Trends we spotted | Week 4
27-1-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Did you know that 1 in 8 Americans has worked at a McDonald’s restaurant at some point? McDonald’s in the US taps into this insight with McDonald’s Arches & Ambition, the 1 in 8 Mentorship Program.
- Bouldering is also fairly popular in the Netherlands. Recently, we came across two new variations: moving climbing walls.
- Happy Doggo: squeaky dog toys shaped like fries, sandwiches and burgers at McDonald’s France. Likely a hit with many Dutch dog lovers and McDo fans as well!
- Burger King US introduced The Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper as part of its ‘Whopper by You’ initiative.
- McDonald’s Germany launched a new vegetarian platform with the introduction of five plant-based products: Veggie lovers welcome.
- On Saturday 31 January, Stooges’ Funhouse opens in Het Industriegebouw on Rotterdam’s Goudsesingel. This will be their second location in Rotterdam.
- From February 26 until the next edition of De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE, a musical get-together, hits the road. Every Thursday evening, a different traditional pub hosts a night full of music, friendship and atmosphere: Amstel LIVE in the pub.
- Van Gelder Netherlands, producer of plant-based products, launched a unique range of seven fully plant-based sauces and dressings for the foodservice market during HORECAVA 2026.
Enjoy reading!
New Dutch brand Bo&Co introduces locally produced organic syrups
9-1-2026
The new Dutch brand Bo&Co is introducing a range of locally produced organic syrups, developed for professional use in the hospitality and retail sectors. The brand is launching with five flavours: Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemongrass–Ginger and Elderflower, made with carefully selected organic ingredients. The official market launch of Bo&Co will take place during Horecava 2026.
1 minute read
Inspiration for 2026, from 2025
8-1-2026
Approachable inspiration, trends and highlights from 2025 that can be easily applied to your own business in 2026. A whitepaper to scroll through when you need ideas.
You can download the whitepaper for free on the next page.
Sweetened, lactose-free whipped cream by Milram
6-1-2026
We start 2026 with an article about an innovative, new product: the sweetened, lactose-free whipped cream by Milram that will be introduced at the Horecava in Amsterdam. The foodservice market continues to evolve as consumer preferences change and demand grows for dietary options such as lactose-free and lower-sugar products. Even in seemingly mature product categories, there is room for innovation. With this new whipped cream Milram demonstrates how quality, convenience and market insight come together.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 51
19-12-2025
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Spotted in New York: the push pop sushi van Suka Sushi!
- Horta Grand Café & Art Nouveau Room in Antwerp, are celebrating their 25th anniversary, marked among other things by the launch of a unique coffee table book.
- Leonardo Hotels is expanding its portfolio in the Benelux with the dynamic lifestyle brand NYX Hotels. The former Eden Hotel will be divided into a Leonardo hotel and NYX Hotel Amsterdam Rembrandt Square.
- Frites Atelier, the innovative fast casual concept from Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman, opened its first Frites Atelier London location on Saturday December 13.
- Early December, Hotel Des Indes in the Hague, officially opened the Anna Pavlova Champagne Lounge and unveiled the Pavlova Christmas tree. Anna Pavlova was a famous ballerina and regular guest of the hotel. Beautiful theme!
- Chipotle has teamed up with travel brand BÉIS, to launch an exclusive travel essentials collection inspired by Chipotle’s iconic packaging. Béispotle: ‘The To-Go Collection’.
- Last weekend, PoPPo, a hyperlocal micro-mall, was launched in Amsterdam North in the 600 m² former Blokker building.
- A Pizza Wrap-Up by Domino’s Pizza Belgium, highlighting, among other things, which city consumes the most pizzas from the brand and which pizza is the most popular in Belgium.
- Early December, Albron opened a coffeecompany location at Amsterdam UMC. It is the first coffeecompany outlet in a hospital environment.
- On Monday, December 15, the Top 50 best Italian restaurants were announced, including a separate Top 50 for restaurants outside Italy. Restaurant Aroma Italian Fine Dining from Vaassen once again earned a place on this prestigious list, ranking 48th. Restaurant Pianeta Terra in Amsterdam ranked 31st.
Enjoy reading!
SMAKFEST in Stockholm | One-night-only immersive food festival in an IKEA store
15-12-2025
On December 9, Stockholm experienced IKEA like never before. One thousand IKEA Family members who secured a sold-out ticket, streamed into the darkened Kungens Kurva store to take part in SMAKFEST, a one-night-only immersive food festival/experience. Think celebrating the 40th birthday of IKEA’s iconic meatball, dining in the dark, a FRAKTA bar, a human kaleidoscope, spoon-fed tastings delivered through a tiny peephole, live music, and much more.
