Heighten Your Senses
Alongside the entertainment and leisure sector, the hospitality industry has undergone a period unlike any other, with a world of new opportunities out there for those willing to move with the times and offer something unique and innovative to its customers as demand is returning and experience remains one of the top trends in F&B.
Running alongside MAPIC and LeisurUp on 28-30 November is The Happetite Forum by MAPIC, an international F&B industry forum that works to accelerate the expansion of restaurant chains into retail and urban destinations.
The Happetite will feature a dedicated programme of conference and networking events, featuring some of the fastest-growing international restaurant brands; will enable participants to discover the latest trends, from the ever-increasing focus of consumers on sustainability and ethical practices to the evolution of dining concepts and formats. Sessions will provide valuable insight on how major brands are developing their offer and how destinations are adapting to meet these changing needs.
Over the coming pages, RLI will highlight a number of global food and beverage concepts that are standing out from the crowd and driving people back to restaurants and spaces that present a whole new take on the world of F&B.
International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, IDQ develops, licenses and services a system of more than 7,000 locations in over 20 countries. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire. Its first Dairy Queen site opened all the way back in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois and their mission of creating positive memories for all who touch DQ has not stopped since. It has been recently announced that International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), through its wholly owned subsidiary American Dairy Queen Corporation, a leader in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry and CFB Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary Shanghai Shida Catering Management Co., Ltd., a franchise ownership company based in Shanghai, has announced plans to open 180 food-centric DQ® restaurants in China by 2034. CFB Group is expanding its footprint by committing to open the first food-centric DQ restaurants in China.
Panera Bread, a leader and innovator in the fast casual restaurant segment, announced the opening of its updated urban store format in New York last year, the newest of several new formats targeted at more densely populated and non-traditional trade areas. With digital sales at Panera now representing 50 per cent of total system sales, Panera now offers a portfolio of store formats designed to cater to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. With more than three million average transactions each week from digital channels including the app, kiosk and web, Panera guests continue to seek freshly-prepared menu items with the increased convenience, customisation, speed and ease that the digital experience enables. Operating more than 2,100 bakery-cafes worldwide, the company continues to expand around the globe.
Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Foods Corporation, the largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant company in the world. With 70 stores in North America, 1300 stores across the globe and many more yet to come, our mission is to spread the joy of eating. In each market we call home, we serve up our great tasting food with the warm and friendly service we have come to be known for. The fast food giant is expanding its global presence by opening up to 600 new stores this year. The quick-service restaurant chain’s expansion plan this year could be the biggest in its history, exceeding the record 542 stores it opened last year. At the end of 2022 the company operated 6,480 stores worldwide.
These days, high-end brands are increasingly pairing their collections with caffeine and sweets to connect with more customers and drive engagement within brick-and-mortar spaces. An example of this is Maison Kitsune, a company that has successfully translated its cult brand into spaces that appeal to their target audience: a caffeine-obsessed cohort of millennials and Gen Z. Since the opening of the first Café Kitsuné in Tokyo, Japan, in 2013, Maison Kitsuné has since unveiled multiple outposts across Asia, with a particularly strong presence in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Jakarta Manila), in addition to cafes in Shanghai and Beijing. The newest Café Kitsuné opened back in March in Taipei’s Bellavista shopping mall, marking the brand’s 17th store in Asia and 26th globally. As in other Café Kitsuné outlets, Café Kitsuné Bellavista features bright orange elements referencing the brand’s orange fox logo.
Created back in 2013 and celebrating the best of authentic and innovative cuisine, Chotto Matte restaurants are set in stylish and contemporary architectural spaces, in the world’s most inspirational cities. Offering a dining setting unlike anything else on the market, Chotto Matte displays urban flair and avant-garde design features to deliver an unforgettable ambience that is both vibrant and electric. From the theatrics of the sushi counter and flaming robata grill, to live entertainment and DJs, the concept offers visitors a wholly immersive experience that will stay with them long after the meal finishes. The six locations that they operate to date are Soho and Marylebone sites in London, UK, Miami Beach in Florida and San Francisco in California, US, Toronto in Canada and the Doha site in Qatar. Its most recent opening took place last month in San Francisco and features a 400-seat rooftop restaurant, a sushi bar, DJ lounge and spectacular views of the city skyline.
Robuchon International has inherited the precious legacy of Robuchon. Our mission is clear, to steadfastly uphold his core beliefs of excellence, simplicity and consistency in every culinary endeavour. Delivering excellence, simplicity and consistency in every culinary endeavour, Robuchon London, part of JR International, is led by a team of experts many of whom worked alongside Joël Robuchon for decades. With L’Atelier Robuchon Mayfair, the team are embracing Joël Robuchon’s desire to open an accessible and intimate restaurant in Mayfair, one that is also in line with his much lauded philosophy of contemporary, convivial dining. Le Deli Robuchon Mayfair and Le Deli Robuchon Chelsea draw from the variety of more casual Robuchon offerings in existence adapted for the prestigious areas of London. The team are delighted to continue the legacy of one of the most influential chefs of our time.
