Trends we spotted | Week 6
10-2-2026
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:
- 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!
Public Sauna Culture comes to New York City with ‘Culture of Bathe-ing’-Festival
6-2-2026
Beginning February 12 and running through March 1, 2026, ‘Culture of Bathe-ing’ will transform Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront into the site of an unprecedented bathing experiment. The festival marks the first event of its kind in New York City and the largest sauna village ever staged in the United States.
2 minutes read
VITAL gives “Food and Whatever” extra meaning with the launch of the VITAL GYM
6-2-2026
VITAL, the school catering formula from FHC Formulebeheer, gives the slogan “Food and Whatever” extra meaning. VITAL already stands for tasty and healthy food in balance, so that pupils and teachers can get the best out of themselves every day. With the launch of the VITAL GYM, VITAL is expanding that balance: in addition to healthy food, exercise will take on a more prominent role.
Reading time: 1 minute
Montblanc and Claridge’s launch ‘Love Letters from London’ by Charlie Child
5-2-2026
This Valentine’s week, Montblanc and Claridge’s come together to celebrate the art of handwritten romance with ‘Love Letters from London’. To mark the launch of the new Meisterstück Romeo & Juliet writing instruments, Montblanc invites everyone to put pen to paper and share heartfelt messages with the people who make life meaningful. For the first time ever, the legendary Mayfair hotel Claridge’s partners with Montblanc to present ‘Love Letters from London’, appointing British artist and poet Charlie Child as Claridge’s first-ever Poet-in-Residence during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day (10th–13th February 2026).
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 5
3-2-2026
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:
- 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!
The HEINZ KegChup | The first-ever keg of HEINZ Ketchup!
3-2-2026
Just in time for the Big Game, HEINZ is cracking open a bold new way to enjoy America’s favorite condiment. Introducing the HEINZ KegChup: the first-ever keg filled with unmistakably rich HEINZ ketchup. Inspired by a solution the beer industry has relied on for decades to ensure fans never run dry, the HEINZ KegChup makes sure watch parties are never short on the crowd’s favorite condiment, because an empty ketchup bottle might be an even bigger party foul than a dry keg.
1 minute read
abc kitchens introduces a seasonal vegetable bouquet for Valentine’s Day
2-2-2026
For the first time this Valentine’s Day, abc kitchens has elevated a classic romantic gesture. In place of flowers, guests will be presented with a seasonal vegetable bouquet, a one-off creation curated by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Executive Chef Ben Boeynaems. Gifted to every table booked on the evenings of 13th February and 14th February, each bouquet is paired with a take-home recipe from Ben, bringing a taste of abc home and extending celebrations beyond the restaurant.
1 minute read
Restaurant JAQ celebrates Valentine’s Day with an exclusive dinner Inspired by Atelier JAQ
30-1-2026
On Saturday, February 14th, Restaurant JAQ in Rotterdam will host an exclusive 3-course Valentine’s dinner featuring cava and specially crafted cocktails. During the evening, guests will be immersed in the artistic world of Atelier JAQ. This special night is dedicated to love, creativity, and gastronomy, offering a refined experience for couples or friends who wish to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a unique way.
2 minutes read
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
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with the ‘Puppy Power Bowl’ at Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Cold to-go cups reach major recycling milestone
IKEA & Tiny Chef - new episodes
Vaseline® + Red Lobster - the kissing booths at the Times Square location 
Wendy's offer for Singles Awareness Day - February 15 
Kwalitaria launched completely plastic-free packaging
