Trends we spotted | Week 8

23-2-2026

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:

• Westrock Coffee Company recently announced it has officially achieved its goal of becoming 100% responsibly sourced, fulfilling the commitment the company publicly set in 2021.
• The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma will bring together 70 historic Italian cars in the heart of Rome. Taking place from the 16th-19th of April 2026.
• The development of the Al Layan Oasis project has been approved, it will become a new environmental and recreational destination in Dubai.
• Heineken® launched two new non-alcoholic flavours, Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper, in the US.
• Tim Hortons, a coffee chain from North America, is introducing Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam as a limited-time customization option this spring. The brand also continues to highlight its protein latte platform.
• Jordan olive oil from Lesbos is now available in a paper bottle, made from 94% recycled cardboard, featuring a specially designed pourer that doesn’t spill a drop.
• The Dutch coffee and bagels chain Bagels & Beans distributes nearly 1,000 love cards for Valentine’s Day. We spotted Café Pli, een ‘Café à Lettres’ in Paris, where visitors can write a letter to their future selves!
• Onyx Coffee Lab (USA) tops the list as the best coffee shop in ‘THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS’. Fuku by FriedHats in Amsterdam is ranked number 79! Congrats to all companies on this list!

Enjoy reading!

Westrock Coffee Company achieves 100% responsibly sourced commitment

Westrock Coffee Company announced recently it has officially achieved its goal of becoming 100% responsibly sourced, fulfilling the commitment the company publicly set in 2021. As of 2025, 100% of Westrock Coffee’s tea, green coffee, and soluble purchases are verified through second- or third-party programs, confirming responsible growing and processing environments across its global supply chain. In addition, all direct suppliers are third-party audited for compliance with Westrock Coffee’s Responsible Sourcing Policy.

Westrock Coffee is a leading integrated coffee, tea, flavors, extracts, and ingredients solutions provider in the U.S., providing coffee sourcing, supply chain management, product development, roasting, packaging, and distribution services to the retail, foodservice and restaurant, convenience store and travel center, CPG, non-commercial, and hospitality industries around the world. With offices in 10 countries, the Company sources coffee and tea from 35 origin countries. More details in their press release, link in title.

Anantara Concorso Roma in other words La Dolce Vita delle Automobili

The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma will bring together 70 historic Italian cars in the heart of Rome. Taking place from the 16th-19th of April 2026, the long-anticipated event will celebrate the best of Italian automotive design, hospitality, and cuisine – the spirit of ‘la dolce vita’. The spectacular showfield at Anantara Concorso Roma will offer guests and visitors a rare opportunity to view an impressive selection of Italian automotive icons amidst a stunning Roman backdrop. presented by UBS, a new world-class automotive ‘spectacle’ in the heart of historical Rome! For those who love La Dolce Vita and Italian cars, all roads lead to Rome from 16–19 April 2026! More details in the press release, link in the title. The full program can be viewed here. Anantara Roma is part of Minor Hotels.

Al Layan Oasis | A one-of-a-kind global tourism destination in Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the Al Layan Oasis development project, a new environmental and recreational destination in this Emirate. Spanning one million square metres and featuring a lake covering more than a quarter of a million square metres, the project aims to showcase the beauty of the desert environment while promoting sustainability and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Al Layan Oasis forms part of a package of initiatives under the Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap 2030, recently launched by Dubai Municipality. The roadmap advances Dubai’s approach to investing in nature to enhance wellbeing, as part of a broader vision to create an urban environment that balances sustainability, liveability, and quality of life, supported by projects valued at more than AED4 billion.

 

The project is divided into four main zones delivering a unified experience across leisure, nature, and services. The Gathering Oasis will feature an open-air cinema, amphitheatre, food truck areas, and event spaces. The Family Oasis will offer 28 rest areas, children’s play zones, and integrated amenities. More details in the press release on Dubai Media Office, link in the title.

 

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

 

Een bericht gedeeld door بلدية دبي (@dubaimunicipality)

HEINEKEN® 0.0 has two new offerings | Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper

Heineken® launched two new non-alcoholic flavors, Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper, in the US. Marking the next evolution of the brand’s alcohol-free portfolio. Both flavors are double-brewed to remove alcohol and blended with the same ingredients used in Heineken 0.0 to create a balanced fruit flavor that’s perfect for any social occasion, whether it be at the bar, the beach or at a BBQ.

As consumers increasingly prioritize a more balanced lifestyle, demand for great-tasting, non-alcoholic beverages continues to grow. According to recent Heineken research, 81% of Americans now embrace non-alcoholic choices in social situations; the ‘norm’ has officially shifted, and consumers crave even more variety to choose from. More details in their press release, link in the title.

Golden cinnamon foam & protein lattes at Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons, a coffee chain from North America, is introducing Golden Cinnamon Cold Foam as a limited-time customisation option this spring. The lightly spiced cinnamon topping adds a smooth, slightly sweet layer to cold drinks. The flavour is also available in a Golden Cinnamon Iced Capp® as part of the seasonal lineup. The rollout expands drink customization options in response to demand for new flavours and add-ons.

Building on its January introduction, Tim Hortons U.S. continues to highlight its Protein Latte platform, which adds protein to espresso, matcha, and chai lattes. Designed for busy mornings, the drinks provide a more substantial option while keeping the same coffee base customers are love. More details in their press release, link in the title.

An olive oil bottle made of paper

Jordan olive oil from Lesbos is now available in a paper bottle – made from 94% recycled cardboard and a specially designed pourer that doesn’t spill a drop. The paper bottle was developed in England for wine. There was no pourer for olive oil. So Jordan built their own – tailored to the viscosity of olive oil, drip-free, and precise. They also created a biodegradable plastic lid, another in-house design. A thin inner tube made of a single type of plastic protects the oil—it’s food-safe, fully recyclable, and contains no composite materials. It’s not the only sustainable initiative by the company – olive pits are processed into knife handles, and the oil mill is heated with olive residue in winter. Check out this Instagram post or their press release in German, linked in the title.

Bagels & Beans distributed nearly 1,000 love cards for Valentine’s Day

For this Valentine’s Day campaign, Bagels & Beans once again acted as a love letter delivery service. Guests could submit personal messages for their (secret) love online in advance. Nearly 1,000 handwritten postcards were then sent by office staff, including a bag of chocolate beans.

The messages came from all over the country and were intended for parents, friends, children and romantic interests. They ranged from touching declarations of love to words of encouragement and expressions of gratitude for years of friendship, often with inside jokes or in dialect.

The campaign, which was introduced for the first time last year, was also a great success this year: significantly more cards were sent than in 2025. Writing for Valentine’s Day is trendy; in London, the luxury hotel Claridge’s had a poet-in-residence for Valentine’s Day! We also spotted a ‘Café à Lettres’ in Paris on Instagram. At Café Pli you can write letters to your future self!

The coffee industry already knows the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops

Onyx Coffee Lab (USA) tops the list as the best coffee shop in the world. The United States leads with 9 coffee shops, followed by Australia (7), Peru (5), and Spain, Honduras and Taiwan (4 each). Fuku in Amsterdam has reached number 79. At Fuku, they source everything locally whenever possible, partnering with people who care deeply about what they produce and how they produce it.

The second edition of THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS was presented during CoffeeFest Madrid 2026. This definitive list of the world’s best specialty coffee shops is the first global ranking dedicated to recognising excellence in coffee and has become one of the most anticipated highlights of the festival. More details in the press release, link in the title.

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