Meanwhile, Jamie Oliver Restaurants celebrate the joy of food by creating unforgettable meal-time experiences all over the world. Part of The Jamie Oliver Group, they are proud of their innovative dishes, industry-leading food and nutrition standards; award-winning kids’ menus, welcoming staff and setting new heights for delivery-only food. As the Group looks to the future, they have plans to have a global estate of more than 200 sites by 2027. They are looking to increase their portfolio by 25 to 30 sites next year, adding to its current portfolio of 72 sites.
The Caprice group encompasses London’s favourite restaurants, from some of the oldest and most classic establishments in London to its most exciting and innovative new openings. There is, of course, a lot more to the Caprice group than history. Covering a variety of atmospheres and clienteles, this restaurant group ranges far and wide through the cuisines of the world – traditional and modern British, Italian, French and Asian included – in some of the best restaurants London has to offer. Far from resting on its laurels, the Caprice group is always looking for new ways to innovate and entertain. Since Richard Caring took over as Chairman in 2005, there have been acclaimed ventures in 34 Mayfair, Sexy Fish – Mayfair’s iconic late-night restaurant, Scott’s Mayfair, Scott’s Richmond, Bacchanalia, an indulgent feast for the senses in addition to international ventures such as Sexy Fish Miami and Nōema Mykonos.
Speaking of Sexy Fish, it has established itself as one of the globe’s leading restaurant concepts, serving delectable Asian-inspired cuisine, award-winning cocktails and has garnered acclaim for its sophisticated late-night experiences. Presently, their prestigious venues grace London’s exclusive Mayfair, Miami’s Brickell district and Manchester’s Spinningfields is their most recent unveiling. Each of the restaurants brings a sense of indulgent familiarity through striking artwork by the likes of Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry, Michael Roberts and Paul Clifford, along with a diverse range of menus, carefully crafted by their acclaimed Chef Director, Bjoern Weissgerber. They are looking to launch their fourth venture in the opulent city of Dubai in 2024.
EL&N is the leading Instagram café and lifestyle brand. Everything they make is irresistibly chic, pink perfection. Their products help their customers create that picture perfect moment – every time. With its brand name standing for Eat, Live and Nourish, all that they create is informed by these three guiding touch points and these most delectable food and drink offerings are presented in stunning settings featuring products for living a stylish life and a positive ethos to nourish the soul. Unveiled in 2017, the brand was originally meant to be just one small café in Mayfair. They began life by wanting to create a safe space where people could come and relax, enjoy delicious food and drink and stay late without the need for anything alcoholic. Today the company operates more than 30 locations around the world and is on course to continue growing for years to come.
Founded in London in 1999, Little Venice Cake Company is synonymous with understated elegance and offers bespoke cakes for Celebrity, Private and Corporate celebrations, as well as TV, Film and Media. The company’s enduring classical style combines intricate craftsmanship with indulgent cakes. Having had a bespoke Studio in London for 15 years, the company has now expanded overseas and diversified to provide solutions working across the hospitality, retail and food service sector. This expansion includes the launch of the Little Venice Cake Company Atelier within Atlantis The Royal – the world’s most ultra-luxury experiential hotel. Exquisitely designed by Jeffrey Beers, the Atelier captures every essence of personality, quality, red carpet British glamour and a serene sophistication. There is also a retail area that serves a selection of fresh baked goods and a carefully curated collection of homewares that are all exclusive to Dubai. With award-winning innovative design, heritage and excellence, Little Venice Cake Company remains at the forefront of its profession as it looks forward to celebrating its 25th anniversary next year.
The UK’s award-winning hospitality and leisure operator BOXPARK has announced plans for its next BOXPARK-branded development in Birmingham. The new site, scheduled to launch in 2025, will follow the opening of new sites in other major UK cities as well as London and will be the first BOXPARK in the Midlands. BOXPARK has agreed a 15-year lease with landlords The Arch Company for the Floodgate Street Arches site, which is situated in Digbeth, Birmingham’s growing creative quarter. Formerly an industrial zone, Digbeth has now established itself as one of the UK’s key creative hubs with a large and growing cluster of creative industries, offices, restaurants, bars and leisure units opening in the area over the last 10 years. The site, which sits under four 12m railway arches, was previously used for industrial purposes. Spanning nearly 17,000sq ft, the proposed plans for the site will see it transformed into a stunning food hall and events destination featuring a large, covered structure with around 10 kitchen units and four internal bars set across two floors. In addition, there will be just over 10,500sq ft of external space to offer al fresco dining and events.
