As social media and YouTube continue to skyrocket, it’s clear that brands can’t afford to ignore the power of video. With 90% of businesses integrating video into their marketing strategies, and audiences spending an average of 17 hours a week watching content online1, video is where brands need to focus in order to generate leads, attract new audiences and raise awareness.
What’s better than reading about the latest out-of-home trends? Eating and drinking them! As you know, we are well-versed in the out-of-home market, but we love keeping up to date with the latest developments through Lumina’s Food Strategy Forum Debrief (which you can read here), swiftly followed by the Lumina Food Concept Study Tour.
This time around, we took a venture out to Hackney for the latest food safari, looking at all the new, exciting operators and concepts that are at the forefront of innovation and trends. Here is a quick whistle-stop tour of the afternoon…
Over the course of the next year, plant-based menu options are set to increase by over 400%1, signalling an emerging shift in the foodservice industry. With 23% of UK consumers identifying as flexitarian2 (primarily eating plant-based with occasional inclusion of meat), and 40% of British consumers demanding plant-based options3, the market for plant-based alternatives continues to grow. And with conversations about the planet only intensifying, it doesn’t stop there. Consumers are also looking for sustainable alternatives to mainstream foods.
Social media and video content are only getting bigger and it’s safe to say that one key element of that – influencer marketing – is here to stay (we should know – as a leading food and drink agency, we’ve worked with some of the biggest influencers in food and drink!). Most brands are already using influencers to help with brand growth and credibility, but how much of your social strategy should rely on the influence of others?
I know I speak for many people (including myself once) when I say Instagram reels can seem daunting, and it can be the most challenging part of social media for many. However, they are much simpler than they look. In this blog, I am going to take you through some of my top tips to keeping up with reels.
At jellybean, we didn’t let Earth Day (April 22nd) and Jellybean Day (also April 22nd!) pass without a celebration. We organised an entire week filled with eco-friendly activities, and not only did we have fun we also took the time to recognise our eco accomplishments as an agency.
But we didn’t stop there! As part of our commitment to the environment, we raised funds for EarthDay.org, an organisation that drives meaningful action for our planet through various programs and campaigns.
To encourage everyone to do their bit for the environment, we asked our beans to take part in initiatives aligned with the 5 topics of Earth Day – Meat-Free, Plastic, Conservation, Art & Fashion, and Climate Change. We believe that even small actions can have a big impact, and we hope that our efforts will inspire others to join in as well.
Both consumers and brands have the power to create real change, and by examining our own buying choices, we can help to make our world a fairer and more ethical place. This Fairtrade Fortnight (27th February – 12th March) is about spreading a simple message – making the small switch to Fairtrade supports producers in protecting the future of some of our most-loved food and the planet.
Food brings people together in a huge variety of ways, from family gatherings or a friendly pick-me-up to first dates or peace-offerings. Everyone has a favourite food, ranging from pizza to pasta, cookies to cakes, and all the good stuff in between! So many amazing dishes and ingredients are available to indulge in today, and World Food Day (16th October) celebrates them all.
National Hospitality Day was launched last year to celebrate the brilliant, resilient restaurants, pubs, hotels, bars, cafes, and the amazing people who work within them. Despite the worst of the pandemic, the industry demonstrated just how hospitality makes our communities better. Last year, over £50,000 was raised as businesses were asked to incorporate a fundraising element into their activities to support charities (specifically Drinks Trust, Springboard, Hospitality Action, Only a Pavement Away and Licensed Trade Charity).
As time goes on, we are learning more about our earth and our oceans, and how they impact our day-to-day life. It is no longer just about living side by side with planet earth, everything is linked and intertwined. Essentially, we have a symbiotic relationship with nature – something we have been treating as a parasitic relationship. We have been taking more than we can give, and it is time to start giving back. We already know that climate change is a real danger, and that our oceans store large amounts of carbon dioxide – so what steps, however small, can we do as individuals to help?
Did you know? It is estimated that up to 20% of adults and children in the UK have a food hypersensitivity*. Food Allergy Awareness Week is an initiative created by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) to raise awareness of different food allergies and improve public understanding of what can be a life-threatening condition. Founded in 1991 by a mother whose daughter had recently been diagnosed with a milk and egg allergy, FARE began its Food Allergy Awareness Week in 1998.
Ever dreamed of what it’s like to live a stress-free life? Me too. Whether you are stressing over work, life problems, or even just that one niggling thought that won’t go away – it is natural. For Stress Awareness Month, I have asked the beans for some of their top tips for destressing after a hard day’s work!
As a leading food and drink agency, we are always keen to keep up and deliver the latest foodservice trends & insights that play a key part in planning and strategizing for our clients in hospitality. Lumina’s latest Food Strategy Forum looked at food-to-go, delivery and the restaurant market with current statistics and predictions until 2025 extracted from their latest reports.
‘I never wanted to be employed simply because I was a token woman to fulfil a quota.’ This was what jellybean CEO Fiona said when asked about barriers in her career. Many women still feel this way and insight suggests there is still inequality in many industries. Even now, in 2022, it is likely to take 30 more years to reach gender parity at senior levels of the financial services industry*. In the advertising industry, 45% of women sit in leadership roles, however, a 10% pay gap still exists, with this gap rising to 24% as a whole**.
I can’t believe it’s Pancake Day again. Honestly, it just crêped up on me. Joke aside – if anyone was to ask me what my favourite holiday was, my answer is always the same – Pancake Day. A day of fluffy goodness where you can eat as much as you like – guilt-free – with a wide range of toppings. What could be better?
Valentine’s day is a popular holiday to celebrate with our loved ones – whether this is a partner, family or even a pet (27% of people would buy a present for their pet and one third would rather spend the day with their pet than their partner (National Retail Federation) – Whisky, will you be my valentine next year?
1st February marks the start of the Year of The Tiger under the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This is known as the Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year or Spring Festival and celebrations will typically last for 16 days, from the New Year’s Eve up until the Lantern Festival (this year is the 15th February). It is a celebration that over 2 billion people get involved in all over the world.
I have chosen WaterAid as my nomination for jellybean’s 12 days of giving. This is a charity that is close to my heart as it was the one that my Grandad donated to every month until he unfortunately passed this year. This has made me want to showcase what life-changing work they do.
The popularity of Veganuary, Meatless Mondays and even National Vegetarian day is well known, with much of the media covering it and becoming trends on social media. However, Organic September has nowhere near as much cover (I also wish the name was a bit catchier, why they don’t use alliteration and go for ‘Organic October’ – ‘Orgtober’ – or ‘Natural November’ is beyond me).
If you see yourself as a culinary fan who has tasted foods from all over the world but has not yet explored Caribbean dishes, are you really a true culinary fan? In Caribbean culture, food is an integral aspect of life with many people spending days upon days preparing their food.
