Take a deep dive into how the month of October has shaped up over the years with research from our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends EBook.
thefoodpeople was established in 2005 rooted in our purpose to shift the future of food and drink by inspiring and informing people, business and institutions to harness the power of trends and foresight. Why do we do what we do? Well, we believe that food & drink connects us all, by working with our community, industry and our collaborators, positive impact in food & drink can shape a better future for all.
Since then a lot has changed across the food and beverage landscape, change that we've looked to capture in our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends E-Book. We look at what events, people, culture, regulations, technologies, and products defined these years, as well as the changes and impact on these for the future.
Here are some of the highlights captured from various months of October between 2006 and 2022.
October 2008 - This was the year that The Punch Bowl at Crossthwaite in Cumbria won Michelin's Pub of the Year. The year that small plates became big news, a concept that worked for both the consumer, who was able to try a greater variety if dishes, and the restaurant, who could feasibly increase their margins. This month also marked the announcement by France's Michelin Guide that Hong Kong and Macau would be the next Asian cities to have their top eateries put on the culinary map.
October 2013 - Chicken is trending. Loved for its versatility, cost-effectiveness and accessibility, chicken sales were on the up. In the US, UK and Aus, there was a rise in single or limited menu restaurants offering chicken as the main dish too. Burger King launched "healthy fries" this month, with their crinkle-cut French fry said to have 20% fewer calories than its regular option. We saw the ninth edition of Michelin's New York Guide, with six restaurants all maintaining their three star rating - Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, Daniel Le Bernadin, Jean Georges and Masa. And we saw Frances Quinn win Great British Bake Off 2013.
October 2016 - We couldn't get enough of glitter in 2016 and everything that shimmers across food and drink. From edible real silver floating in gin, Hartley's launching glitter jelly and Waitrose introducing glitter cake decorations, there was plenty happening. We saw M&S join the hybrid fun with its new Croloaf creation - a union of the croissant and bread. Whilst we saw a resurgence of both the Mediterranean Diet as well as pasta being a popular choice on plates once again.
October 2019 - With consumers, millennials especially, seeking more adventure at breakfast time and people opting for more balance rather than carbohydrate-heavy cereals, cereal seemed to be getting sidelined. The category therefore set about reinventing itself. London's Seven Dials saw a new street food market open, Kerb, bringing together some of the most sought-after London food alchemists - Nanban, Root Soda, Claw, Monty's Deli and Yum Bun to name a few. Whilst iconic London restaurant St. John released its new recipe cook book in honour of its 25th anniversary - The Book Of St. John.
October 2021 - This month saw the roll out of fast food chain Five Guys down under, with locations across both Australia and New Zealand - the first outpost for their cult burgers and fries being in Penrith, Sydney. Wagamama UK continued its drive to be more vegan-friendly with the launch of four new plant-based menu items - Spicy Vegan 'Short Rib' Ramen, Shu's 'Shiok' Jackfruit, Spicy Teriyaki Vegan 'Chicken' Steamed Buns and Teriyake Vegan 'Chicken' Ramen. The global COVID death toll passed the 5 million mark, whilst Elon Musk became the richest person ever with an estimated worth of $255.2 billion.
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A lot has happened in the month of October over the years - discover more in our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends E-Book. Find out how you can get your copy here.