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
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.
Mastercard Hotelnacht 2026 | The Art of Balance
8-1-2026
On January 17 & 18, during the Mastercard Hotelnacht (Hotel Night) Amsterdam, the city will revolve around wellness, energy and unique hotel experiences. During Mastercard Hotelnacht, the most beautiful hotels in the city open their doors to residents of Amsterdam, offering a weekend full of one-night-only experiences. Visitors from outside Amsterdam can also take part in the experiences. The 2026 edition is all about The Art of Balance: the perfect mix of wellness and celebration, calm and excitement – in true Amsterdam style. Hotelnacht is the perfect opportunity for residents of Amsterdam and other curious visitors to experience the city in a completely new way.
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 50
12-12-2025
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:
- At exit 22 of the A28, McDonald’s Zwolle – De Lichtmis A28 has officially opened. The restaurant is located in the same building as the renovated roadside restaurant De Lichtmis in the east of the Netherlands.
- Radisson Hotel Group is expanding its European portfolio with two new properties, focusing on accessible design hotels and quality resorts. Prize by Radisson Osnabrück and the Baltic View Resort & Spa in Międzyzdroje Poland.
- Could conchas become the new hype like croissants?
- New added sugar warnings on menu’s at chain restaurants in New York City. Done with a new icon.
- 7-Eleven is helping the ‘tamago sando’ gain popularity in the U.S. with its new Japanese-style egg salad sandwich.
- Crispy chili oil popular even in our Dutch traditional dish the oliebol.
- Lidl US is adding a playful twist to the holidays with its first-ever holiday meal deal and a quirky fragrance collaboration, resulting in Eau de Croissant.
- Rémy Martin, the renowned French cognac house, is celebrating Lunar New Year with a limited-edition collaboration with Chinese artist Xue Song. Rémy Martin also introduced a Year of the Horse Old Fashioned, offering a festive twist on the classic cocktail. Recipe in the article.
Enjoy reading!
Trends we spotted | Week 49
8-12-2025
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:
- GolfSuites recently announced a strategic shift, prioritizing its scalable Indoor Simulator Lounge concept for nationwide expansion. An interesting idea for hotels near golf courses?
- ORDER AI, an app for people using GLP-1 medication (which helps regulate appetite and blood sugar) as well as health-conscious consumers, is now available globally on the Apple App Store.
- On Monday, November 24, FHC Formulebeheer held its annual entrepreneurship ‘Big Impact Event’ at Madurodam, the miniature park in The Hague that symbolizes how small initiatives can create big impact.
- The second edition of the Rescue Dogs of London & Friends ‘Christmas Jumper Parade Walk’ took place last November 29 in London. We think it’s Vondelpark (Amsterdam) worthy. 😉
- Until January 16th 2026 you can walk a Snoopy trail through London’s Fleet Street Quarter, featering 12 unique sculptures of Snoopy.
- Holiday Cocktail Inspiration: The Candy Cane Martini!
- Outernet, a free cultural attraction in London, is fully in Christmas spirit with its Ice Palace experience. Outside, you’ll find Tod’s Festive Feast, a Christmas food market curated by influencer @eatingwithtod.
- Cocktail bar Golden Ratio, created by and part of Redwood Hospitality, opened on November 26 in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. With a focus on sustainability and creativity, the bars serves cocktails and mocktails using restaurant byproducts.
- Snoopy is certainly having a moment this holiday season, it’s his 75th birthday and his popularity is soaring. Krispy Kreme is partnering with Peanuts to launch the Krispy Kreme x Peanuts Collection this festive season.
- During last week’s Black Friday, Pepsi released a limited online edition of Pepsi® Prebiotic Cola ahead of a wider store launch early next year.
Enjoy reading!
Cobra X Boogie Bougie | A collab fueled by Antwerp’s electric dining rhythm
4-12-2025
Cobra, the Antwerp dining experience known for its eclectic energy, warm edge and late-night vibe, is teaming up with Boogie Bougie for a candle collection featuring two scents inspired by the Cobra atmosphere. With the opening of Cobra House, the second location on Markgravelei, Cobra now stands as one unified brand with a sharper and more expansive identity: vibrant tables, refined bites, and an ambience that pulls people in.
A special collab, we’re curious about the scent, and judging by the description further on in the article, it must be a good deal better than KFC’s ‘gravy-scented’-candles. 😉
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
