Trends we spotted | Week 49
Kaaswinkel Bourgondisch Lifestyle Beverwijk 
Masterclass Jonnie & Thérèse Boer via Grootmeesters
KFC - the Sharemobile Tour
Nobu Residences, Hotel & Restaurant opens in 2026 at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi 
Raffles Doha & Fairmont Doha in Qatar
Sindalah Island, Saudi Arabia - credits NEOM
The Heathrow Festive Express
THERMOPRO - The Lighting One-Second Instant-Read Waterproof Meat Thermometer
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 amongst others Sindalah, the first island development in NEOM in Saudi Arabia has been announced. And in Qatar the Raffles Doha & Fairmont Doha made their debut. Both are located in the Katara Towers.
ProVeg released a newsletter in which they signal the beginning of a big change in the field of plant-based catering. Interesting newsletter for those looking for plant-based alternatives. And ThermoPro launches a new innovative meat thermometer, The Lightning.
The Heathrow Express has recently launched the Festive Express with an emotional ad! We see a lot of those! And KFC® launched a Sharemobile Tour to share fried chicken with families in need, this holiday season.
Nobu Hospitality and Aldar Properties announced a Nobu Residences, Hotel & Restaurant on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. And the Dutch Cheese shop Bourgondisch Lifestyle Beverwijk continues as franchise outlet.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Plant-based catering increasingly the standard
We’ve been reading ProVeg’s newsletter for a few years now. Interesting read for those looking for plant-based alternatives, link to their English website in the title. The newsletter is unfortunately in Dutch but in this newsletter, ProVeg signals the beginning of a big change in the field of plant-based catering. Where previously you could be happy if there was a hummus sandwich on the buffet, more and more caterers and their clients are now setting ambitious goals, such as an 80% plant-based assortment (sorry Dutch link to an article about the Compass Group)! Research by WUR shows that a more sustainable and healthier assortment leads to greater satisfaction among guests in the catering and care sectors.
They are also increasingly seeing plant-based products becoming the standard, like at catering company Appèl, which is the first caterer in the Netherlands to stop selling animal tuna at all 700 schools and companies where they serve food. Instead, Appèl will henceforth use plant-based tuna from ProVeg partner Seasogood on all sandwiches, pizzas and salads.
ThermoPro launches a new innovative meat thermometer | The Lightning
ThermoPro, the #1 rated affordable meat thermometer on Amazon, launched a new product, the ThermoPro Lightning One-Second Instant-Read Waterproof Meat Thermometer. Achieve perfection in a flash with temperature readings in just one second, the fastest response time on the market, and with pinpoint accuracy using a built-in sophisticated thermocouple probe, making this the ideal tool for grilling, deep frying, baking, barbecuing and more. More details in their press release, link in the title.
Sindalah | First island development in NEOM, Saudi Arabia
His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the NEOM Company Board of Directors, has announced the development of Sindalah, the first luxury island destination in NEOM and one of the most important projects supporting Saudi Arabia’s national tourism strategy.
A main gateway to the Red Sea offering bespoke nautical experiences, Sindalah is expected to start welcoming guests to enjoy its exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings from early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services. Many more details in their press release, link in the title. We wrote about the NEOM project in our trends we spotted in week 30 this year, included a youtube video about THE LINE.
Speaking of emotional Holiday ads | Here is one of The Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express – the fastest route between central London and Heathrow Airport – has recently launched the Festive Express. Until 7th December, those lucky enough to be travelling on the service would experience a more joyful journey as one of its carriages has been transformed into an enchanting festive scene.
From December 5th until Wednesday December 7th , Christmas postal elves were on hand to greet passengers as they stepped onboard, where they would be surrounded with twinkling lights and the sound of sleigh bells ringing. Once seated, passengers could immerse themselves in a magical carriage decked with colourful baubles, packed with parcels, and rammed to the rafters with festive fun. During the journey, families were able to write a letter to Santa, plus, special treats including a Golden Ticket giveaway and a chance to win a shopping spree were on offer across the three days. The world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first to experience the Festive Express, setting off on a Yuletide expedition in search of the spirit of Christmas. More details in their press release in the link in the title or watch the video below.
KFC® launched a Sharemobile Tour to share fried chicken with families this holiday season
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, Kentucky Fried Chicken® is hitting the road with longtime partner Blessings in a Backpack to feed families in need with the KFC Sharemobile, a holiday-edition charitable food truck. The KFC Sharemobile will deliver finger lickin’ good family meals to families starting December 5 in communities that have been recently affected by food insecurity or other hardships that make it more difficult for families to put food on the table this holiday. Check out their press release, link in the title.
Nobu Hospitality and Aldar Properties announced a Nobu Residences, Hotel & Restaurant on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi
Nobu Hospitality, the fastest growing luxury lifestyle brand, and Aldar Properties (PJSC), one of the leading real estate developers and managers in the UAE, announce plans to create the Nobu Hotel, Restaurant, and Residences in Abu Dhabi. Opening in 2026 on Saadiyat Island, a world class cultural hub, Nobu Hotel will boast 165 luxuriously spacious guest rooms and suites, including a stunning Nobu Villa. As one would only expect from the legendary culinary brand, the hotel will offer unrivalled destination dining including a magnificent Nobu restaurant with spectacular waterfront and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi views mirroring the famed Nobu Malibu. Watch the video below or their press release, link in the title.
Raffles & Fairmont make debut in Qatar
The ultra-luxury Raffles Doha and luxury Fairmont Doha – which herald the entry of the aspirational Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brands to Qatar – are open since November 22, exclusively to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ guests and the VIP delegation. The dual-branded five-star properties, housed within Katara Towers, have welcomed their first guests while supporting the nation’s historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ by delivering exemplary service and truly exceptional experiences in both hotels. More details in their press release, link in the title.
Cheese shop Bourgondisch Lifestyle Beverwijk continues as franchise outlet
Cheese and delicatessen shop Bourgondisch Lifestyle in Beverwijk will have a future as a franchise outlet. Owner René Koelman of Bourgondisch Lifestyle and wholesaler Kaasfort Amsterdam has recruited Corina and Mark van Kimmenaede as franchisees from 1 January 2023. The (married) couple also runs De Wijcker Kookclub in Beverwijk and restaurant Mr. & Mrs. in Haarlem.
Until 2021, the premises at Plantage 120 A in Beverwijk housed Bourgondisch Lifestyle’s shop, cheese wholesale business and cheese maturing plant. After the wholesaler and ripener moved to Fort Zuidwijkermeer in Assendelft in 2021 and continued there under the name Kaasfort Amsterdam, more space was created and the shop was given a restyling. The Bourgondisch Lifestyle shop in Amsterdam remains in-house, partly because it is also a service point for the Amsterdam catering industry. They are also exploring franchise opportunities in Haarlem and other cities.
