Americas
Coffee, chicken and ‘swicy’ flavors feature in Grubhub’s 2024 delivery report
Grubhub’s 2024 Delivered Report has revealed that Americans went all-in on delivery this year. Key trends included a surge in protein-packed meals, with chicken dominating orders and cottage cheese experiencing a social-media fueled renewal. Espresso shot orders also spiked, while “swicy” (sweet and spicy) flavors such as hot honey gained traction. Mexican cuisine was the most popular international cuisine, with 1.3 million birria tacos ordered. In addition, convenience store and corporate coffee orders soared, while hotel guests favored in-room dining over nights on the town and over 1.6 million family meal orders highlighted a shift toward socializing over meal prepping.
Google pulls one-star reviews after McDonald’s tip led to Brian Thompson arrest
Google has removed a spate of one-star reviews targeting a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where a tip-off from an employee led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Negative posts flooded the restaurant’s page after Mangione’s arrest, with users referencing the healthcare industry and mocking the staff as “rats” and “narc” employees, slang terms for police informants. The reviews have since been taken down by Google as they violated its terms of use and additional protections have been implemented, according to a Google spokesperson.
Asia Pacific
India’s Zomato ordered to pay mammoth tax bill
Indian food delivery giant Zomato has been ordered to pay Rs8.04bn ($94.8m) in outstanding taxes and penalties for 2019-2022, which is more than four times the profit the company reported in its latest quarter. Zomato disputes the claim, arguing that delivery charges are collected on behalf of partners. The company, along with its competitor Swiggy, is also under antitrust scrutiny for allegedly violating competition laws and favoring certain restaurants. Alongside these challenges, Zomato raised Rs85bn through institutional placement in December 2024 and has recently introduced an order scheduling feature allowing customers to schedule food deliveries from two hours to two days in advance.
Tougher penalties introduced for violence against fast food and retail staff
Security footage revealing escalating violence against fast food and retail workers i Australia has prompted action from the NSW State Government in the lead-up to Christmas. The incidents, including fly-kicks, punches, and even a customer throwing a metal scooter, highlight alarming risks faced by staff during the busy holiday period. The SDA union for workers in retail, fast food and warehouses has reported that of 4,600 surveyed workers, 800 have experienced physical abuse. In response, tougher penalties have been introduced for perpetrators, including up to 11 years’ imprisonment for grievous bodily harm.
Europe, Middle East, Africa
‘Sad single’ fruit sells better, says European research
New research has shown that associating lone fruits with “sad” emotions can drive sales and reduce food waste. A study by academics at the University of Bath, RWTH Aachen and Goethe University Frankfurt found that labeling single bananas as “sad singles” increased purchases by 58% compared to emotionless signage. In contrast, “happy” labels drove only a 5.8% increase. “As far as we know, this is the first study comparing happy and sad expressions on bananas separated from their bunch to look at the impact on sales,” said University of Bath’s Lisa Eckmann, a co-author of the study. “The plight of the single bananas is really relatable, and the findings have very practical applications for boosting sales and reducing food waste from our supermarkets,” she added.
UK pubs will boost the economy in December, but can only expect slim margins
Nearly 300 million pints are set to be sold in UK pubs this month, generating £1.4 billion in turnover and £136 million in beer duty, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). However, despite contributing £3.3 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy and £1.7 billion to the UK Treasury, profit margins remain slim. With an average pint costing £4.80, pubs make just 12p per pint after costs. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said the figures show the sector’s economic impact but highlight the financial struggles faced by pubs due to rising business costs.
Elly Earls
