Trends we spotted | Week 2

17-1-2022

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 Flipdish, an online ordering and experience platform, which has had a capital injection. And the nominees for the ‘Foodservice Award 2022’ (Horecava) election have been announced, on March 10 we will know who has won in which category.

A new De Beren delivery restaurant has opened in the center of Katwijk and KFC has opened a new restaurant in the WoenselXL shopping center in Eindhoven.

Albert Heijn is testing its own app ‘Overblijvers’ (remainers) against food waste and the Dutch app, Didiyo, delivers food from Turkish, Surinamese, Polish and Moroccan grocers.

It looks like Americans will soon be able to enjoy “Snoop doggs” hot dogs and more news about Nuro’s new model of “delivery” robotics in America.

The first non-alcoholic beer with vitamin D, the Corona Sunbrew 0.0%, is already available in Canada. And in Dubai in 2023, The floating luxury five-star resort Kempinski Floating Palace will open! With hotel villas that can ‘sail’ elsewhere.

At Taco Bell in America, you can take out a subscription to the Taco Lover’s Pass, for 10 dollars per month, you can get 1 taco every day. And an article about an AI-powered platform to make wine recommendations, Tastry.

And a link to an article about the first speakeasy non-alcoholic cocktail bar in Paris: Drinks&Co by Lyre’s, special! We don’t think we have a completely alcohol-free cocktail bar here in the Netherlands, do we?

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Is your Dry January still going strong?

11-1-2022

January has always been one of the longest and depressing months. While most of us have to unchill from a festive December month, we’re confronted with Dry January, Veganuary (and if you really want to go all the way, forget the Dairy too), we have Blue Monday (January 17 this year) and your own New Year’s resolutions.

But on the bright side: more and more delicious vegan and vegetarian products are available at the stores, restaurants and recipes on the internet. Besides trying out Veganuary lots of people try Dry January and for those who miss the taste of their cocktail, glass of beer or wine, more and more delicious (and even some distilled) non-alcoholic alternatives are hitting the market, we made a list of the latest drinks.

Reading time: 4 minutes

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Trends we spotted | Week 1

10-1-2022

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 amongst others the design of the new Hotel Piet Hein Eek in Eindhoven and Horecagroep RCE will open a new restaurant from the chain ‘Stan’ in the Sphinxkwartier in Maastricht in the spring of 2022.

Dutch Brave Food: that is what Katy Elst and Ron Okhuijsen, after more than 25 years of experience as restaurant entrepreneurs, want to put on the map at Blue Bar1 in Utrecht. We spotted ‘Taste the TV’ in Japan (with video) and this Monday, January 10, Beyond Fried Chicken debuts nationwide at KFC®.

Geoffrey is a cute 10-pound delivery vehicle/robot developed by Ignacio Tartavull and Gellert Mattyus of Tiny Mile. And it’s pushed of the streets of Toronto. Great idea for uniform shoes, the Zen Running Club shoes, if you want your restaurant or hotel to be as sustainable as possible. They are 100% vegan and plant-based.

A photo of food taken by writer Nicholas Gill in a famous BBQ joint in Brooklyn, NYC, will be auctioned as an NFT. And global lifestyle icon Martha Stewart will open her first-ever restaurant, The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Paris Las Vegas in Spring 2022.

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Trends we spotted | Week 52 2021

3-1-2022

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 amongst others about the first beer spa in France and in Paris opened the first European Skybar on the rooftop of the Pullman Paris Montparnasse.

In Belgium La Trappe Beer introduced a modern and sustainable habit for the monks of the Koningshoeven Abbey, created by G-Star RAW.

The VersaValet by Standard Textile is a laundry collection bag that doubles as clean return garment bag. And the Vegan Babybel cheese, covered with green wax is available on the UK market at the Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

An interesting article at VegNews about ‘turning beer waste into vegan eggs and milk’ by Anheuser-Busch InBev. And Italy will welcome its first Tapestry Collection by Hilton Hotel in Rome’s Historic Centre this year, Cosmopolita Rome.

McDonald’s China is testing ‘Green Charging Bike’ at 2 stores, the bikes are created by waste and help their guests to charge for example their phone. And KFC China launched an interactive section on its Super App addressing topics including “Exploring Carbon Reduction” and “The Journey to Carbon Neutrality”. A green rewards program.

Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!

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Chipotlane Digital Kitchen | First ‘’grey kitchen’’?

21-12-2021

The new format will exclusively fulfill digital orders for pick up or delivery. Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its first Chipotlane Digital Kitchen restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The new prototype offers a Chipotlane and walk-up window for efficient digital order pickup. Located in Ohio, the restaurant is scheduled to open later this month. Chipotle’s second digital-only restaurant prototype serves guests who order ahead on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com, and marketplace partners.

With no dining room access for guests but with patio seating to enjoy their meals. Kind of a ‘grey kitchen’ instead of a ‘dark kitchen’?

