Starbucks & Lady Gaga Quest

23-5-2011

Starbucks and Lady Gaga introduced an online Scavenger Hunt, a search game. Every week contesters have to find a clue. Last weeks assignment: to be found with QR codes on posters inside the Starbucks shops. This weeks challenge has to do with the new Lady Gaga album. The purpose of the game is to let people use the social media and collaborate in finding the solutions. The winner gets Lady Gaga related presents.

Interactive window display at Starbucks

16-3-2011

Starbucks locations in Toronto and Vancouver are promoting Tazo Tea via interactive window displays. Customers can discover everything about the teas by touching the screen. In this way guests are informed about the teas’ origins and ingredients in a interactive, visual and fun format.

An app to pay at Starbucks

17-1-2011

Today, in 6800 Starbucks outlets, one can pay with a Starbucks Card Mobile app for Blackberry, iPhone or iPod Touch. The digital customer card can be upgraded by credit card or PayPal.

Starbucks supports Worlds Aids Day

2-12-2010

On World AIDS Day, Starbucks donated 5 cents from every coffee sold to (RED). With the action “Share a red cup” Starbucks hopes to raise much money for this charity. Through the website of Starbucks it is possible to buy a ‘red cup’ for all your friends on Facebook.

Starbucks becomes digital publisher

6-11-2010

Starbucks has teamed up with Yahoo and rolled out a digital network in the U.S.. In 6.800 Starbucks stores in the U.S. customers can visit online news sites that usually are not free of charge. The network consists of six channels: news, entertainment, wellness, business, careers, and a Starbucks channel. Besides the news, restaurant reviews, music and videos are also available. The network is suitable for a wide variety of devices such iPads, Blackberry, and Android phones.

Co-creation at Starbucks

16-2-2010

Starbucks uses the online tool “My Starbucks idea” to improve their concept. Guests can submit ideas about the products and the concept online. Already 70,000 ideas have been submitted. Ideas that are executed, will be published on the website.

Trends we spotted | Week 27

6-7-2026

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:

• The Lounges chain with 250+ venues in the UK will open its first location overseas in Essen, Germany.
• After weather codes yellow, orange and red, there’s one more colour to watch this summer – Code Purple at Bagels & Beans.
• Brouwerij (brewery) Homeland in Amsterdam launched its own lager, Homeland Puur Pils.
• Pick up your pizza by kayak at the ‘Paddle In’ at Otomat in Ghent.
• Handwritten Collection, a characterful collection of bespoke hotels launched by Accor in 2023, recently announced a significant milestone with the opening of its 50th address.
• At McDonald’s Germany, you can enjoy 23 international product highlights during ‘Mission: World Menu’.
• Travel And Tour World (TTW) recently unveiled its Top 100 Luxury Hotels in the World 2026, a global ranking honouring exceptional properties redefining modern hospitality.
• Great news for Belgian fries lovers heading to Paris, chef Mallory Gabsi has opened his Fry Shop 140 Degrés.
• Wonder, a leading food technology platform, and Zipline, an autonomous delivery service, recently announced a partnership to bring on-demand drone delivery to Wonder locations across Texas.
• Inspiration for ice cream parlours: we spotted ‘Cookies Cloud Cups’ at Ovis Coffees in London.

Enjoy reading!

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All in purple | Grimace brings birthday vibes to McDonald’s Germany

30-4-2026

The iconic purple McDonald’s character Grimace has been appointed ‘Head of Birthdays’ in Germany, turning the concept of birthdays upside down: according to him, every day is a celebration. Following the success of the Grimace Shake last year, he once again takes center stage in a bold campaign, this time featuring an all-purple theme, including a new menu and limited editions.

Is purple becoming the food color of 2026? Recently, we also covered the introduction of the ube spring collection in European Starbucks locations.

1 minute read

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Trends we spotted | Week 17

28-4-2026

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:

• Top chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is serving a hotdog, street food in front of the Mark Hotel in New York.
• Are you going to New York? You can create a unique selfie on one of the 900 pedestrian crossings of New York!
• TRIBE Hotels launched a TRIBE Vinyl Club on Disquaire Day / Record Store Day on April 18.
• In celebration of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, hitting theaters May 22, Burger King in the US is launching their ‘Out of This Galaxy Limited-Time Menu’.
• The Sauna Club opened their first mini-spa location at Moai Beach Club in Zandvoort (the Netherlands).
• During Antwerp Art Weekend (May 14–17), WOLF will present a new installation by Marius Ritiu at their Felix Pakhuis location.
• Starbucks partners with Warner Bros. to bring the world of Harry Potter to Asia Pacific stores.
• SeaWorld San Diego will open Shark Encounter on May 22, an immersive exhibit showcasing sharks through interactive environments and advanced multimedia.
• You can buy chef Olivier Roellinger’s spices at Épices Roellinger in Paris, and at authorized retailers all over France and even one in the UK and in San Francisco.

Enjoy reading!

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Will we be able to enjoy lattes for €1 here in the Netherlands too?

13-4-2026

A blog by Leonie van Spronsen on the trend towards cheaper catering, will we soon be able to enjoy lattes for €1 here in the Netherlands too? This blog has previously been published in Dutch on the website of the Van Spronsen & Partners, hospitality consultancy.

2 minutes read

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