Innovation
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Weekend Press
Peruvian steak and Yorkshire pudding with mint? How the British Sunday roast went global
The traditional British weekend lunch is being revamped with more exotic ingredients by chefs with worldwide influences, The Observer reports
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Analysis & Insight
Wagamama goes back to its roots for new summer menu
The new menu leans heavily into lesser known Japanese-inspired dishes, as well as featuring on-trend ingredients like yuzu throughout while playing with textures
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Longreads
Mass market meets speciality: the rise of the challenger coffee shop brands
In the latest in a series of immersive, innovation-focused long reads, MCA explores how an emerging generation of upscale coffee shop operators are looking to reshape the mainstream market
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Analysis & Insight
Smash hit burgers
What do McDonald’s new menu tweaks, Honest Burgers’ forthcoming QSR concept, and the social media hype of Supernova have in common? Tom Gatehouse of Egg Soliders explores the phenomenon of the smashburger and its prospects for mainstream success
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News
NPD taps into global flavour trends
A flurry of seasonal menu refreshes see Subway lean on a growing trend for smokehouse concepts, Loungers inspired by Brixton’s finest Caribbean restaurants, while Pret introduces Thai-style salads and wraps
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Interviews
Papa Johns harnesses the power of culture to fuel innovation
International R&D director Adam Wilcock tells MCA how the brand intends to stand out in a cluttered pizza market and focus on innovation that stays true to cultural nuances in the UK
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News
Interactive dining and cultural exploration among concepts to watch
Operators are embracing multifunctional spaces that offer more than just dining, whilst a number of new openings offer authentic culinary experiences, according to Lumina Intelligence
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Analysis & Insight
Street Food: Considering the less-considered
With street food’s enduring influence on UK restaurants, Egg Soldiers’ senior trends strategist Tom Gatehouse examines which global cuisine categories are gaining traction among consumers
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Analysis & Insight
Spring menu innovation juggles indulgence, wellness and sustainability
The season’s latest slew of menu updates sees PizzaExpress going large with family-sharing extra dough, ASK Italian use regenerative flour in its pizza, while Leon also opts for a Mediterranean flavour
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Analysis & Insight
‘There’s a lot of nostalgia’: how cockney cuisine emigrated from the East End to Essex
Londoners leaving the city have taken their food with them, keeping the pie and mash scene alive, The Observer reports
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News
Popeyes launches breakfast range across UK
The US chicken franchise has announced a nationwide rollout of new menu items, including the Popeyes Big Cajun Roll and a Bacon Roll meal deal for £1.99
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Analysis & Insight
Coop to cuisine: the elevation of the chicken shop
As elevated fried chicken concepts pop up across the UK, MCA explores the category’s growth trajectory, how the humble poultry is establishing itself as a one of the country’s most popular cuisines, and how it galvanises diverse demographics - in the latest in a series of immersive, data-led features
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Analysis & Insight
‘Who would have thought it, a kebab for breakfast?’
MCA examines German Doner Kebab’s controversial new breakfast offering, a doner egg brioche, and a wrap laden with doner meat, onion, melted cheese and garlic sauce
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Analysis & Insight
Festive food-to-go menu innovation
Christmas menus from Pret, Starbucks, Leon, Greggs, KFC and Subway lean on simple, traditional seasonal dishes - levelled up with premium and indulgent ingredients
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News
Why posh restaurants are into basic white bread
Crisp sandwich and bacon butty fans rejoice: white bread is back, The Sunday Times reports
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News
Why chefs are obsessed with this foodie Instagram account
Move over, MasterChef — the London boys behind TopJaw have got the restaurant world talking, The Sunday Times reports
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News
Christmas menu innovation
MCA rounds up the latest festive menu launches, exploring trends for indulgence, international flavours and some twists on classic Christmas dishes.
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Analysis & Insight
From stuffy basements to hipster haunts: the evolution of the modern wine bar
Until recently, wine bars were often considered inaccessible and snobby. As a new wave of contemporary natural wine bars pop up, MCA explores the evolution of the category and its potential to grow beyond trendy independents
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News
How ‘craft sake’ became the calling card of Britain’s coolest restaurants
Innovative brewers are giving Japan’s famous fermented drink a new sense of place
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Analysis & Insight
The pizza market in 2023: ‘It’s too crowded’
MCA explores the up-and-coming brands looking to take on the dominant pizza chains, the potential for new innovation to dethrone Neapolitan as the leading trendsetter, and the thoughts of former Fulham Shore boss David Page on how the landscape has changed