Restaurants: Fast-food chains revise menus as more Gen Zers dine out

Why It Is Trending: • Rapid Rise in Gen Z Dining Frequency Gen Zers are now the most active restaurant-goers, with nearly one in five dining out multiple times per week—quadrupling Baby Boomer frequency. Their social habits and disposable income shifts make dining out a primary leisure activity. • Korean Culture’s Global Momentum The “Hallyu”…

Read More

Food: These viral food trends actually deliver

Why It Is Trending: • Economic Necessity & Affordability Rising grocery costs—USDA projects a 3.2% increase in 2025 after almost 25% inflation since 2020—are forcing consumers to rethink shopping and cooking habits. Budget-conscious households are embracing cost-saving hacks (e.g., using scraps for broth, regrowing produce) and recipes that maximize inexpensive ingredients without sacrificing flavor. •…

Read More

Restaurants: Fakeaway Meal Recipes

Why Is This Topic Trending? • “Fakeaway” goes mainstream. With food-at-home spending still elevated and third-party delivery fees rising, more shoppers want takeaway taste without the surcharge; eight in ten Americans now say saving money on food is their top 2025 priority. • Dupe culture jumps from fashion to food. Viral TikTok and Instagram “dupes” now target…

Read More

Food: Americans on Healthy Food and Eating

Why Is This Topic Trending: • Rising Food Inflation: With 90% of U.S. adults agreeing that healthy food has become more expensive in recent years, inflation is significantly impacting grocery decisions and health-conscious eating behaviors. • Public Health Focus: Obesity, heart disease, and diet-related illnesses are among the top national health issues. The government, including…

Read More

Shopping: Relevance beats recognition in the era of brand doubt

Why is the topic trending?  • Shift in Consumer Priorities: The article highlights a shift where brand recognition is no longer enough to secure consumer loyalty. Instead, relevance, reliability, and real value are becoming the key drivers for purchase decisions. • Erosion of Brand Loyalty: The piece presents data indicating a decline in brand loyalty due to…

Read More

Shopping: Fast Fashion Under Fire: Shein’s Trump Strategy

Why is the Topic Trending? • Rapid Market Expansion: Shein quickly became the fourth-largest global apparel brand. • Trade Policy Impact: Removal of the US de minimis exemption significantly affects pricing. • Strategic Market Diversification: Expansion into Latin America and India to counteract US market saturation. • Supply Chain Shift: Strategic local production hubs established outside China.OverviewShein is adjusting…

Read More

Entertainment: Bob Iger Says ‘Thunderbolts’ Is ‘First and Best’ Example of Marvel’s New Movie Strategy: ‘We Lost a Little Focus by Making Too Much’

Why It’s Trending: • Executive Acknowledgment of Overload: Disney CEO Bob Iger’s candid admission that Marvel “lost focus by making too much” has made headlines, signaling a major strategic reset in one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. • Box-Office & Critical Redemption: Thunderbolts’ $76 million opening and strong Rotten Tomatoes (88%) and CinemaScore (“A-”) marks a turnaround after…

Read More

Entertainment: Studios delaying movie streaming releases

Why Is This Topic Trending? • Post-Pandemic Box Office Recovery Needs: With the U.S. theatrical market still down 4 per cent year-on-year in 2024, studios are returning to longer theatrical windows to boost in-cinema attendance and revenue. • Soft Overseas Markets & Tariff Risks: Underperformance in China and looming tariff disruptions make domestic box office protection a…

Read More