Why is the topic trending: • Consumer Demand for Ingredient Transparency: The article highlights a growing interest among beauty shoppers in understanding the ingredients within the products they purchase. • Popularity of the Yuka App: The Yuka app, which allows users to scan product barcodes to analyze ingredients, has gained significant traction, with over 65 million users…
Wellness: Body neutrality – A shift from beauty trends to confidence
Why is the topic trending: • Rise of Body Neutrality: The article discusses the growing movement of body neutrality as an alternative to body positivity, focusing on accepting the body for its functionality rather than just its appearance. • Challenging Beauty Standards: It highlights how body neutrality offers a mindset free from the pressures of societal beauty…
Travel: The rise of the mara-cation – why people are swapping R&R for running holidays
Why is the topic trending: • Increased Popularity of Running: The article notes a surge in the popularity of running, evidenced by record participation in the London Marathon and a high number of ballot applications. • Emergence of “Mara-cations”: People are increasingly combining their love for running with travel by participating in marathons abroad, choosing fitness-focused holidays…
Restaurants: Wendy’s collaborating with Mondelez, Kellanova, Takis in 2025
Why is the topic trending: • Wendy’s Sales and Traffic Decline: The article reports that Wendy’s experienced a decline in customer traffic in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to an overall slowdown in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. • Strategic Partnerships for Menu Innovation: To counter this trend, Wendy’s is actively collaborating with major food companies…
Restaurants: McDonald’s chef shares the secrets behind the restaurant chain’s coffee: “It is a special blend made just for McCafé”
Why is the topic trending: • McDonald’s Focus on Beverages: The article notes McDonald’s recent launch of the CosMc’s concept, a new fast-food venture centered around drinks, indicating a strategic move to compete in the broader beverage market against chains like Dunkin’ and Starbucks. • Improving McCafé Brand: Alongside the new concept, McDonald’s is actively working to…
Restaurants: ‘Humbling experience’: KFC on rejuvenating its social strategy to win over Gen Z
Why is the topic trending? • KFC’s Shift in Social Strategy: The article discusses how a major fast-food chain, KFC, recognized the need to overhaul its social media strategy to better connect with Gen Z consumers. • From Broadcast to Co-Creation: KFC’s previous “broadcast” approach on platforms like Twitter (now X) was no longer effective with Gen…
Shopping: How to win with Gen Z: Seven insights from a CGA by NIQ webinar
Why is the topic trending? • Gen Z’s Importance in the On-Premise: The article highlights that Gen Z consumers, who are now of legal drinking age, represent a crucial demographic for growth in the on-premise (eating and drinking out) sector globally. • Understanding Gen Z Needs: The piece notes a knowledge gap among industry leaders regarding how…
Restaurants: McDonald’s rival hit by sales decline as Americans pull back on eating out
Why is the topic trending: • Sales Decline at Major Fast-Food Chains: The article reports that Burger King experienced a 1.3 percent drop in North America sales in the first quarter of the year, which was worse than analysts expected, indicating a potential broader trend in the fast-food industry. • Economic Uncertainty Impacting Consumer Spending: The sales…
Beverages: When the apocalypse arrives, are we all drinking Corona?
Why It Is Trending: • Apocalypse as a Marketing Canvas Leveraging “end‐of‐days” narratives taps into cultural fascination with dystopia and survival tropes—heightened by recent global crises—creating a bold backdrop for brand storytelling. • Escapism Meets Mindfulness Corona’s “beach mindset” message—encouraging presence and contentment “no matter where you are”—resonates with Gen Z and millennials seeking mental…
Beverages: Out with the old: the wine industry’s battle to attract Gen Z
Why Is This Topic Trending: • Declining Alcohol Use Among Youth: Gallup surveys show a steady decline in alcohol consumption among U.S. adults aged 18–34, falling from 72% (2001–2003) to 62% (2021–2023). • Health-Conscious Generation: 65% of Gen Z drinkers believe alcohol is harmful to health—much higher than older generations. • Industry Adaptation Pressure: Winemakers…