An in-store food festival filled with inspiring and edible design and art ideas.
2-minute read
Trends we spotted | Week 48
28-11-2025
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Qeet provides sustainable catering in the renovated Nederlands Fotomuseum , which opens in February 2026.
- Staff of the IHCP hotels in the Netherlands did collect toys for families in poverty through the Sintvoorieder1.
- Solid Wiggles creates jell-o cocktails with a creative, aesthetic twist.
- The Berkeley London launches luminous artwork ‘Aurora: Light in Motion’ by Rob and Nick Carter.
- Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch – Epic Cleantec launches beer made from purified shower and laundry water in California.
- McDonald’s introduces a temporary Grinch Meal with themed Grinch socks in the US.
- At the end of this year TRIBE The Hague Central will open as the second TRIBE hotel in the Netherlands and it will be the brand’s new flagship.
- The Social Hub invests €227 million in new B Corp hub in Edinburgh.
- The Hoxton opens in Dublin with the introduction of the first nightclub of this chain.
Enjoy reading!
Ozempic menu | Hype or something to it?
24-11-2025
A blog by Marjolein van Spronsen about the increasingly common ‘Ozempic menu’ popping up abroad. A recent article in The New York Times noted that 8 to 10% of Americans now use some form of Ozempic*. The article also gave several examples of how restaurants and bars are responding to this trend. Marjolein wonders whether more people aged 60 and over, like herself, might also prefer enjoying a ‘mini meal’.
This blog was previously published in Dutch on the Van Spronsen & Partners Group’s website.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 46
14-11-2025
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- On 28 November, Groningen will light up Europe’s largest Christmas ball at DOT Groningen, with music, mulled wine and hot chocolate.
- Firehouse Subs combines humor and flavor with the “Gravy Extinguisher”, a creamy turkey sauce for unexpected Thanksgiving.
- Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is collaborating with By Rotation. The “Dressed in Mayfair”-package offers accommodation, cocktails and personalized styling.
- Burger King is launching a limited edition Whopper advent calendar with 12 surprise boxes for extra festive fun in the run-up to Christmas.
- Suparnin, a restaurant in Guangzhou, and LITT, a bar in Dubai, have won the Best Restaurant and Bar Design Awards 2025. The We are EDN hotel in Amsterdam also won an award.
- Pak Pak Gauw pop-up in Het Industriegebouw from 17 to 22 November with street food, lunch, dinner, cocktails, DJs and surprising events, including a Drunken Lion Soundsystem party.
- Restaurant Flore nr. 3, Spectrum nr. 44 (fast climber), and Herberg onder de Linden (Discovery Award) from the Netherlands are recognised on the list of the best vegetable restaurants by We’re Smart.
Enjoy reading!
Trends we spotted | Week 43
28-10-2025
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Circular bread made by the Top Bakkers Group on the menu at caterer Vitam.
- Fletcher Hotels opens padel courts in former airplane hangar near Rotterdam Airport: Padel City Fletcher Rotterdam Airport.
- Nisbets, Europe’s largest supplier of catering equipment, celebrates 25 years of operation in Europe.
- How SMARTLINEN® takes linen management to the next level.
- Oatly, the world’s largest oat drink company, has released its first The Future of Taste Report. And Burger King in Austria has become the first food service outlet to offer Oatly’s Baristamatic oat milk.
- Jack Simpson from Australia was crowned the 2025 World Barista Champion at Host Milano. The Dutch competitor, Zjevaun Janga, finished in the 31st place.
- ARTIS Zoo in Amsterdam recognized as Urban Night Sky Place by DarkSky International.
- Airbnb and Art Basel have announced a multi-year partnership across the fair’s flagship shows in Paris, Miami Beach, and Basel.
- The popular espresso machine manufacturer La Marzocco has partnered with the iconic Victorinox to launch a limited-edition Swiss Army tool designed for La Marzocco machines.
Enjoy reading!
A music get-together in traditional Dutch bars - Amstel Live in the pub
McDonald's in the US launched Arches & Ambition - The 1 in 8 Mentorship Program
Stooges’ opens second location in Het Industriegebouw in Rotterdam - credits Michelle Margot
Van Gelder Nederland - carrot, ginger & lemongrass dressing
Burger King kicked off the year with a new guest-Inspired creation - The Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper
