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!
Pizza Hut’s new un-Italian pasta campaign | Approved by the toughest food critics: Italians?
26-1-2026
A funny campaign by Pizza Hut in Dubai! They recently launched pasta – and not just any pasta. According to the company their pasta is creamy, cheesy, overloaded with sauce and proudly breaking every Italian culinary rule. The brand even calls it un-Italian pasta. Knowing this would never win over traditional Italians, Pizza Hut decided to do something bold: challenge Italian identity itself.
1 minute read
Longevity & Wellbeing Club Surrenne launches retreats at the Maybourne Riviera
26-1-2026
Surrenne, the wellness and longevity club founded in London and located within The Emory hotel in Belgravia, is launching a new series of four-night transformational retreats at Surrenne Riviera, set within the clifftop Maybourne Riviera on the Côte d’Azur. Extending beyond private membership and hotel guests, the retreats bring Surrenne’s signature philosophy—combining science, ancient wisdom and nature—to a wider audience.
We recently wrote about ‘Longevity Everyday’ by Novotel, both examples of which show that the concept of longevity can be interpreted broadly!
2 minutes read
Novotel introduces ‘Longevity Everyday’ | Wellbeing as standard
23-1-2026
Novotel, part of Accor, presents ‘Longevity Everyday’, a global strategy with which the hotel brand aims to structurally integrate wellbeing, vitality and sustainability into the daily experience of travellers. With more than 600 hotels in over 60 countries, Novotel is responding to the growing focus on physical and mental health while travelling. Whereas many wellbeing programmes are complex or exclusive, Novotel makes healthy choices practical, accessible and applicable.
2 minute read
Young Poelzicht talent given the spotlight | Wine Bar & Bistro Petit Caveau has opened in Tiel
23-1-2026
Since January 7 2026, the Betuwe region in the Netherlands has gained a new culinary hotspot: Wine Bar & Bistro Petit Caveau in Tiel. Located in one of the oldest listed buildings in the historic city centre at Korenbeursplein 1. Edwin Muns, an experienced entrepreneur joins forces with young talents Camilo van Drumpt Sanstra and Olivier Landewers from Brasserie Poelzicht. The result is an intimate venue where fresh Mediterranean bistro dishes, genuine hospitality and a distinctive wine list come together.
2 minutes read
Reservation system FRANK conquers the top of Dutch gastronomy
9-1-2026
Even before its official launch, the Dutch reservation system FRANK has already gained a prominent position within Dutch gastronomy. While the system will officially debut on 12 January 2026 at the Wine Professional trade fair in Amsterdam, numerous leaders in Dutch gastronomy are already working with the software. Its focus on AI and seamless integration of reservations and guest data already make FRANK the new standard for hospitality.
2 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
Celest opens the sky bar to the public
22-12-2025
From January 2nd, Celest’s sky bar will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings. Enjoy cocktails, bites and breathtaking views of the Rotterdam skyline at no extra cost. This follows the reopening, which will be festively celebrated with a New Year’s Eve party on December 31.
2 minutes read
Soenil Bahadoer is the first Dutch chef to join the Dom Pérignon Society
22-12-2025
Dom Pérignon is proud to announce that chef Soenil Bahadoer has become the first Dutch chef to join the Dom Pérignon Society. With his admission, Bahadoer joins a select international collective of chefs, artists and creative innovators who share the core values of the champagne house of Dom Pérignon: craftsmanship, imagination and the pursuit of perfection within the limits of a single harvest year.
2 minutes read
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
