Mintel’s bi-annual Report delves into the UK foodservice market, exploring menu trends across various eateries, including full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants (QSRs like coffee shops, fast food outlets, and takeaways), pubs, and bars.
This edition identifies six key cuisine trends shaping the Autumn/Winter 2024/25 season. We leverage a combination of data sources for these insights, including:
- Consumer data from the UK foodservice market: this data focuses on people who have eaten out or ordered takeaway in the last month.
- Social media trends: this data analyses online conversations to understand consumer preferences and emerging interests.
- Google Trends: this data identifies search patterns related to food trends.
- New food product retail launches: this data tracks new products hitting the shelves to understand the trends within the retail landscape.
- Analyst observations of innovation and launches: our experts provide qualitative insights based on their observations of the market.
By combining data from both foodservice and retail sectors, along with social media trends and industry innovation, this report provides a comprehensive view for both foodservice operators and food manufacturers.
Mintel’s Pick of the Trends
American Heatwave: Over half of of British adults have ordered or are interested in ordering Southern United States (eg Kentucky, Louisiana) cuisines. As more consumers seek bold and fiery flavours, the emphasis on Southern United States culinary traditions is increasing. This trend is part of a broader desire for contrasting textures and rich, exhilarating dining encounters that go beyond the mundane.
Purchase the full report to learn more about the American Heatwave trend and the five other menu trends shaping the UK’s foodservice industry. Readers of this report may also be interested in Mintel’s extensive library of foodservice market reports.
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Trish Caddy, Mintel’s Associate Director – Foodservice. Trish Caddy currently writes a range of UK foodservice reports and has been called upon by some of UK’s leading media to comment on key insights and trends shaping the UK eating-out market. Prior to joining Mintel, Trish worked as a chef in London.
The dining scene is constantly evolving, as consumers look for dining experiences that cater to taste, nostalgia, and unique cooking methods.
Trish Caddy
Associate Director – Foodservice
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Introduction
- Menu Trends covered in this Report
- UK Menu Trends – Autumn/Winter 2024/25
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Foodservice Participation
- Participation rates for most activities remained stable from February to July
- Graph 1: seasonal changes in participation in foodservice activities once or more than once, 2024
- British cuisine reigns, but global flavours are on the rise
- Graph 2: foodservice consumer participation and interest in cuisines, 2024
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Factors Impacting Restaurant Choice
- Focus on unique flavours
- Graph 3: seasonal changes in foodservice visitation drivers, 2024
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Trend 1: Caribbean Kaleidoscope
- Enthusiasm for Caribbean cuisines among younger diners
- Refined Afro-Caribbean elegance
- Indo-Caribbean flavour wave
- Island flavours go green
- Caribbean on-the-go
- Caribbean pantry
- Actionable strategies
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Trend 2: Japan Hour
- Demand for Japanese culinary traditions infused with innovative global flavours
- Izakaya evolution
- Raw deals
- Nikkei nuances
- Wafu wonders
- Wafu: exploring katsu flavours in arancini
- Bowls and boxes
- Actionable strategies
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Trend 3: French Refreshed
- Unique flavour combinations can reinvigorate French cuisine
- Brasserie renaissance
- Brasserie buzz across generations
- Neo-Bistros
- Actionable strategies
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Trend 4: Campfire Stories
- Fire cooking that balances flavour and sustainability
- The smoke show
- Japandi essence
- Sustainable steaks
- Flatbread frenzy
- Actionable strategies
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Trend 5: American Heatwave
- Spicing up consumer preferences
- Southern fusion
- Americana revival
- Hot and hotter
- Actionable strategies
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Trend 6: Sauce code
- Artisanal sauces take centre stage
- Funky ferments
- Rising yeast sauce popularity in UK sauces and seasonings
- Graph 4: number of yeast sauce product launches, 2019-2023
- Fermented sauces take centre stage
- Caribbean heat
- Vadouvan curry simmering up
- Actionable strategies
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Appendix
- Consumer research methodology
- Market definition
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