DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 21| 2020
GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS.
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1. STARBUCKS & THEIR THIRD PLACE
Starbucks is currently developing their ‘third place’, which caters more towards their on-the-go customers and off-premise sales. The brand plans to relocate more coffeehouses to drive-thru spaces, focusing on delivery options as it begins to adapt to a post-COVID-19 world. Its ‘third place’ already accounted for 80% of sales, but the pandemic has accelerated Starbucks’ ‘Bridge to the Future’ plan from 3-5-years to 12-18-months. The company acknowledges consumer behaviour has changed and is quickly acting upon meeting new expectations to meet their changing needs.
2. LEARNINGS FROM ASIA
Technomic identified four trends found in Asia, as countries ease restrictions which may provide a glimpse as to where consumer behaviour and menu trends are headed for the rest of the world. The first trend looks at immune boosters in products such as tea, using superfood ingredients to keep people healthy. Next up are comforting sweets, as consumers treat themselves and get creative with adding sweetness to various meals and snacks. Meal kits are another surging trend, which make it easy for consumers to recreate restaurant favourites at home. Lastly, savoury snacks have been popping up on menus to eat on-the-go, such as breaded chicken skins and garlic bread savoury waffles.
3. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
As lockdown is lifted around the globe, images and video footage across social platforms is emerging of lengthy queues and excited consumers enjoying their favourite burger or pizza slice. The fast food sector has enjoyed varying fortunes amid COVID-19, as most brands were moved to delivery and takeaway only. In an unprecedented shift in trends in this sector, top brands believe these changing consumer habits will stick. From an increase in app downloads to heavier engagement in social media, the demand for a customer-focused digital-first experience is more important now than ever. These four brands share their lockdown experience and what has made their digital transformation all the more urgent.
4. SWIPE RIGHT FOR CHIPOTLE
With reduced capacity and a heavier focus on delivery, restaurants have had to up their app game to enable customers to order their meals via smartphones. Chipotle released a range of new customisable features to its app, which recreate Chipotle’s ‘assembly-line’ experience. In-store purchases are typically quite specific to ingredient preferences and portions. Seeking to mirror this real-world customer experience, Chipotle lets customers digitally dictate what they want in each burrito or bowl, how much they would like and any other preferences. Protein portions can be single or double, with options for salsa and sour cream as normal, light or heavy.
5. ONLINE GROCERY BOOST
Online grocery sales in the UK reached £1.2 billion over a 4-week period ending May 16, according to Nielsen. As supermarket trips have been avoided, 7.9 million households have taken to the internet to buy their food. Basket sizes increased 45% with the average value of £21.60. Tesco saw sales rise by 11.7% followed by Sainsbury’s (11%), Morrisons (9.4%) and Asda (5.7%) during a 12-week period to May 16. UK shoppers have adapted their grocery shopping habits and are taking avail of delivery and collection services.
6. BE A KING OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
As lockdown eases around the world, restaurants are looking for fun ways to practice social distancing. Burger King in Germany reminded their customers to stay apart, by debuting six-foot diameter cardboard crowns to wear, while enjoying a Whopper. Meanwhile in Italy, Burger King has introduced a ‘Social Distancing Whopper’ that is triple loaded with onions to ensure others keep at a safe distance. Other playful initiatives being used in restaurants around the world include using cardboard cut outs and mannequins as fake guests, or placing teddy bears at restaurant tables where people cannot sit.
7. MORE CHICKEN SANDWICHES
KFC is testing a new premium chicken sandwich that is 20% larger than its current offering. The sandwich features a double breaded chicken filet on a brioche bun topped with extra-thick pickles and either classic or spicy mayonnaise. It is currently being tested in Florida through June 21st which was in development before the pandemic hit. Honest Burgers have recently launched their own chicken concept, called Honest Chicken, out of their King’s Cross location to offer the brand’s chicken favourites and new exclusive dishes.
8. MCDONALD’S REOPENING
McDonald's has announced it will reopen all 1,019 of its drive-thru restaurants in Ireland and the UK by June 4. Consumers have a maximum order amount of £25/€30 during this reopening phase. As one of the largest purchasers of Irish beef, with an annual spend of €163m, for export to the UK and Europe, its 95 restaurants in Ireland alone contribute almost €200m to the Irish economy. Customers can expect a more limited menu with reduced hours and are recommending customers to make contactless payments only.
9. TRUST IS KEY
According to a recent analysis by the NPD Group, 63% of UK consumers have confirmed they are happy to return to their favourite restaurant, bar or café within the first month of its reopening. Trust remains the most important factor in terms of their confidence, with 64% stating they would only feel comfortable visiting outlets they trust to offer a safe environment. 76% of British consumers said that hygiene will be crucial in terms of restaurant selection when compared to their pre-lockdown decision-making process.
At Dawn Farms we offer a full product solution for cooked, dried and fermented meat ingredients across pizza, sandwich and prepared meal sectors. We are proud to be the preferred supplier to the world's leading food brands and are considered to be the industry leaders in food safety, sustainability and insight-led product innovation. We put the customer at the heart of everything we do, which is why for your convenience all our products are fully cooked and ready-to-eat.
Visit our website to discover the ingredients that set us apart.
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