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Sense of optimism going into winter
Industry trends research from leading syrup brand, MONIN, has uncovered that 54% of managed business leaders in the hospitality industry feel optimistic about the success of their own business over the next 12 months, up 7% from the start of this year. This is largely based on a positive 2022 for the OOH sector, with exciting trends coming to the fore and influencing spending. In fact, 61% of consumers are happy to spend the same amount on OOH special occasions as they did last year. These insights come from MONIN’s annual Winter Drinks Trends Report, helping venues prepare for the colder months ahead. The UK-branded coffee shop market is now the largest and most advanced in Europe. It has seen an 11.9% increase in value in the past 12 months, now at £4.9 billion. Winter 2022 experienced important industry shifts: ● Hot chocolate overtook the flat white to become the third-favourite coffee shop beverage, and one-in-
three consumers now choose nondairy milk options for their hot drink. This is the highest ever. ● Iced coffee maintained popularity following summer. With 71% of consumers purchasing one in the past 12 months, the trend is being driven by 18- to 34-year-olds, with 7.3% drinking an iced drink OOH every day of the year. Coffee shops should look for iced summer favourites on the menu throughout winter, alongside iced variations of popular flavours and LTOs. ● Mochas have long been considered a winter staple and the lines between coffee and hot chocolate continue to blur, with offerings from last winter at branded and independent coffee shops driving this forward. This is set to increase, with many outlets offering different serve options, such as praline, cookie and cold brew mochas. ● Pumpkin spice is synonymous with Halloween, but the flavour even appeared as early as August. In fact, searches rose by 174% in August 2022, and again by 84% in October 2022. It’s set to remain popular, alongside the favourite autumn flavour, gingerbread. Lee Hyde, senior beverage expert at MONIN, said: “It has been wonderful to see the OOH coffee market pick up following the devastation of the pandemic. Flavoured hot chocolates – particularly with a confectionary twist – proved popular with key events such as Halloween, giving ample opportunity to diversify from the norm. It will be interesting to see how they play out as we move towards winter 2023, and there is opportunity for outlets to flex creative muscles to keep consumers excited about the industry.”
This winter will undoubtedly be challenging for hospitality; issues around recruitment, the supply chain and operational costs have not been resolved. But consumer love for the industry is still evident. Three key trends for winter 2023 across the coffee sector are: 1. With iced drinks infiltrating all seasons and blended coffees the most increased beverage to order, predictions are that the overlap between coffee and cocktails will go a lot further than just the classic Espresso Martini – think boozy frappés and fruity coffees. In fact, coffee is the sixth-favourite taste profile for cocktails. 2. Bubble tea is booming, with more outlets offering one of its many types. It’s no longer exclusive to bubble tea outlets, as coffee shops and bars, from the high street to the high end, are incorporating bubble tea and boba into their menus and cocktail offerings. This was seen at the start of 2023 and is expected to accelerate this winter. 3. Consumers are looking for affordable treats. These include syrup flavours in beverages, such as lattes, mochas and hot chocolates. Hyde added: “Now is the time for outlets to look at winter menus. We know constant innovation is hard work, but using these trends as the foundation can make the process fun, while grounding new ideas in insights that we know resonate with consumers. MONIN’s winter report features recipes for bartenders and baristas to follow and make the most of these evolving trends.” Find out more at monin1912.com.
4 CAFÉ LIFE | THECAFELIFE.CO.UK
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24/11/2023 12:47