DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 32| 2019

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. STREET FOOD @ SUBWAY FRANCE

Subway France’s new campaign highlights some of its 12 new proteins in #anewwaytosub – click here to watch >> One of the many new ingredients inspiring consumers to unleash their creativity is Mexican street food-inspired pulled Beef Barbacoa featuring Black Beans to appeal to meatlovers while there are also 2 vegan options. Street food in France is a multitude of flavours served up with distinctive French flair from Mexican tacos, American pastrami, Lebanese flatbreads, Taiwanese bao burgers, to Venezuelan patacon. We’ve seen street food have a significant influence on French QSR chains, cafés, restaurants and increasingly indoor food halls such as La Commune (Lyon), La Felicita (Paris).

2. DOMINO’S VIA ELECTRIC BIKE 

The jury is in - pizza delivery by e-bike is faster, cleaner, and makes everyone happier. When US consumers order their favourite Domino’s pizza in the coming months, it may well arrive by e-bike. Domino’s USA recently announced a partnership with Rad Power Bikes, a Seattle-based electric cycle start-up, providing franchise owners with e-bikes to replace their vehicle deliveries. E-bikes could help speed up delivery times and increase the number of deliveries happening at the same time. Pilot tests by e-bike in Houston, Miami, and New York City earlier this year saw improvements in overall delivery time and service, skirting around congested traffic lanes and parking restrictions. 

3.  BK RETURNS TO ROMANIA

In recent years, the only Burger King in Romania has been in Bucharest airport, meaning fans could only get a Whopper if they were leaving the country - check out Burger King’s Whopper No Show campaign here >> However, next month, AmRest is scheduled to reopen its Burger King doors for the first time in 7 years. Competitor McDonald’s continues its Romanian expansion in partnership with Premier Capital, it now has around 80-85 outlets nationwide, similarly Subway has 39 stores and growing. Let’s not forget Burger King relaunched in France in 2012 after a 15-year-absence – it now has 500+ outlets there having acquired the Quick restaurant chain. 

4. HEALTHY BRANDS MORE IN DEMAND

Leading a healthy lifestyle has undoubtedly moved up the consumer agenda in recent years, fuelled by social media lifestyle gurus and a wealth of new and ‘better-tasting’ products entering the marketplace. A KPMG survey reported that almost two-thirds (62%) of UK consumers say they care more about how ‘healthy’ their food and drinks are compared to five years ago, with a product’s branding the main way they determine how healthy products are. Generation Z in particular appears to be more engaged in taking responsibility for their own health. One company keen on reinforcing its health credentials with young consumers is Innocent Drinks – check out its Blue campaign on Twitter >>   

5. CHOPPALUNA ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT 

A German healthy-eating chain is opening its first UK restaurant as it eyes a major expansion with potentially 300 openings over the next 10 years (12 outlets confirmed so far, starting in London Bloomsbury). Choppaluna is a rebrand of popular German brand Salaid which has gone from strength to strength in Germany and now looks to cash in on increasingly health-conscious British consumers.  Healthy eating chains are still burgeoning in the UK, with salad eateries Tossed (26 outlets) and Chop'd (16 outlets) growing across the country, but still largely London-focused.  The chain has joined forces with Hero Brands who has successfully rolled out the German Doner Kebab (GDK) chain across the UK. 

6. PAPA JOHN’S USA TURNAROUND

Papa John’s newly appointed CEO Rob Lynch is already having a positive impact on the pizza chain’s share price (up almost 7% this week). His challenge, tapping into his experience at Arby’s and Taco Bell, is to reinvigorate the business after a challenging few years. Since February this year, the chain has received investment of €180mn by shareholder Starboard Value and has recently embarked on a €36mn marketing push, with retired basketball star Shaquille O'Neal as its new brand ambassador, investor and board member – look out for the new marketing campaign next month, promoting O’Neal as the new face of Papa John’s.  

7. KFC GOES BEYOND FRIED CHICKEN

KFC is the latest QSR brand to partner with plant-based brand Beyond Meat, targeting flexitarians with its US ‘Beyond Fried Chicken’ nuggets trial. The chain’s bid to appeal to flexitarians comes with the tagline “a Kentucky fried miracle”, served in a green container instead of its trademark red. Meanwhile, Greggs in the UK plans to build on the success of its vegan sausage roll with teasers of a vegan steak bake. Online delivery platform Deliveroo has reported that its UK vegan orders have quadrupled since 2017, making it one of the fastest-growing categories fuelled by consumers looking for more adventurous dishes. Topsellers last month included Wagamama’s ‘vegatsu curry’ and the ‘smoky chorizo and cheeseburger’ from Arancini Brothers.

8. USA FALL LAUNCHES

As summer winds down, US QSR chains McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts and Bruegger’s Bagels are debuting their Fall menu items. News of McDonald’s new spicy BBQ chicken sandwich along with spicy BBQ glazed tenders comes amidst so-called ‘spicy chicken wars’ (see competitors Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A) and will launch in mid-November. Dunkin Donuts is introducing 2 new warming burrito bowls; the Chorizo Bowl and Fire Roasted Veggie Bowl. Bruegger’s Bagels offers seasonal pumpkin spice drinks, as well as launching the new Hot Pastrami & Hot Tuna for lunch. 

9. SCOOP TO ORDER AT KFC

“Scoop to Order” is something few fast-food brands at this scale are attempting in today’s grab ‘n go marketplace. Chipotle is one exception. Instead of taking pre-packed sides off a warming station, KFC employees are scooping to individual order. Not only is the process said to improve the guest experience (faster, hotter, fresher), it has also opened the door to product innovation, for example the launch of its new Mac & Cheese Bowls.  Also instead of a box, KFC now serves up meals in open paper containers on a wooden-style tray.   

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