DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 23| 2020

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. WORLDWIDE FOOD DELIVERY MERGER

Grubhub, an American online food ordering and delivery company, is merging with Just Eat Takeaway.com, European food delivery company, in a $7.3 billion takeover deal pending shareholder approval. The merger will create the world's biggest food delivery company outside of China with over 70 million active customers who place almost 600 million orders per year. Just Eat Takeaway.com is the result of a previous merger between UK-based Just Eat and Netherlands-based Takeaway.com, approved by regulators in April. Grubhub will be their first venture into the U.S. marketplace, with the announcement coming shortly after Grubhub’s discussions with Uber fell through following failed talks regarding their regulatory process.  

2. LOOKING AT SUNDAY TRADE

The UK government is currently preparing legislation to allow the suspension of Sunday trading laws, enabling big supermarkets to stay open for more than six hours on Sunday. The suspension proposal is set to remain for one year, in line with new strategies to help boost the economy. Cafes and pubs will also be given the green light to serve food and drinks al fresco as part of a much larger bailout to aid the hospitality and retail industries post-lockdown, by boosting footfall and driving sales. The plan includes the reconfiguration of pubs to allow customers to be served drinks outside. 

3. PREMIUM SAUSAGE ROLLS

Ginsters has upgraded the classical sausage roll from a quick snack to lunchtime’s main meal. The new deep-filled premium pork rolls come in two flavours: Pork, Bacon & Cheddar Roll and Triple Pork Roll. The premium, seasoned pork comes in a buttery puff pastry and sprinkled with seeds. Consumers will be able to purchase starting June 22 retailing at £1.75/120g. The company hopes to blend an on-the-go option with a high-end deli quality with this new launch.  

4. NANDO'S x MINDFUL CHEF

Nando’s has teamed with UK recipe box brand, Mindful Chef, to create a limited-edition DIY recipe box. Fans will be able to recreate two of Nandos’s most popular recipes at home: PERi-PERi butterfly chicken, chips & fino slaw or their ¼ chicken legs, macho peas and sweet mash. Each box includes pre-portioned ingredients, step-by-step recipes and a bottle of Nando’s Medium PERi-PERi sauce, delivered straight to your door. Nando’s partnership with Mindful Chef follows the huge demand for Nando’s recipes, following the brand’s Instagram Live cook-along series, ‘Bring the Heat Home’.

5. YUM SALES SOAR  

KFC and Pizza Hut, part of the YUM! portfolio, saw a double-digit increase in sales last month as consumers stayed at home. KFC in the States recorded their highest average weekly sales at the beginning of May, whilst Pizza Hut had its best week for delivery and take away in 8 years. Taco Bell aren’t far behind, with a positive uplift since March. The brand announced that, as of 9th June, around 45,000 of their locations around the world are servicing customers. Fast food sales for most brands have seen a lift as few other foodservice options are available to provide a break from cooking at home.  

6. COLLABORATION & INNOVATION

Wendy’s signature Baconator burger is the latest inspiration behind Pringles new flavour. The collaboration between both brands will be available for a limited time at retailers across the U.S. and captures the burger’s unique taste of beef, American cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, ketchup and mayonnaise. Another new launch, Little Caesar’s Pizza has added Cheese-Stuffed Crazy Bread to their menus. Each bag comes with three sticks stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese, dusted with garlic and grated parmesan cheese and served with the chain's signature marinara-like dip called Crazy Sauce. 

7. TECH TOOLKIT

Positive signals show that restaurants are reopening and while some guests may be a little uncomfortable returning to the next normal, more than 40% of British consumers reported that returning to their favourite dining spot was top of their post-lockdown agenda; beating bars, sports events and the cinema. Having the right tech toolkit ensures a safer dining experience ensuring consumers that the establishment is safeguarding their health. From electronic menu tablets or contactless mobile ordering to self-ordering kiosks, digital built-in credit card processors to virtual gift cards. Improving mobile apps can also increase customer engagement, maximising ROI and securing repeat visits.  

8. MORE CLICKING & COLLECTING

As restrictions start to ease and the foodservice industry starts to reopen, brands such as Wagamama and Pizza Express have launched a click-and-collect service to adapt to changing customer needs. Wagamama has launched a section on their website that allows guests to pre-order and select a collection time to avoid a queue at their restaurants, of which 85 are currently operating. Pizza Express is operating similarly in 13 of their London restaurants that were originally opened for delivery only. Both are providing limited menus and have instilled additional safety measures. 

9. ARE GHOST KITCHENS HERE TO STAY?

Ghost kitchens, sometimes called dark kitchens or virtual kitchens, are here for the long-term. This model trims real estate and labor costs and allows for menu innovation by condensing the restaurant model to accommodate off-premise food sales. Pre-prepared or frozen ingredients add efficiencies in the kitchen and provide customers with the freshest products possible. According to Technomic, sales from ghost kitchens from about 300 restaurants in the U.S. are projected to rise by 25% each year for the next 5 years, an estimated $300 million in yearly sales.

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