionally, Mexican cuisine has surpassed Italian in popularity, and there is potential for Southeast Asian flavors to become more mainstream. Ask about our range of great-tasting globally inspired meat and plant-based solutions for your menu.  

03 New York Pizza's Latest Slice 

New York Pizza in the Netherlands has launched three new New York-style pizzas. The ‘Loaded Pepperoni’ pizza is topped with even more pepperoni and crispy cupped pepperoni while the ‘Hot Honey Pepperoni’ features the cupped pepperoni and a slightly spicy hot honey swirl. The third new launch, an ‘Upside Down Margherita’, reimagines the well-known Margherita in reverse. All three new launches can be ordered on a New York style, thin & crispy Italian style or a gluten-free base. 

04 Sainsbury's Festive Favourites 

Sainsbury’s has unveiled its 2024 Taste the Difference Christmas range, focusing on blending premium quality with convenience. Highlights include Mini Scallop & Chorizo Shells, King Prawns in Duvets and hand-crafted Bao-by Penguins, with char siu vegetables and premium mushrooms. The star of the show, the Christmas Dinner Box for four, is ready in an hour, and features boneless buttermilk turkey joint, with pork & chestnut stuffing and wrapped in dry-cured bacon, with pigs in blankets, crispy beef dripping roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips in a honey mustard and thyme butter, and turkey gravy. For the food-to-go customer, the new ‘Festive Porchetta Sandwich’ is filled with porchetta, cranberry stuffing, gravy mayonnaise, lettuce, and cranberry sauce. 

05 Personal Pan Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is launching a "Personal Pan Pizza Hut," a two-day, reservation-only dining experience in New York City. This new concept, serving the 6-inch Personal Pan Pizza exclusively, allows guests to customize with a variety of new toppings introduced earlier this year, such as Pesto Swirl, Spicy Sauce, Chicken Sausage, Fresh Diced Garlic and Caramelized Onion. The experience blends nostalgia with modern touches, offering a fresh, personalized way to enjoy one of Pizza Hut's most iconic menu items.  

06 McPlant Soars in Europe

McDonald’s is introducing plant-based McNuggets in France, made in partnership with Beyond Meat. The new Veggie McPlant McNuggets, made from pea and wheat proteins, cater to growing demand among French consumers for varied protein options. While McPlant products did not perform well in the U.S., they have been more successful in Europe, with launches in several countries. For example, Germany recently introduced McPlant nuggets to its menu as well. In France, the plant-based nuggets will be a permanent menu item, priced the same as regular Chicken McNuggets. 

07 Subway's Ghost Pepper Bread

Subway in the U.S. is launching its spiciest-ever Ghost Pepper Bread for a limited time, which will add heat to any sub on the menu and introduce two new spicy sandwiches: the Spicy Nacho Steak and the Fiery Meatball. The bread, perfected over a year by Subway’s culinary team, features ghost pepper, habanero, and paprika-seasoned breadcrumbs, topped with Monterey cheddar and jalapeños. The new subs offer bold combinations, with ingredients like steak, meatballs, and Sriracha sauce. In addition, Subway is running a “Ghoster Redemption” campaign, allowing people who have ‘ghosted’ someone while dating to share their stories and potentially win a discount on sandwiches to reconnect.  

08 Taco Bell's Globally-Inspired Menu

Taco Bell is testing the Caliente Cantina Chicken Burrito in the States, made with slow-roasted Cantina chicken in an all-new Caliente Sauce that combines red pepper, red jalapeno pepper and ghost chili pepper. Additionally, the chain is testing three new chef-driven flavours of its iconic Crunchwrap Supreme. The new versions feature bold global flavors like Indian-spiced chicken, Thai-inspired crispy noodles, and Southwest hot chicken with the potential to launch in 2025. Meanwhile, Jimmy John’s has introduced the new Smoked Cheddar Bourbon Club sandwich, available in two options: Roast Beef & Bacon or Turkey & Bacon. Both varieties feature smoked cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and a new creamy sriracha bourbon sauce. 

09 U.S. Pizza Launches 

Gino's East of Chicago in Los Angeles has launched a special pizza called "The Crackerjack". Available in either deep dish or thin crust, it is topped with hot pepper jack and mozzarella cheese, spicy pepperoni, bacon and Calabrian chili oil. The chef aimed to balance spicy and sweet flavours, combining heat from the pepper jack, pepperoni, and chili with a sweet crunch from "crack" bacon. Meanwhile, Cicis Pizza has teamed up with Kellanova to create a unique "Chicken and Eggo Waffles Pizza”. The pizza includes crispy chicken, Eggo waffle pieces and maple syrup. It is a one-of-a-kind, innovative twist on the iconic pairing of chicken and waffles.  

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

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