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Trends we spotted | Week 50

20-12-2021

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 winter coffees from all over the world, inspiration from Starbucks. And a “snowman pizza” made by Joe’s Rotisseria in New Jersey!

The first 1,600 Neder Bananas from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands were harvested at the end of November. Many atypical and sustainable products are made of them! Ever heard of ‘National Cookies Day’? We didn’t, but this day is celebrated on December 4th and Subway opened a ‘Cookieway’ pop-up store around this date.

The fast food chain ‘El Pollo Loco’ is launching a ‘Loco Gifts and Gear’ store in which they sell merchandise specially designed for them, such as a bicycle. And the UK’s cheapest champagne bar has opened, Aldi will sell its award-winning Veuve Monsigny champagne for just £2.33 a glass. And so nice: a ‘Santa sushi’, created by Wave Asian Bistro & Sushi out in Mount Dora, Florida.

Airbnb had a special Christmas promotion in the USA: 4 people could be guests for one night in the ‘Home Alone’ house! Including lots of details like the cheese pizza and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

In London you can enjoy the patisserie of the French chef Cedric Grolet in The Berkeley Café and when you are in London now you can enjoy a special ‘Borealis’ by the famous artist Dan Acher for 2 more days. Northern lights above London during the Winter Lights season, we would love to see that above Amsterdam as well!

 Uber Eats was the first to deliver meals to space on December 11! And have you heard of PappaRoti? They sell drinks and special coffee buns from Malaysia in more than 400 locations worldwide. Located in Brussels, among others.

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Trends we spotted | Week 49

13-12-2021

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 amongst others SQUAREAT, a revolutionary meal plan concept and Ruby Hotels is opening their second location in Frankfurt in 2025.

It’s time for winter beer: the Dutch Bird Brewery created ‘Apres Kievit’, a beer with the spicy notes of Jägermeister. And FryAway, a plant based powder, turns cooking oil into solid waste that can then be easily scooped into the rubbish.

Bäckerei Krümel opens doors in the ‘Efteling’ (a Fairytales theme park in the south of the Netherlands) and Pollinator Park is a VR experience that explores a future without bees and other pollen spreaders.

This Friday, December 17, Titanic: The Exhibition will be sailing into London! And GoodMaps is changing the way people navigate retail stores, even for those  visually impaired. They’re testing it in a supermarket of ASDA in the UK. Would be a great asset for airports and event locations as well!

Would you like to taste Barefoot x OREO THINS Red Blend Wine? A cookies & cream red wine blend! And in the Dutch branch of Jeunes Restaurateurs Europe rewarded entrepreneurship in the Netherlands.

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VAN SHA Aromatic Spice | A distilled non-alcoholic alternative

9-12-2021

Inspired by her own family’s roots, founder Sharan Bal captured the powerful and intense flavours of India in the distilled non-alcoholic dark spirit VAN SHA Aromatic Spice. The aromatic blend of Indian spices like saffron, neroli and galangal – with a subtle fresh-floral aroma, a hint of bitter-sweet citrus and warm spicy notes – creates a dark spirit. VAN SHA Aromatic Spice can be enjoyed pure on the rocks or in the mix with ginger ale. For cocktail lovers – VAN SHA is also delicious in a Not So Old Fashioned. VAN SHA is sugar-free, low-energy, GMO-free, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan, and it does not contain added sugars, sweetener or artificial flavours.

There is plenty of choice in non-alcoholic alternatives for a festive lunch, brunch, dinner or even breakfast? A mocktail is a fun addition at the holidays! 

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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The We’re Smart Future Awards 2021

22-11-2021

Celebrating their culinary contributions for nutritious, planet-friendly – and delicious – innovations, the winners of the We’re Smart Future Awards 2021 have been revealed at the Horeca Expo in Ghent on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Winners of the Future Awards 2021 are Rob Baan, The Green Bean, VOL5, HomeForest, Plant-T, Eleven Madison Park, Gambero Rosso and Michelin Green Star.

Reading time: 2 minutes

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New Amarula cream liqueurs | Liqueur with a story

9-11-2021

The range of South African Amarula cream liqueurs has expanded with the arrival of two new flavors. The first Amarula vegan cream liqueur has the recognizable taste of the rare marula fruit, combined with coconut, caramel and vanilla. Unlike the other variants of the liqueur, the vegan Amarula contains no dairy. Another new flavor will be launched at the end of this year: Ethiopian Coffee, a deliciously creamy liqueur with a coffee flavour.

Last week I went to Rotterdam for Horecatrends to taste the new Amarula flavors. I had never tasted Amarula before, but I had heard of the brand. Normally I’m not a cream liqueur lover, but the Amarula liqueurs have now become the exception for me! My favourite? The new flavor: Ethiopian Coffee. ^Sifra Holtslag

Reading time: 2 minutes

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