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Global Update on Consumer,
Market & Menu Insights
Fast Five Issue 1|2026
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01 Trending on Social Media January
This month’s social feeds serve up comfort food with a bold twist. Think The Moist Maker: roast‑dinner leftovers transformed into the ultimate gravy‑soaked, nostalgic stack. Pizza Quesadillas bring gooey cheese, pepperoni and hot‑honey indulgence, while Loaded Sweet Potatoes pile in savoury beef and creamy toppings for wholesome comfort done right. Over on TikTok, Korean BBQ Chicken Wraps deliver sweet‑spicy ease for meal‑prep lovers, high‑protein Chicken Bacon Ranch Hot Pockets bring cheesy, smoky satisfaction, and the Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad breaks through with bold spice, crunchy rice and fresh zing in every bite. A month defined by mash‑ups, high‑protein comfort and big, irresistible flavour moments.
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02 Chipotle’s High-Protein Menu
Chipotle has launched its first-ever High Protein Menu, debuting in the U.S. and Canada on December 23 2025, featuring items with up to 81 g of protein. The curated menu includes bowls, salads, burritos, tacos and a new High Protein Cup with grilled Adobo Chicken or steak, designed for protein-focused customers. After a recent study shows 70% of Americans are prioritizing protein consumption, the lineup responds to this growing demand and makes reaching nutrition goals easier with clean ingredients and larger portions.
Why it matters:
This update plays into demand for texture driven indulgence and comfort food reinvention. Priced under ten dollars, the new pizzas deliver value and a fresh take on classic stuffed crust, making them appealing to budget conscious diners after a flavour rich, satisfying slice.
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03 Saucy by KFC Catering to Late Night Crowd
Saucy by KFC have launched a new menu item, The Kitchen Sink Grand'ito, featuring a burrito filled with chicken tenders, chips, queso and a fried egg. KFC's brand-new spin-off concept restaurant, which opened its first branch in Florida in December, serves the original recipe chicken tenders as well as two chicken sandwiches. The star of the show, and the clue is in the name, is the sauces. Saucy's menu features 12 sauces that aren't usually available at regular KFC restaurants, some of which include Peri Peri Ranch, Smokey Bacon Ranch, Jalapeño Pesto, Thai Sweet 'n' Spicy and Creole Honey.
Why it matters:
Saucy's new menu item showcases the outlet expanding its eating occasions and prompting consumers to consider them as an option at all times of day.
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04 LTOs Helping to Lure Consumers in
In the US, restaurants are accelerating limited‑time offers (LTOs), with launches up 19% year over year. Sandwiches and burgers dominate innovation, with top‑rated LTOs from Tim Hortons, TacoTime, Hardee’s, Perkins and BurgerFi all leveraging sensory, appetite‑triggering language like “melty” and “sizzling.” More adventurous items, such as Lazy Dog’s Tikka Masala Meatballs, drive traffic.
Why it matters:
Rising LTO activity signals how brands are competing harder for attention in a crowded marketplace. By leaning into sensory, indulgent language and balancing craveability with health‑skewing options, operators tap both sides of consumer appetite: comfort and better‑for‑you.
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05 McDonald’s UK First Official Secret Menu
McDonald's has launched its first ever official 'secret menu' in the UK. The secret menu, which has grown in popularity and prevalence on social media, contains a variety of unique items not on the standard McDonald's menu. The first version for the UK market contains fan favourite items like the Surf 'n' Turf Burger, Chicken Cheeseburger and Espresso Milkshake, and will be available from January 5th 2026, for a limited time.
Why it matters:
The secret menu contains items inspired by popular customer hacks and social media trends, and by formalising them as part of the McDonalds menu, even for a limited time, it celebrates fan creativity and personalisation, offering a mix of classic flavours in new combinations.
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Want to explore how these trends could play out on your menu?
We’re already working on bold, disruptive innovations that deliver flavour, efficiency and standout appeal.
Get in touch to talk trend-led solutions and see what’s coming next.
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