Innovation
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Analysis & InsightDemand for premium spirits helps boost embattled late-night sector
Consumers continue to trade up to premium spirits and cocktails despite pressures on spending and a challenged late night segment. MCA explores how the bar sector is responding, and how suppliers are helping meet demand for elevated occasions
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Analysis & InsightStonegate’s Social Pub & Kitchen taps into Ed Sheeran’s fan base
The pub group has collaborated with the artist’s hot sauce brand, Tingly Ted, to refresh its menu and increase brand visibility
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InterviewsThe Breadstall: ‘Pizza is more popular than ever’
Founder Seb Vince, along with Philip Eeles and Dorian Waite – two of the founders behind Honest - speak to MCA about launching the next disruptor brand and upending the pizza market
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NewsIn pictures: Playbox – the new social gaming concept from Boxpark
Housed within Boxpark’s Croydon venue, the new concept has been brought to live in an underutilised mezzanine space and combines competitive socialising with live sports.
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NewsPapa Johns partners with Google Cloud to drive AI-enhanced experience
The pizza group will leverage Google Cloud’s AI, data analytics, and machine learning capabilities to provide a more frictionless and consistent experience for customers
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Analysis & InsightInside Ole & Steen’s biggest ever seasonal menu refresh
The Danish bakery group is moving beyond its Nordic roots with global influences including chilli honey, za’atar, chimichurri, edamame and matcha
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Analysis & InsightWine and ice cream becoming popular dish pairing
Venues dedicated to ice cream and wine pairings have been opening, appealing to Gen Z who are less interested in a traditional night out involving alcohol, with the trend picking up interest on social media channels
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Analysis & InsightHow premium pasta is redefining Italian dining
Emerging pasta specialists such as Noci, Bancone, and Lina Stores are shaking up the category with an offering that’s markedly progressed from mass-market Italian casual dining. MCA explores how a wave of fresh pasta concepts are looking to reshape the category
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Analysis & InsightChipotle on a two-pronged menu innovation approach
The Mexican-inspired chain will launch limited-time offers as well as more of its existing menu items from the US, Stephanie Perdue, VP of brand marketing, tells MCA
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NewsWagamama partners with Grind on premium coffee offering
The restaurant group will be offering Grind’s signature blends at all 165 sites and has launched a range of sweet treats to tap into new occasions
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InterviewsPapa Johns UK: ‘We’re effectively resetting the business’
The brand relaunch will underpin the pizza chain’s journey back to profitability and growth, while “showing Domino’s we mean business,” head of marketing Simon Wallwork tells MCA
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NewsJust Eat expands automation with drone deliveries and AI
The food delivery platform is advancing its automation strategy with drone-operated deliveries and an AI-powered ordering assistant
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NewsPizzaExpress celebrates 60 years with new menu
The casual dining chain has marked its anniversary with new additions to its menu, leveraging recent trends towards spice, provenance, and indulgence
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OpinionMenu planning – are we playing a broken record?
It’s flexibility, creativity and speed of change that can have the largest impact on bottom line when it comes to menu planning, David Read, founder and chairman of Prestige Purchasing writes in MCA
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Analysis & InsightBodean’s looks to reignite American BBQ trend
The London-based, Kansas-inspired restaurant concept is looking to fire up interest in smokehouse cuisine with a revamped menu and the appointment of meat guru Richard Turner
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Analysis & InsightIs meat really making a comeback?
MCA delves into reports suggesting a surprise swing back to growth in meat consumption, particularly among health-conscious younger people, but finds a more complex, nuanced picture in the data
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Analysis & InsightHow drinks are the focus of innovation in QSR
Launches like KFC’s Kwench and McDonald’s CosMc’s underscore how beverages are more than just add-ons, but a core strategy for driving growth, differentiation, and customer engagement
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NewsSubway launches new ‘spudway’ range
The sandwich giant is trialling a new range of jacket potatoes, freshly made in-store daily, with toppings including cheese, beans, bacon, tuna, and chicken tikka
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Analysis & InsightInnovation spotlight: Riffs on the Sunday roast
The sacred Sunday classic popular in British restaurants and pubs is finding its way onto the menus at Indian, Caribbean, and tapas concepts. MCA explores innovative new twists on the roast dinner
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Analysis & InsightBeyond viral: Translating brand hype into sales
MCA looks at how brands like Wingstop, Dave’s Hot Chicken, and Popeyes have successfully inserted themselves into the zeitgest to build both hype and long-term cultural relevance