DAWN FARMS TOP 9 | ISSUE 29 | 2018

GLOBAL UPDATE ON CONSUMER, MARKET AND MENU INSIGHTS. 

1. SUBWAY’S SUB-CONSCIOUS

Seeing Subs? Subway is rolling out a number of experiential campaigns aimed at reinvigorating the brand with its young audience. Subway US recently launched a 3-day teaser campaign to cut through the media-saturated market. Here Subway’s bite-size ads inserted across platforms ranging from social and television to live events like the World Cup targeted consumers’ subliminal hunger pangs. Click here to watch Subway’s You’re Not Crazy – You’re Just Hungry Ad>   Subway France’s Street Chef Food Truck has featured at various festivals across France such as Rock En Seine – click here to watch> Meanwhile a new initiative, FreshNOW, has been announced in San Diego, focusing on the in-store experience with Signature Flavour Stations.

2. KFC GERMANY CELEBRATES 50

This week, KFC Germany celebrates a 50-year milestone. To commemorate, it is selling a ‘Birthday Bucket’ for €9.99 including four fillet bites, six hot wings and a bucket of French fries. KFC Germany first opened in Frankfurt in 1968 and in 2008, the world’s largest KFC opened in Munich. Five years later and KFC opened its100th store in the cosmopolitan city of Schweitenkirchen. Click here to watch KFC Germany’s 50th Birthday Video Celebration> Earlier this year KFC announced its plans to triple store numbers in the next 5-7years, bringing the total number from 163 to 500. Sales grew 10% to €244mn in 2017.

3. AH 24/7 MEAL WALL

During July, the Dutch retailer, Albert Heijn is testing its first ‘meal wall’ in the Netherlands. With many Dutch retailers revamping their customer experience to cater for the 24 hour ‘express’ shopper, there is a need for a new approach to in-store merchandising. The ‘meal wall’ is a chilled food vending machine that offers a variety of fresh, nutritious salads, ready meals and meal kits from its ‘allerhande’ meal kit range.

4. KRAVE-ABLE SNACK POTS

The Meat Snacks Group has revealed Krave, a new artisan range of meat snacks for eating on the go. Szechuan Pepper Ginger Salt Beef Jerky and Warm Chimichurri Beef Biltong made from beef silverside are the first two products to be launched under the high protein, ‘healthier’ option snacks umbrella, expected to penetrate the UK meat snacks market at 5%. Both snacks contain less than 100 calories per 28g pot and are targeted to appeal female and millennial shoppers.

5. WH SMITH & SAINSBURY’S FTG

Expanding further into travel hub territory, Sainsbury’s has launched a small-scale pilot initiative to supply its own-brand food-to-go ranges in WH Smith stores. The range of sandwiches, snacks and light meals will launch into nine WH Smith outlets in airports, railway stations and hospitals. If successful, Sainsbury’s food-to-go options will be rolled out further. WH Smith will also be looking at new ways to offset its high street struggles where it has 610 outlets, whereas the travel division is in robust health (839 travel stores including overseas). New IGD forecasts reveal that the UK convenience channel overall is set to grow by £7.1bn in the next five years to reach £47.2bn.

6. ROMAN SQUARE PIZZA

PizzaSqr is a new pizza concept serving artisanal square pizzas by Cosmo Group World Buffet Chain (19 outlets). It has ambitions to open over 100 stores in the next 5 years. Seasonal toppings, expert craftsmanship and authentic recipes from Rome are on the menu. The first store opens in intu Merry Hill shopping centre near Birmingham this summer, also offering fresh sandwiches, soups, pastries, and Italian coffee.

7. GEN Z- RETHINKING YOUTH MARKETING

Generation Z is causing global food companies to rethink their Millennial marketing tactics, according to Mintel. Gen Z is the most diverse generation - young, adventurous consumers craving a wider variety of international food offerings. By becoming more creative in the kitchen, Gen Z consumers are most likely to find culinary inspiration from social media compared to any other generation; 62% of Generation Z, 46% of Millennials, and 23% of Generation X say they cook international cuisines at home from social media. These adventurous habits are creating opportunities for brands to offer innovative fusion creations presenting potential for products such as tikka masala meal kits or Chinese Peking duck-flavoured potato chips.

8. CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Too soon to talk festive? Certainly not in retail circles. The Grocer has published some previews from a number of retailers’ Christmas ranges – click here to view> Tesco’s range is inspired by foodie trends, ranging from low-alcohol booze to free-from cake kits. Note its Three Kings Sandwich, featuring a roll selection stuffed with British butter-based turkey and sweetcure bacon, prawns in a boozy cocktail sauce, and a sweet chocolate roll in port and cherry sauce.  From Waitrose note pulled jackfruit tacos in party food and juniper-smoked gammon while Aldi features Three Little Pigs in Blankets (the perfect portion) as well as foot-long version for sharing.

9. MCDONALD’S OZ SPICES UP MENU

McDonald’s Australia has recently revamped two of its most popular menu items for a limited time. The brand introduced Spicy Chicken McNuggets, coated with a crisp and spicy tempura batter and Spicy Shaker Fries to provide a spicy chilli twist on these classic menu items.  These fiery new options will be accompanied by new dipping sauces including a spicy buffalo sauce for extra heat and a cooling aioli sauce to cool down during the summer months. Watch McDonald’s spicy ‘dating app' ad here>