In 2007 James and Martin started BrewDog with a mission to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as they were. In April 2007, in a godforsaken industrial estate in North East Scotland, BrewDog came howling into the world. Since then, BrewDog has consistently been considered one of the UK’s fastest growing companies. After an incredibly successful history to date, today the company operates over 110 locations globally, including four hotels. Their portfolio started with their first bar launch in Aberdeen city centre in 2010 and now consists of more than 65 sites in the UK, 16 across Europe and the Nordics, nine in the US, five in India and four in Australia. In the last couple of years a slew of openings took place, with two of their most high-profile sites opening their doors in Waterloo and Las Vegas. The company has also launched three franchise locations recently with brand new partners. Upminster is their first opening in Essex and the other two opened in Australia in Pentridge, Melbourne and South Eveleigh, Sydney. They are also expanding in the US with their partner and have a growing pipeline of bars launching in the travel sector.
Arcade Food Hall & Bar is now open in the heart of Battersea Power Station and the 24,000sq ft space offers a modern approach to dining, houses a 500-cover food hall, two bars, three restaurants and a private dining room, all set in the buzzing atmosphere of the Power Station. Guests can experience 13 different cuisines made up of new brands such as Phed Power; fiery stir fries and salads from Isan, Thailand. Siu Siu; Cantonese comfort food inspired by the roast meat restaurants of Hong Kong Leccami Gelato; authentic Italian gelato. Existing brands such as Hero; Indian fast food, Sushi Kamon; Japanese sushi, Tipan Tapan; Nepali street food Shatta & Toum; Middle Eastern shawarma kitchen also form part of the line-up of global cuisines on the menu. The new food hall has two bars; Tap Room and ABC Bar. Tap Room showcases a wall of 32 taps, serving cocktails using locally sourced ingredients and a host of beers from international and South London breweries. ABC Bar, inspired by classic cocktail culture, offers a concise menu of the world’s most famous cocktails.
The brand Eataly is the combination of two English words: EAT and ITALY. Eataly is about eating Italian food, but not it’s not just about Italian food. Eataly’s main goal is to demonstrate that high-quality products can be made available to everyone: easy to find and at affordable prices, but that’s not all. Eataly wants to communicate faces, production methods and stories of people and companies who make the best Italian high quality food and wine. Since its first store opening in Turn in 2007, Eataly has been able to offer the best artisan products at reasonable prices by creating a direct relation between producers and distributors focusing on sustainability, responsibility and sharing. The brands newest upcoming site is set to open at the base of 200 Lafayette Street at the northeast corner of Broome Street in the Soho neighbourhood of downtown Manhattan on over 18,000sq ft of space on the ground floor and lower levels.
Time Out Market brings the best of the city together under one roof: the best chefs, drinks and cultural experiences – all based on Time Out’s editorial curation. It is the world’s first editorially curated food and cultural market, bringing the Time Out brand to life with the best local food and drinks complemented by cultural activities. Next year, the food and cultural market will open in the heart of Manama. It will be located on the top floor of the City Centre Bahrain, making it a key food and cultural destination in the region and fulfilling the mall’s motto of offering its communities hyper localised, joyful experiences. With more than 35,000sq ft, Time Out Market Bahrain will offer plenty of space to showcase an editorially curated mix of the best local and home-grown talents from award-winning chefs to up-and-coming restaurateurs and artists. There will be eleven kitchens offering a variety of cuisines, a dessert counter, a coffee shop, two bars, one exhibition space, one stage and an al fresco rooftop. With more than 900 seats on two levels, guests will come together at communal tables in a uniquely designed space and get a true taste of Bahrain.
Located in the heart of Riyadh and focused on exceptional experiences not only to its customers but also its employees, MJS stands for Making Jobs and Smiles, a shared vision brought to life by their Chairman and Co-Founder, Mr Mohammed Jawa. MJS Holding, an international restaurant operator, is recognised for developing and operating high quality restaurants throughout the Kingdom. Last year they partnered with Sunset Hospitality to launch Black Tap in Saudi Arabia within the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and in 2023, the company launched and operated additional award-winning restaurants, such as: Mr. Chow, which serves authentic Beijing cuisine with creative original recipes; Zuma, which offers a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking; Amazonico, a rainforest-themed restaurant serving Latin American flavours and sushi; and Ruya. More restaurant openings are planned in the coming years.
Developer: Diriyah Company
Jerry Inzerillo, a titan of the hospitality industry is the current CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, the company spearheading the transformation of Diriyah, the iconic tourism destination in Saudi Arabia. As part of its development, the destination last year launched the world-class dining district Bujairi Terrace which houses 21 restaurants featuring a mix of world-famous brands and home-grown favourites. The historical area and the birthplace of the Kingdom houses the exciting new restaurant hub and meshes together rich culture, modernity and some exceptional food across 15,000sq m.