News and Trends

Quick Service Restaurants are always there for us. Date nights, road trips, on-the-go-brekkie, celebrations, after work craving fixes… QSRs serve us something consistent when we need it. But they're also evolving in tandem with us, and offering up all manner of exciting new twists and innovations. Three top insights from our QSR Menuwatching report include... Vending 2.0:  Although being waited on can be nice, being hungry isn't always conducive to human interaction. Luckily, vending machines are upping their game – and serving up much(!) more than just crisps, choc and drinks. A world's first real ramen vending machine dispenses restaurant-grade ramen in cans, for instance – and we aren't talking instant noods! Rather, think rich broth filled with konjac noodles, bamboo shoots and chashu pork. Meanwhile, half-time becomes more efficient with hot pie & mash dispensers at the football–back of the net! Heat-seekers:  What used to be a gateway chilli to more intense so...

  By   Grace Duncan 26 February 2025 There was an increase in both value and volume sales, which are now equivalent to double what they were 10 years ago The  organic  market in the UK saw significant growth in 2024, outpacing non-organic with sales hitting £3.7bn. Value sales are now  double what they were just 10 years ago and were up 7.3% this year, according to the 26 th  Organic Market Report 2025 from Soil Association Certification. Sales increased across every key channel, with the major multiples, independent retailers,  non-food  and hospitality enjoying a particularly strong year, the report found. Sales of organic in major retailers were up 8% and contributed £2.4bn to the organic market overall. Unit sales grew four times more than non-organic food and drink at 4.7%. The accreditation said this was a powerful indicator of performance and robust demand, as in previous years economic challenges reduced volume in categories like orga...

Speciality bread is a growing market, with UK consumers developing a taste for the long-fermented likes of sourdough, focaccia, ciabatta, brioche, baguettes, and rye bread. Not only is more speciality bread being bought – volumes are up 9.4% from 78.6m loaves in 2021 to 86m in 2024 [Circana MAT data] – the frequency of consumption has also grown. “Our insights show that speciality bread will ride the wave of popularity as we move into 2025,” comments Andy Pearson, category & insights manager at bakery supplier Lantmännen Unibake. “Once a weekend or special treat, it is now a normalised purchase with many consumers buying it as part of their weekly shop.” So what trends are driving the growth of speciality breads? Which brands are tapping into them? And how are own-label lines performing? Source: Délifrance Healthier choices Consumers are increasingly aware of the difference diet makes to their health, and this extends to staples such as bread. Bakels group marketing manager Michael...

S ource: Aldi Updated bakery fixture at the Aldi supermarket store in Bristol Aldi is giving an aesthetic upgrade to its bakery fixtures as part of a £67m investment throughout 2025 to deliver an “even better shopping experience” at its UK stores. The discounter said that layout changes and refreshed signage of its existing bakery fixtures will help accommodate expanding categories, without going into more detail. Other improvements being made through Aldi’s £67m investment include to its health and beauty fixtures as well as its in-store CO2 refrigeration systems which, once completed, will provide carbon emissions reductions equivalent to heating over 6,500 homes. “Aldi’s £67m investment is a major step forward in our commitment to delivering an even better shopping experience for our customers across Britain,” commented Aldi UK managing director of national real estate Jonathan Neale. “Building on the success of our previous upgrades, we’re enhancing store layouts as part of our ded...

Sweet News: Lindt to Open UK's Largest Chocolate Pick & Mix Megastore Lindt is set to open a spectacular new megastore in London, featuring the UK's largest Lindor Truffle Pick & Mix experience. Located in the heart of Piccadilly Circus, this store promises to be an immersive haven for chocolate enthusiasts. For the first time in the UK, Lindt will introduce its Master Chocolatiers, with three highly skilled, classically trained chocolatiers crafting fresh chocolate right before visitors' eyes. Alongside the chocolatiers, the store will feature a Lindt Chocolate bar, offering a variety of barista-style drinks, including rich hot chocolate, coffee, milkshakes, and ice cream. Joel Burrows, CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli UK and Ireland, said: "We're thrilled to be bringing the exquisite taste of Lindt Chocolate to the heart of London. With 2025 marking Lindt & Sprüngli's 180th anniversary, what better way to celebrate this journey and enduring passion for...

We introduce our new model for the food-to-go store of the future, exploring emerging features and areas of opportunity for operators and retailers. Our vision for the food-to-go store of the future provides an operational and progressive framework across four key pillars to inspire the industry on its journey. We explore emerging features of stores and identify areas of opportunity for food-to-go operators and retailers to build into their plans for future sites to set them up for success. There are  twelve key themes  for the food-to-go store of the future which fit across all pillars of the framework: 1. Tech developments for back of house efficiencies 2. Optimised delivery service and operation 3. Inclusive store design 4. Serving more missions and occasions 5. Evolving payment processes 6. Minimising food waste 7. Support of electric vehicles 8. Evolution of vending 9. Greater emphasis on loyalty and rewards 10. Health of the nation 11. Compelling prices and pro...