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RHUM FEST PARIS | An edition celebrating the spirit of Carnival in April

10-3-2026

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RHUM FEST PARIS returns on April 18, 19 and 20, 2026 at the Parc Floral de Paris with an edition celebrating the spirit of Carnival. A symbol of joy and sharing, Carnival serves as one of the cultural bridges between Europe and many rum- and cachaça-producing territories : French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia…

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 9

3-3-2026

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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:

• Burger King is introducing updates to its iconic Whopper, including a new bun and box packaging.
• Live Más LIVE 2026 by Taco Bell, a Hollywood-themed event revealing its 2026 menu innovations.
• Kyriad has launched ‘Prompt It’ the first AI-powered travel guide created by the brand.
• Travel and Tour World has released its ‘Top 50 Nightlife Travel Destinations for 2026’.
• Starbucks is launching new Coffee & Protein bottled drinks on March 23.
• Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has added permanent Senior Meals (55+) to its menu.
• Mandarin Oriental has appointed Simone Biles as its first Global Wellness Ambassador.

Enjoy reading!

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Wissel ’ns Wat! sets the Dutch protein transition in motion again

24-2-2026

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On March 2, Wissel ’ns Wat! (or in English: Let’s swap) will launch, a new nationwide behaviour-change campaign in the Netherlands that takes over from the ‘National Week Without Meat’ and will now remain active year-round. The campaign focuses on the so-called ‘movable middle’: the 53% of Dutch consumers who rarely choose plant-based alternatives but are open to change when it is practical, tasty, and accessible.

Based on the change in this initiative: why not serve your guests’ favourite dish as a vegetarian option?

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 8

23-2-2026

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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:

• Westrock Coffee Company recently announced it has officially achieved its goal of becoming 100% responsibly sourced, fulfilling the commitment the company publicly set in 2021.
• The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma will bring together 70 historic Italian cars in the heart of Rome. Taking place from the 16th-19th of April 2026.
• The development of the Al Layan Oasis project has been approved, it will become a new environmental and recreational destination in Dubai.
• Heineken® launched two new non-alcoholic flavours, Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper, in the US.
• Tim Hortons, a coffee chain from North America, is introducing Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam as a limited-time customization option this spring. The brand also continues to highlight its protein latte platform.
• Jordan olive oil from Lesbos is now available in a paper bottle, made from 94% recycled cardboard, featuring a specially designed pourer that doesn’t spill a drop.
• The Dutch coffee and bagels chain Bagels & Beans distributes nearly 1,000 love cards for Valentine’s Day. We spotted Café Pli, een ‘Café à Lettres’ in Paris, where visitors can write a letter to their future selves!
• Onyx Coffee Lab (USA) tops the list as the best coffee shop in ‘THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS’. Fuku by FriedHats in Amsterdam is ranked number 79! Congrats to all companies on this list!

Enjoy reading!

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A ‘bottomless Easter brunch’ in Nijmegen | Collaboration between Plan_A and Cath’s Cuisine

20-2-2026

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Cath’s Cuisine and Plan_A are organizing a bottomless Easter brunch on Sunday, April 5. Following a successful first edition, they are once again joining forces to create a culinary Easter experience in Nijmegen. On Easter Sunday, they will host an extensive and cosy brunch. Expect shared dining with delicious dishes and, of course, unlimited drinks, carefully selected to perfectly complement the food. A great example of a strong local collaboration.

1 minute read

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Trends we spotted | Week 7

17-2-2026

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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:

• Inspiration for next year! Why not spoil your best male friend for Valentine’s Day? Einstein Bros. Bagels introduced their ‘Bro-quet’!
• Viral push pop sushi has also been spotted in the Netherlands at Twapan in Eindhoven and Rolling Sushi in Amsterdam.
• Fletcher Hotels opens a boutique hotel at Michelin-starred restaurant De Kromme Dissel (*).
• The first location of a fashion-forward café by streetwear brand, 13DE Marzo, opened last November in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They serve tiny teddy bears with their drinks.
• Jill hotel Brussels & restaurant Nook offer an extensive mocktail menu and serve no alcohol.
• California Almonds partnered with StarChefs to showcase almond creativity on restaurant menus across San Francisco and Los Angeles.
• The Shangri-La hotel group launched a global search for one lucky winner to receive an 88-Night Global Stay.
• Nobu Hospitality will launch Nobu Hotel, Restaurant and exclusive private island residences in the Maldives.
• Mandarin Oriental Hotels will expand its presence in Egypt with two iconic hotels and a luxury Nile cruise experience.

Enjoy reading!

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Chili’s® Grill & Bar has a special National Margarita Day promotion

12-2-2026

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Another great example on how to use a special day provided by Chili’s Grill & Bar for National Margarita Day on February 22^nd. As we’re mentioning in our trendmails (you can subscribe here) on Thursday, national and international days are great marketing tools! We publish those days a few weeks ahead, so you’ll we able to create your own promotion!

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 6

10-2-2026

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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:

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe is celebrating Valentine’s Day with pets, featuring the limited-time Puppy Power Bowl, available through 3 March.
• Starbucks has reached a significant recycling milestone: polypropylene cold to go beverage cups are now recyclable for more than 60% of US households.
• IKEA and Tiny Chef are launching a new mini-series from 2 to 9 February, celebrating the joy of plant-based cooking with the beloved stop-motion character Tiny Chef.
• Wendy’s is marking Singles Awareness Day on 15 February with a special in-app offer: a Dave’s Single® cheeseburger.
• Kwalitaria is the first major Dutch snack chain to introduce completely plastic-free packaging, with fries and snack trays protected by a biodegradable seaweed coating.
• Vaseline® and Red Lobster are launching a temporary Valentine’s Day Kissing Booth in Times Square, from February 10 to 12, featuring exclusive menu items and the new Lip Therapy® collection.
• Café Teichner dal 1922 in Rome is serving an espresso with hazelnut cream and chocolate at Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina 15.

Enjoy reading!

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Trends we spotted | Week 5

3-2-2026

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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:

• Airbnb has partnered with chef-led meal delivery service CookUnity to provide prepared meals through Airbnb Services, aiming to simplify dining for travellers and local residents.
• Thompson Hotels collaborates with BERO to expand non-alcoholic offerings and bar programming.
• McDonald’s Germany launches new platform, for everyone who is really hungry.
• AMMOS AMAALA is the first resort of the AMMOS group in the Middle East, located in Saudi Arabia. The resort will open this spring.
• Pizza Hut Dubai hosted a fine-dining Supper Club nobody saw coming.
• ALL Accor has recently announced the launch of its ALL Accor app in ChatGPT designed to enrich the experience of its growing customer base.
• McDonald’s in the US debuts exclusive McNugget® Caviar just in time for Valentine’s Day – at no cost to fans.
• Restaurant Nela in Amsterdam introduces the Family Friendly Affair brunch on Sundays.
• Bagels & Beans has turned 30. What started in 1996 as a quirky café on Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam has grown over the past thirty years into a unique franchise formula with almost 90 locations throughout the Netherlands.

Enjoy reading!

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Trends we spotted | Week 4

27-1-2026

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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!

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