DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 25 | 2018

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. MCDONALD’S CANADA WORLD TASTE TOUR

McDonald’s Canada’s World Taste Tour is inspired by 5 different countries. First stop is China – click here to see the Chinese Szechuan Burger>> (includes Szechuan sauce, wontons, black and white seeded bun). Also the Mexican Bacon Queso More-ning McWrap>> featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, lettuce, tomato and queso sauce in a tortilla wrap. There is also the Italian Pesto Chicken Sandwich (chicken, pesto, parmesan, rocket, rosemary focaccia bun) and an Aussie BBQ & Egg Burger (cracked egg, beet chips, cheese, lettuce smoky BBQ sauce and brioche bun). To boost awareness of the promotion, McDonald’s is offering fans the chance to win a trip to China, Italy or Australia.

2. FAST FOOD FUN

Connecting with Millennials/Gen Z is vital as companies, particularly large global brands, maintain relevance to changing consumer dynamics. One way of engaging with today’s youth is to maintain a sense of humour – see McDonalds’ recent giveaway of a ‘Frylus selfie-photo accessory’ ahead of National Selfie Day on 21st June (ie take a ketchup-free photo while snapping your Quarter Pounder) – watch the clip here>> Also catching Millennials’ attention is KFC Canada; ‘Bucket Bjorn’ was a new way to carry a bargain bucket for Father’s Day. Complete with padded shoulders, hip straps and sauce pockets, KFC enables fathers to eat KFC wherever they like.

3. SCORE-CHING INNOVATION

Morrison’s has launched an extra spicy £5 Volcanic Curry Bag for UK soccer fans to enjoy during the World Cup. Claiming to be ‘the UK’s hottest supermarket curry meal’ – the meal deal brings together its Volcanic Vindaloo, Hot Chicken Tikka Masala, 2 Chilli Naans, 4 Spicy Onion Bhajis and Pilau Rice. Asda has been inspired by Dorito’s Roulette; it has launched Chicken Wing Roulette with some ’scorchin’ hot’ wings mixed in. They also have launched a Scor-cher pizza with one quarter layered with naga chilli sauce. Other ‘non-spicy’ innovation for the World Cup includes the Moscow Box from Sushi Shop, a collaboration with painter and tattoo artist Jean André.

4. SACLA’S PEASANT PESTO

Sauce brand Sacla’ is launching a new ‘Nduja Pesto in the UK – inspired by the spicy Italian salami from Calabria. Traditionally, this ‘peasants’ sausage is a versatile spreadable paste served with bread or on charcuterie boards.  It first hit UK menus in 2016 but mainstream popularity is starting to take hold. It’s increasingly found on pizzas for example in the last 12 months we’ve seen the launch of Goodfella's Romano Calabrese Salami & Spicy 'Nduja Sausage Pizza or Morrisons the Best Spicy Milano Salami & 'Nduja Pizza. We note its rise in pasta sauces eg M&S Spirit of Summer Spicy Chicken & Italian 'Nduja Gnocchetti Pasta or Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Spicy Calabrian 'Nduja Gran Tortelloni.

5. KOTIPIZZA NO PIZZA

Finnish fast casual pizza chain Kotipizza continues to enjoy strong growth (2017 sales €106mn vs €66mn in 2016). It has been busy redesigning Kotipizza's home delivery concept, as well as building new sub-brands - the SocialBurgerjoint brand; No Pizza and Tasty Market, a lunch restaurant concept. While the No Pizza sourdough concept is aimed at international markets, its first outlet opened in Helsinki this week. The restaurant differs from traditional pizzeria in several ways; the centre ‘Black Box’ is a black cube that acts as a kitchen and bar (a restaurant specialty is rosé wine on tap).

6. EUROPE’S BIGGEST FOODHALL 

La Felicità is a new food hall from the Big Mamma group located in Xavier Niel's tech incubator Station F, Paris, complete with lounge chairs, pizza ovens and a giant BBQ outside, plus a Trattoria, Panificio, Biergarten and Caffeteria inside. At almost 50,000ft2, this hipster dining space includes 1,000 seats, 5 kitchens and 3 bars. The celebration of Italian food also includes 1 pop-up burger stand. Diners are surrounded by train cars, gigantic balloons, plant-draped arbors and ‘insane’ bathrooms. Think New York’s Eataly meets Time Out Lisbon… However, with wood-fired pizzas starting at €5, it’s accessible to all. We can’t wait to go – take a look here>>

7. HORMEL SALAD TOPPINGS

Hormel Foods in the US has expanded its Black Label Real Bacon range by introducing four new bacon toppings in individually-portioned resealable bags aimed at the salad topping sector. The new toppings include different smokes, Cherrywood and Pecanwood bacon crumbles, chopped bacon, and bacon bits. The bacon crumbles are said to contain 40% less fat than fried bacon. Although intended to inspire a salads-to-go audience, the premium packaging shows off their versatility.

8. DAIKON TO DONUTS

According to US trends, the breakfast occasion is evolving rapidly – not just towards all-day breakfasts but global breakfast choices are appearing increasingly on menus (Note McDonald’s Queso More-Nings Wrap above). Recent trends in breakfast meals include: Asian Heritage Bao (Chinese filled bun or dumpling): Breakfast Banh Mi versions, Congee (rice porridge); Spicy Mexican Chilaquiles (fried tortillas with salsa or mole), Migas (leftover bread dish) and  Middle Eastern Shakshuka (spiced poached eggs). 

9. SRI LANKA

There’s a bit of a buzz around Sri Lankan cuisine at the moment. A couple of years ago, Hoppers arrived in London to great acclaim. Now the foodpeople believe Sri Lankan cuisine’s time has come – establishing itself with a unique identity (ie no longer generic South East Asian, or ‘like Indian’). Expect plenty of light curries, coconut, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Sambol is the traditional condiment, ranging from mild to sweet/sour to hot. Kotthu Roti is a popular street food dish – flatbread chopped up and mixed with meat, veg, egg or curry.