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Global Update on Consumer,

Market & Menu Insights

Top Nine Issue 24 | 2024

01 Trending on Social Media This Month

As the festive season approaches, demand for Christmas-inspired comfort foods peaks, with dishes like the Smoked Turkey Melt with Cranberry Bacon Jam and Pigs in Blankets Sausage Rolls blending holiday flavours with convenience. Elevated flavour combinations such as Brie, Prosciutto, and Cranberry Garlic Bread offer elegance, while the Vodka Sauce Chicken Sandwich caters to bold tastes. Plant-based options like the Vegan Turkey Leg appeal to those seeking sustainable feasting. Meanwhile, Gen Z is elevating classic comfort foods like the Christmas Sandwich and cheesy creations on social media, highlighting the growing trend of indulgence and creativity this season.

02 BK & KFC France Become BFFs

Burger King France and KFC France have launched a historic collaboration with the exclusive "BFF burger”, available only in France. The burger features flame-grilled meat at Burger King and crispy chicken at KFC, available until December 16. The brands, traditionally rivals, have come together for this unique creation and to promote it, they ran a teaser campaign at their restaurants. The partnership is celebrated with nationwide advertising, social media, and a humorous TV spot, featuring employees singing, "Why Can’t We Be Friends?" in unity. The campaign highlights their temporary "friendship," sparking curiosity and excitement.

03 New Pizza Hut Restaurant Prototype

Pizza Hut is testing a new restaurant prototype near its headquarters in Texas, designed to enhance the customer experience. Featuring a drive-thru, self-serve kiosks, mobile order pickup stations, and a “Hut ‘N Go” menu with ready-to-pick-up items, the modern layout caters to today’s fast-food needs. This fresh design, inspired by global trends, aims to boost in-store traffic and customer satisfaction. By blending digital and physical elements, Pizza Hut offers a seamless, personalised experience while showcasing its legacy of innovation. The prototype replaces an older format and reflects the brand’s commitment to adapting to changing customer preferences.

04 What Gen Z Want in 2025

Rubix Foods' 2025 flavour trends report highlights key preferences of Gen Z for restaurant menus. It reveals that American Gen Z finds ranch sauce overrated, with 21% expressing this view, while also asking for more pickle sauces. The report, based on 45,000 survey responses, notes that Gen Z is increasingly excited about new flavours and quick to share them on social media. A new flavour trend, "swalty" (sweet and salty), is emerging, with Gen Z craving it 5% more than the previously popular "swicy" (sweet heat). These insights encourage restaurants to innovate and cater to the adventurous Gen Z palate.

05 Christmas Shopping Predictions

Retail demand for meat this Christmas is expected to surpass last year’s performance, driven by at-home eating. Despite cost-of-living concerns, 90% of shoppers plan to eat at home on Christmas Day. Many consumers will seek value for money, but some will opt for premium products. A significant portion of shoppers (58%) consider pigs in blankets essential, while others plan multiple meat options, such as turkey and gammon. Convenience is also a priority, with 34% of shoppers using online retailers more this year. Additionally, 25% of shoppers will use an air fryer to prepare parts of their Christmas meal.

06 McValue Launches & McRib Returns

McDonald’s is launching its "McValue" platform in 2025 to attract budget-conscious diners in the United States. Debuting on January 7, it will feature a $5 Meal Deal, local and digital offers, and a "Buy One, Add One for $1" promotion on items like breakfast sandwiches and McNuggets. McDonald’s is also reviving the McRib sandwich and offering a half-gallon jug of McRib sauce for $19.99. In response to recent sales challenges, McDonald’s is investing $100 million in marketing, including a national ad campaign, to boost customer traffic and sales. The McRib has a cult following that tends to lure consumers whenever it is re-introduced.

07 Latest Menu Launches in the U.S.

December has brought many new, wild and wonderful launches to American menus. Bigfoot Fry Co.  has introduced a new range of “burritos” featuring French fries with an assortment of other fillings like chili and bacon wrapped up in a tortilla. Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken launched a MoPo Corn Dog made with Mozzarella cheese and potato cubes in fried breading, with choice of soy garlic sauce or cinnamon sugar. Dunkin’ has a new Hash Brown Brisket Scramble Bowl with hashbrowns, shredded brisket, scrambled eggs, smoked cheddar cheese, poblano peppers, and caramelized onions in a bowl topped with cheddar queso. Lastly, Velvet Taco has introduced a Meatball Smash Taco featuring smashed Italian beef-and-pork meatball, fried ricotta cheese fritters, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and Thai basil in a flour tortilla.

08 Kerry F&B Taste Trends for 2025

Kerry has published its 2025 Food and Beverage Taste Trends report with 6 trends set to transform the industry. "Imagination Infused" blends bold, playful flavour pairings like spicy and sweet, driven by AI and digital trends. "Roots Redefined" reimagines traditional cuisines for home cooking with modern creativity. "Little Luxuries" celebrates small indulgences like caramel and truffle, elevating everyday moments. "Fun with Functional" combines health benefits with exciting flavours, offering mood-boosting snacks and energy drinks. "Clean & Simple" focuses on natural ingredients with minimal processing. "Chain Reaction" encourages resourcefulness, upcycling ingredients, and reducing waste in product development and menus.

09 Pizzert: Pizza Meets Dessert

Pizza Inn has introduced the Stuffed Crust Pizzert, a dessert featuring a warm, gooey chocolate fudge-stuffed crust. Created by Chef Patty Scheibmeir, who revolutionized pizza in the 1990s with stuffed crust, this dessert redefines the category with a crust-first concept. Scheibmeir reflects on her past innovation and the opportunity to reinvent Pizzerts with a sweet twist. Pizza Inn plans to expand the Stuffed Crust Pizzert with additional flavors next spring. The dessert is part of the brand's continued efforts to innovate and offer unique experiences, adding to the legacy of their beloved pizza buffet.

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

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