Trends we spotted | Week 21
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:
- Belgian winemakers are launching a new quality label for sparkling wines from Belgian soil: BelBul.
- Belgian poké bowl chain Hawaiian has reached a special milestone with the opening of their 50th outlet.
- British climate-positive vodka brand Sapling is now also available in the Netherlands.
- The Sandwich Series, an inspiration for hospitality companies.
- The ‘Press for Picnic’ pop-up from Blank Street in New York, nice idea for summer?
- Parmigiano Reggiano Gran Riserva 36 months with black summer truffle from Bonat Farm!
- Ahead of World Ocean Day (June 8), Novotel is celebrating one year of sustainable collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Enjoy reading!
Hawaiian opens 50th restaurant | Belgian poké bowl chain continues expansion in the Netherlands
The Belgian poké bowl chain Hawaiian has reached a major milestone this month with the opening of its 50th location, right in the heart of The Hague. Founded in 2018 by three young entrepreneurs with a passion for healthy food and a strong sense of entrepreneurship, the brand has built an impressive network in just a few years – all without relying on a franchising model.
While the current focus is on further growth in the Netherlands, Hawaiian continues to expand in Belgium as well. In 2024, new locations opened in cities such as Ghent, Liège, Aalst, Roeselare, and a second site in Bruges. Curious to learn more about Hawaiian? Visit their website via the link in the title.
British vodka brand Sapling launches in the Netherlands
British vodka brand Sapling is now available in the Netherlands. This organic and climate-positive vodka is locally produced using renewable energy and made from organic winter wheat. For every bottle sold, Sapling plants a tree—traceable via a QR code on the bottle cap. The range includes a classic vodka and a Raspberry & Hibiscus-infused variant, crafted with real fruit. Both are smooth, subtle, and perfect for cocktails.
For the hospitality industry, Sapling offers refillable bottles and 5-litre eco-boxes, reducing back-of-bar CO₂ emissions by up to 37%. What began as a tree-planting initiative after wildfires in Scotland has grown into a beloved spirits brand, now served in over 2,000 UK bars and restaurants—including 17 with Michelin stars. In the Netherlands, Sapling is distributed by Jolie Imports.
BelBul | New quality label for Belgian sparkling wines
With BelBul, Belgian winemakers introduce a new quality label for sparkling wines produced on Belgian soil. To carry the BelBul label, a bottle must be 100% Belgian and made using the traditional method.
The label is an initiative of 22 members of the non-profits Belgische Wijnbouwers-Vlaanderen and Association des Vignerons Belges-Wallonie. Over the past two decades, Belgian wine production has grown spectacularly, now covering around 1,000 hectares. More details can be found in their press release, linked in the title.
Just fun design | The Sandwich Series
Spotted on Instagram: the Sandwich Series by American designer Kamber Carroll from Utah, who describes himself as someone who “turns thoughts into reality”. Creative, playful design—perfect for hospitality inspiration. Check out his Instagram account ‘Kamberlandcreations’ via the link in the title.
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Press for Picnic | Great idea for this summer?
Spotted on Instagram via the DoNYC account: Blank Street’s ‘Press for Picnic’ pop-up in NYC! Blank Street is a coffee shop chain with multiple locations across the eastern U.S. and the U.K.
At their 5th & 31st location in New York City, they gave away 100 free picnic kits daily—first come, first served—until April 19th. Even without giving away freebies, the ‘Press for Picnic’ concept can be applied in many creative ways!
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Parmigiano Reggiano Gran Riserva 36 months by the Bonat Farm with black summer truffle!
Bonat Farm in Italy produces artisanal Parmigiano Reggiano using milk from their own cows, fed with hay from century-old meadows that give the cheese its unique aroma. The entire process, from feeding to aging, is done in-house. Their Parmigiano Reggiano is aged up to 4 years (and even 10 years on request), developing rich flavors and aromas. The farm’s PDO-certified cheese is internationally acclaimed and used by top chefs and restaurants such as the Lanesborough in London, Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, Enoteca Consonni in Milan and Murray’s Cheese in New York. A special Gran Riserva version, enhanced with black summer truffle, is available upon request.
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Novotel celebrates one year of ocean commitment and sustainable partnership with WWF
Ahead of World Ocean Day (8 June), Novotel proudly marks the first anniversary of its transformative three-year partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), reaffirming its commitment to protecting the wellbeing and longevity of the ocean with the launch of two new food policies: Novotel’s Sustainable Seafood Principles in partnership with WWF France and the launch of a pioneering global Plant-Forward food ambition across 600 hotels. You can find all details in their press release, link in the title.
