News and Trends

We explored how tradition and discovery shape festive dessert choices across five markets, combining quant, free text and behavioural insight to understand what people reach for and where they are open to something new.    What we found   UK: Christmas pudding 64%, mince pies 61%; 62% likely to try new.  Italy: Panettone 81%, Pandoro 71%; 88% likely to try new.  Germany: Lebkuchen 63%, Spekulatius 58%, Stollen 52%; 64% likely.  Australia: Pudding 62%, Pavlova 37%; 71% likely (summer favours chilled).  US: Christmas cookies 52%, fruitcake 17%; 58% likely.  Why it matters   Tradition anchors choice, but there is real space for seasonal innovation, especially in Italy and Australia. In the US, festive rituals like baking and decorating are the key entry point. In Germany and the UK, premium twists on familiar classics resonate most .   

Today we are diving into shopper confidence for the year ahead. Retail Week’s How They Will Spend It report, supported by Vypr insight, reveals how people are adjusting their spending and what they plan to protect.  Here are the shifts standing out:  79% of households say their monthly spend has increased over the past year Cost of living concerns remain high, especially among younger adults Essentials and small comforts are the most protected categories Clothing, eating out, gifting and premium goods are the first areas people plan to cut back Clear pricing, simple returns and flexible shopping options now matter more than ever Many shoppers are planning more often while buying less frequently Return fees continue to be a major deterrent for online purchases Younger consumers are the most open to using AI to plan their Christmas 2025 spend  These behaviours show shoppers looking for confidence, clarity and ...

  Lumina Intelligence’s Eating and Drinking Out Panel (EDOP)  offers a snapshot of how UK consumers continued to navigate eating out during a period of economic pressure and shifting priorities. As we analyse the 13 weeks to 29 June 2025, the data reveals a market defined by selective spending, health-conscious choices, and a preference for trusted brands. Together, these trends show how diners are adapting their habits rather than retreating altogether from out-of-home occasions. An Era of Selective Spending In Q2 2025, UK consumers continued to tread carefully with their spending amid a tougher economic climate. April recorded the sharpest GDP contraction since October 2023, just as tax rises from the Autumn Budget came into effect. Against this backdrop, eating-out penetration declined year on year by 0.8 ppts, while consumer confidence sank to its lowest level in 18 months. Consumer confidence improved slightly in May and June, but most diners still prioritised value for m...