DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 32| 2018

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. CHICKEN NUGGETS LEON-STYLE

Healthy fast food chain Leon has introduced gluten-free chicken (GFC) nuggets across all its stores, accompanied by garlic aioli, chilli and Korean mayo sauces. The GFC recipe using chicken thigh meat and seasoned rice, maize and gram flour has been in development for over 4 years. Its “Find the Golden Nugget” competition offers 50 winners a week’s supply of GFC nuggets.  Some 15% of UK households avoid gluten/wheat (Mintel), over 50% believe it is part of a healthy diet. Soon to open in Washington DC, Leon now has 50+ restaurants. It recently closed its Thai-inspired Tuk Shop concept, with plans to ‘pop-up’ in another location in due course.

2. DUMPLING DOMINATION

Dumplings are taking over global menus as they demonstrate their ‘mash-up’ versatility as well speaking the universal language of comfort food – even before the recent Pixar animation put dumplings in the spotlight> Fluffy steamed Chinese Baos have grown by 4% on menus globally since 2014 (Dataessential). Examples include Flying Squirrel (Tennessee) crispy pork bao buns with Napa cabbage, pickled slaw and sesame aïoli. Chicago’s WOW Bao’s breakfast Bao with spicy Szechuan sausage, chilli paste and egg. LA’s Stuff’d Dumpling Shop Russian-style Hot Chick features chicken and vegetables in Thai coconut curry. Orsa & Winston’s Margherita pot stickers offer gyoza wrappers inspired by pizza filled with burrata and San Marzano tomatoes. 

3. SUBWAY'S TASTY PARTNERSHIP

Subway USA has recently embarked on a new partnership with Tastemade, an initiative to develop locally-relevant menu inspiration. Initially this will focus on North and Latin America, however is expected to track Millennial/Gen Z consumer food preferences worldwide in the future. Meanwhile Subway is opening 8 new stores in Northern Ireland in the next 6 months, adding to its existing 105 there. This marks Subway’s 20th year in NI and lately one of its new FreshForward concept stores opened within a Spar in Ballycastle. Northern Ireland is currently growing slightly slower than the Republic of Ireland QSR market but overall growth is forecast at 5% CAGR up to 2020 (Technomic, 2020).

4. ROCKET'S OUTWARD EXPANSION

From global players expanding in Ireland to Irish players expanding their own horizons. Irish American-inspired diner chain, Rocket’s is expanding into Germany, with 20 locations identified in major transport hubs/shopping areas within the next 3 years, firstly in Center Parcs in Baden-Wűrttemberg. Rocket Restaurants Ltd has signed a franchise agreement with Areas (Elior Group) to grow its current 50 stores serving 5mn+ customers to 80 by 2020 in Europe. On the menu will be its signature American-style diner food - burgers, salads, fries and shakes. Recently the chain introduced a Mexican Torta sandwich to attract a lunchtime trade, as well as a hamburger blended with truffled mushrooms – see menu here>

5. BURGER KING MOMENTUM IN THE MED

Greece and Portugal are 2 similar economies; in terms of population size, GDP per capita and number of foodservice outlets. Burger King and Portuguese company Ibersol have agreed to open 40 new Burger King restaurants in Portugal over the next 3 years and to refurbish a further 30 restaurants. The Ibersol group showed a 70% uplift in profit (€3.5 million) in Q1 2018 vs 2017. Recently, Select Service Partners (SSP) and Fraport Greece opened Greece’s first Burger King restaurant at Rhodes Airport, with others planned. SSP operates 98 Burger King outlets globally and this partnership with Fraport has also led to Starbucks and Upper Crust openings in Greece.

6. VIRTUAL CRAVINGS

A new 17,000 square foot Asian-inspired food hall, Cravings Food Village, is heading to Chino Spectrum Marketplace in California. London and Paris are competing for Europe’s largest indoor food experiences – check out London’s Japanese Ichiba and the Parisian La Felicita. This week the Sous Vide Kitchen in New York caught our eye – ‘the first Virtual Food Hall’ where people can browse and pay for different options via the same digital kiosk. Almost everything is sous vide cooked - brisket sandwiches, Latin cuisine, banh mi sandwiches, salads- and diners can sit inside the 50-seater space. Click here to read more about the virtual Sous Vide Kitchen >

7. RESERVATION FOR MCDONALD

One thing McDonald’s cannot be accused of is letting its image grow stale. In Chicago it has relaunched a more eco-friendly redesign of its flagship store. Recently we also covered its ‘fancier’ Next Store in Hong Kong. The fast food service boundaries continue to be pushed in its latest luxury concept to mark the national roll-out of its Signature Collection burgers in the UK. The High Street Kensington McDonald’s will trial a reservation service starting 15 August where by reservation only, customers will be served under a silver cloche by a white-gloved butler. Expect diamond-encrusted cutlery, velvet curtains, a string quartet, and diner’s choice of either the Classic, Barbecue or Spicy Signature Collection Burgers. McDonald’s table service is now featured in 93% of McDonald’s restaurants.

8. KFC'S NPD IN EASTERN EUROPE

August is heating up at KFC across Eastern Europe with the rollout of two new summer LTOs from KFC. Traditional Japanese flavour meets American Fried Chicken for Romanian consumers. KFC Romania has recently launched a new Teriyaki line including an assortment of Teriyaki rice bowls, Twister Warps, salads, and meal deals. Meanwhile KFC Kazakhstan introduced a herby chicken sausage Hot Dog to its menu, topped with sweet mustard, ketchup, pickles, and jalapenos.

9. PIZZA HUT AFRICAN CHIC

Pizza Hut is opening a unique new store format in George, South Africa. Made from 4 shipping containers, it provides a full-service fast casual offer - dine in, delivery, take away and the latest pick-up drive thru window, where customers can collect their order from the comfort of their car. Click here to see inside the Pizza Hut container> First opening in 2014, Pizza Hut's opened its 100th store in sub-Saharan Africa in Johannesburg this year.