DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 34| 2018

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. CHEFS INSPIRED BY STREET FOOD

Chefs around the world are revolutionizing the way we eat. People are busier now and want food on-the-go. The connotation around “fast-food” has been completely altered. It comes with a new meaning now of authentic, fresh, and quick thus the revolution being called “fast and good”. Consumers want food fast but are more conscious of what they are eating than ever before. Chefs have broken through the glass ceiling and are free to be creative. They make food they would want to eat themselves with friends instead of playing by the traditional rules. Click here for a great video showcasing these changing outlooks on what defines a chef>>.

2. CARIBBEAN- INSPIRED SNACK POTS

While Jamie Oliver’s Jerk Rice faces the wrath of food-purists in the media, food entrepreneur Levi Roots captures the flavours of the Caribbean with a new range of on-the-go snack pots. The Levi Roots range now consists of 20 different products ranging from sauces, snacks and soft drinks. According to Mintel 2018, Caribbean is now the 5th most popular cuisine eaten at home in the UK (28% compared to 78% Chinese, 51% Mexican for example).

3. TACO BELL FRIES GET HOTTER

When Taco Bell US launched Nacho Fries for a limited time in January, it quickly became a bestseller. They’re hoping for similar success with two spicy versions of fries on trial in Ohio. Rattlesnake Fries (burrito also available) use the same Mexican seasoning as Nacho Fries, topped with nacho cheese, steak, creamy jalapeño sauce and pickled jalapeño slices. The Reaper Ranch Fries are even spicier, the world's hottest pepper (the Caroline Reaper) is one of the main ingredients. To combat the heat, fries get a dollop of sour cream or for a ‘supreme version’ add seasoned beef, diced tomatoes, and nacho cheese.

4. MCDONALD’S TAKES ON KFC

Expanding its current chicken line-up, we wonder if McDonald’s is trying to encroach on KFC territory. McDonald’s has launched new Sweet N’ Spicy Honey BBQ Glazed Tenders for a limited time. Buttermilk Crispy Tenders are glazed in new sweet n’ spicy honey BBQ sauce containing brown sugar, chili pepper, garlic powder and paprika. The Tenders are available in 4-piece, 6-piece, and 10-piece servings, a 4-piece costs $4.49. This follows other recent chicken launches by McDonalds USA (Classic Chicken Sandwich in January and Buttermilk Crispy Tenders September 2017).

5. KFC’S DOUBLE CRISPY COLONEL

‘Double’ has been a key success factor for KFC in its recent menu innovation (note Double Down). KFC has announced its latest supersized launch – the Double Crispy Colonel – which has two extra crispy hand-battered fillets with mayonnaise and pickles. To celebrate this product, KFC has partnered with the “World’s Strongest Man”, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson from Iceland, to set the world record for pulling the most chicken sandwiches at one time in an arm-over-arm pull. Watch KFC’s video here>> which achieved over 1.5M views in just a few days.

6. ‘GETTING’ CENTENNTIALS

Highlighting 3 key areas when targeting the up-and-coming generation of consumers, Kantar shares its research on the big wave of centennial (Gen Z) consumers entering and disrupting the marketplace – click here to view>> It classifies Centennials as anyone born in 1997 or after. There are over 2.5bn or 1 in 3 consumers globally with proportions varying by region – for example some 50% of Africa’s population are under 20 years old. Due to the realization of income inequalities and polarized opinions, this young generation is very vigilant with the economy and environment, resourceful with their skills, and open to diversity. Centennials want convenience and privacy in the marketplace and businesses need to understand their thinking in order to capture this influential group.

7. HOT DIGGITY DOG MEAL KITS

Netherlands-based Struik Foods Europe has launched what it describes as the UK’s first Hot Dog Meal Kit to tap into the ‘fast food at home’ trend. Bunlimited offers a premium range of 88% pork meat hotdogs, vibrant toppings and sauces. Featured creatively-named recipes include; All Day Dog with fried egg, Indian Summer Street Food Style, Nacho Libre, Cheesney Hawkes, The Sliced President, and The Hot Diggity Dog. Bunlimited meal kits are available in over 500 Tesco locations retailing at £3.50.

8. SUMMER BOOST FOR BURGERS

Burger sales show no signs of slowing, up 30% with 1.2m more British shoppers picking up a burger during the 12 weeks to 15 July 2018. Beef continues to be most popular (+21%), followed closely by chicken burgers. “Mixed Burgers” have seen extraordinary growth at (+102%). Burger sales have been climbing steadily for the past five years, with the market growing 9.1% to £113m (vs £104m in the same 12 weeks 5 years ago.)

9. QSR TO DELIVER WITH FOODPANDA

QSR Brands, who operates KFC and Pizza Hut, has partnered with Foodpanda, Malaysia’s leading on-demand delivery service provider, to expand the number of existing delivery services to about 480 by the end of 2018. Currently, KFC and Pizza Hut have 320 outlets, ordering delivery through their own channels, but working with Foodpanda will allow QSR to serve customers outside of the delivery zones. QSR also will also see Foodpanda’s halal food delivery certified from beginning to end. As another facet in Foodpanda Malaysia’s expansion plan, the company is to open its first dine-in kitchen in Kuala Lumpur by 2019.