News and Trends

Life’s picked up speed, and work happens wherever there’s a Wi-Fi signal. For many, that’s changed the way we eat and drink. What was once called ‘convenience’ has become something more — flexibility. It’s more than grabbing something on the go; it’s about finding food and drink that can bend, twist, and fold itself into the unpredictability of modern life. Simple demands Across the globe, there’s a clear trend: people want their meals simpler, and more flexible. We’re talking about the ability to fit food and drink into a life that doesn’t follow a set schedule. Over three years, we analysed 3 million food and drink occasions across nine countries, breaking them down into 14 “moments of truth”. The ability to adapt to these evolving moments of consumption presents a significant opportunity for brands to differentiate themselves by being meaningfully different. The United Kingdom provides a good example of the wider trend towards flexibility. For Brit, there’s been a noticeable shift t...

  Take-home sales at the grocers increased by 2.3% over the four weeks to 3 November 2024 to reach £11.6 billion, making this the biggest sales month of the year so far according to our latest data.   The take-home sales rise coincided with a jump in the number of shopping trips made by households, hitting a four-year high at 480 million.  October 2024 was the busiest month for the supermarkets since March 2020, when people were preparing for the first national lockdown.  Trip numbers have been going up gradually for some time, but this steady march hasn’t reached pre-covid levels of shopping frequency just yet.  The average for each household is slightly over four trips per week. Early festive preparations drive sales boost   Halloween played a part in galvanising sales and there are signs that some consumers are looking further ahead in the calendar, starting their Christmas shopping early.  Many of us got into the spooky spirit last month...

  The Troissant is made from three mini-croissants assembled and topped with chocolate or caramel toppings. Since 1977, the Delineo group brand has been transforming its own emblem, the croissant, into a pastry that is more delicious than ever. It is not one but three mini-croissants that make up the brand new Troissant imagined by La Croissanterie. The puff pastry has been delicately twisted to give it a rounded shape, thus offering the consumer a new way of consuming the croissant, accompanied by gourmet toppings. For its first edition, the troissant is available in brownie flavor, with a caramel sauce or in caramel chouchou with chouchous and caramel as a bonus. Other variations are to come, La Croissanterie being determined to be the spearhead of creativity around Viennese pastries. "We are very proud of this innovation that reflects us. Le Troissant is part of the French baking tradition, closely linked to our origins and the sale of hot croissants in the 70s, and is also res...

The European food sector is undergoing a major transformation, with the boundaries between catering and retail blurring in the face of new consumer expectations for convenience. Supermarkets and restaurants are adapting their offerings to meet a growing demand for fast, high-quality ready-to-eat meals and solutions, redefining the market balance. The European food sector is undergoing a profound transformation, explains a report by Circana, which estimates that food and beverage purchases in restaurants and retail have amounted to €888 billion over the past year, with restaurant visits on the old continent increasing from 35.2 to 51.5 visits in four years. The analysis based on the CREST panel highlights a trend towards the erosion of the boundaries between RHD and mass distribution. It is in France that the market share of GMS for food purchases of solutions for immediate and personal consumption during the day is the highest (6.8% of the RHD market), which represents a growth of 17.5...

Source: Subway Subway has introduced the next iteration of its restaurant image designed to further enhance the guest experience, improve convenience, and help drive franchisee profitability. Set for a global rollout in 2025, the ‘Fresh Forward 2.0’ design is to build on the foundation of the sandwich chain’s initial Fresh Forward remodelling that launched in 2017. This is said to have helped reset brand perceptions, grow sales, and reenergize franchisees and their teams. The latest redesign aims to add brand personality through vibrant décor elements including bold wall graphics, localised messages and signage, elevated lighting, and warmer wood tones. Source: Subway Acceleration of Subway’s digital transformation journey is also being supported by the fitouts, including installation of self-serve kiosks ( introduced earlier this year ) as well order ready screens and kitchen display systems, which it said were currently being tested around the world. Costa Coffee has also initiated m...

  Caffè Nero, Costa, Pret and Starbucks have released their seasonal menus, with new sweet and savoury items rolled out for the run up to Christmas 2024. An abundance of pigs in blankets have been nestled in toasties and sandwiches, while the classic combo of turkey and stuffing also make several appearances as shoppers look to get that festive feeling for several weeks before the main event. Lashings of caramel, gingerbread, and chocolate are among the popular options for sweet treats. What’s more, bakery items have been used as the inspiration for many of the festive hot drinks this year with the likes of tiramisu lattes and chocolate fudge brownie hot chocolates gracing menus. Take a peek at what the coffee companies have in store here:   Caffè Nero Source: Caffè Nero,  Italian Porchetta Focaccia Premium coffee house brand Caffè Nero has taken inspiration from trending Italian flavours for its yuletide line-up, with tiramisu, pistachio, and focaccia among the items to ...

  The pastry awards celebrates the diversity of talents, the creativity and audacity, education, and the commitment to values such as seasonality and biodiversity. World's Most Creative Pastry Chef Award BASTIEN BLANC-TAILLEUR Paris, France France Bastien Blanc-Tailleur, a luxury cake designer in Paris, crafts opulent confections for high-profile clients, including European royalty and American socialites. Renowned for his exquisite wedding and special-occasion cakes, his creations have been called “edible haute couture”. Passionate about pastry since childhood, Blanc-Tailleur launched his business in 2015, attracting clients like Dior, European aristocrats, and Saudi royals. Blanc-Tailleur's dedication shows in his meticulous detail and ability to realize clients' dreams. His signature style includes intricate sugar work, such as lifelike flowers and elaborate decorations. His cakes are not only visually stunning but also delicious, aiming for gastronomic pleasure. His com...