Global Update on Consumer,
Market & Menu Insights

Top Nine Issue 3  |  2023 

01 Consumer Insights Webinar Recap

In our latest Consumer Insights Webinar, Grace Binchy & Joseph Roche outlined a top-down overview of foodservice market trends. Grace Binchy, Trends & Insight Specialist at Bord Bia, first discusses a major research project into the global macro trends driving culinary change and how these may trickle down into mainstream dining. Joseph Roche, Consumer Insights at Dawn Farms, then presented a preview of our Trend Catcher Report outlining key QSR & retail trends such as novelty, nostalgia, authenticity, fusion and health. 

02 Festive Ideas for 2023

Food takes centre stage at Christmas time in Britain, as people reconnect with family and friends. We have conducted a review of the festive ranges launched over Christmas across the UK. Our analysis identified key macro trends; from Christmas classics to new twists on festive favourites. After extensive research from market insights and our ingredient supplier network, we predict the top flavour trends for Christmas 2023. We hope this report is a useful benchmark to inspire new product development for the coming year. 

03 McDonald's Growth Update

Coming off the back of several successful promotions within the U.S., McDonald’s sales have thrived since the pandemic, with the Adult Happy Meal and the McRib Farewell Tour garnering success. This growth has been further increased through consumers trading down to cheaper fast-food providers in these inflationary times. Globally, both sales and guest counts have increased, with sales increasing by 10.3% in the fourth quarter in the United States. This is following on from a year in which the company has increased its store count for the first time since 2014, despite the closure of 800 locations in Russia. 

04 Papa Johns' Double Cheesy Pizza

Papa Johns has launched its new Crispy Parm Pizza in which Parmesan and Romana cheese is baked underneath the crust to provide an extra crunch and cheesy flavour. The brand recognises that menu innovation, especially premium options, spurs sales and growth. The new launch was first available to Loyalty Members, before becoming available to all customers, just in time for National Pizza Day on February 9th. 

05 Subway Joins Micro-Food Trend

Subway celebrated the launch of their Japanese-inspired Teriyaki Steak sub by challenging miniatures artist, Nadia Michaux, to create the world's smallest sub. Measuring just under an inch, the micro-sub is twelve times smaller than Subway’s classic footlong but looks identical to the life-size version, right down to the individual Philly steak pieces and melted cheese. Michaux spent two days crafting the miniature sub, using clay and a variety of specialist artistic techniques to create a perfect replica of Subway’s footlong Teriyaki Steak sub.

06 Nostalgic Menu Items Return

Pizza Hut has announced the return of its 1990’s beloved pie, The Big New Yorker. The extra-large 16” pizza features six oversized, foldable slices with crispy crust, sweet marinara sauce and Parmesan oregano seasoning on top. The return is part of a macro food industry trend of reprising nostalgic menu items that provoke sweet memories of delicious childhood offerings. Other returning menu items include Burger King’s Italian Chicken Sandwich, Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, McDonald’s Bagel Sandwiches and Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Pub Burger.

07 TiNDLE's Plant-Based Chicken

A new plant-based chicken brand, TiNDLE, has recently launched into German retailers, EDEKA and Netto, and American consumers can order direct-to-consumer meal kits via Goldbelly. TiNDLE’s new range contains six different product formats, developed by their in-house team across Europe, Asia and the United States, with a mission to bring an elevated restaurant experience into the home kitchen. The new plant-based chicken range includes TiNDLE nuggets, patties, popcorn, schnitzel, tenders and wings.

08 Aldi UK Joins Too Good To Go

Aldi is to roll out its partnership with surplus food app, Too Good To Go, across its 990 stores in the UK, following a successful trial in seven stores last year. Too Good To Go connects customers to restaurants and stores that have surplus food, which they pre-pay for through the app and then pick up from the store. This allows operators to cut food waste and offers customers the opportunity to buy food at lower prices - a win-win in the current cost of living and climate crisis. 

09 Chicken Strips Snack Range

Ovation Foods has introduced new Chicken Strips to its range of nutrient-rich meat snacks. The new Chicken Strips contain 22g of protein, 0g of sugar and 175mg of choline, an essential brain nutrient. This new snack range comes in three flavours: No Soy Teriyaki, Chili Lime and Smokehouse. This “real food super snack” is made from one whole egg and lightly seasoned 100% chicken breast.

At Dawn Farms we offer a full product solution for cooked, dried and fermented meat ingredients across pizza, sandwich and prepared meal sectors. We are proud to be the preferred supplier to the world's leading food brands and are considered to be the industry leaders in food safety, sustainability and insight-led product innovation. We put the customer at the heart of everything we do, which is why for your convenience all our products are fully cooked and ready-to-eat. 

Visit our website to discover the ingredients that set us apart.