The "Scroll" Dictates Our Menus (and Other Things to Know)

Here, our editorial team is whipping up a small concentration of industry news for you. Just enough to fuel reflection on the evolution of the foodservice sector.

© GONDOLA BANANA

A Cold Shower for the Restaurant Industry After the Holiday Boost

TENDANCES restauration – Despite 2025 closing on a positive note, the out-of-home consumption market has come to a sudden halt with zero growth at the start of 2026.

The marked inflation of +4.8% in the first quarter is weighing heavily on household budgets, which are now prioritizing price over flavor when dining out. This gloomy economic context is forcing the French into strict trade-offs, making alcoholic beverages the first spending item sacrificed to reduce the bill. Facing this caution, nearly one in two independent table-service restaurants is seeing its business decline, confirming an overall drop in footfall. Only the snacking segment in convenience stores seems to be resisting the crisis, showing radiant health with a +14% increase in revenue.

When the "Scroll" Dictates the Menu: Social Media is Making Its Way Onto Our Plates

Le monde de l'EPICERIE FINE – Digital platforms have become major food influencers, now influencing more than one in two French people in their consumption habits.

This dynamic is particularly pronounced among 18-24-year-olds, 88% of whom have already purchased a product or tried a recipe following an online post. Users navigate between a quest for health and gourmet temptations, pushing manufacturers to adapt their offerings to reconcile transparency and visual appeal. The impact is immediate and concrete, as illustrated by the meteoric success of viral products such as "Dubai chocolate" or brand launches by content creators. For the food industry, digital storytelling has thus become the indispensable lever to transform a virtual trend into a real act of purchase.

2026 World Cup: Lay’s Transforms Your Appetizers into a Culinary Tournament

POUR NOURRIR DEMAIN  – On the occasion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lay’s is launching an unprecedented collection of chips inspired by global cuisines.

The range features three distinct recipes, ranging from traditional French thyme chicken to the smoky flavors of American barbecue ribs. Each pack adopts a resolutely sporty design to visually match the excitement of international football. The objective is to establish itself as the essential companion for fans during shared moments watching matches. This initiative allows the brand to celebrate the diversity of participating countries while enticing the taste buds of football fans.

Large Groups and Food Gems: The Marriage of Power and Agility

Sylvain Zaffaroni – Faced with the stagnation of their historical models, food giants are massively acquiring small innovative brands to capture new trends such as organic or plant-based products.

These acquisitions are not simple image trophies, but a strategic necessity to enter market segments where value and growth are being rebuilt. The major challenge lies in the integration of these structures: an industrialization that is too rigid would risk breaking the authenticity and agility that made the startup's initial success. Groups are thus moving from a single-brand logic to portfolio management where the diversity of promises must be orchestrated with finesse. To guarantee the longevity of this model, the period of 24 to 36 months following the buyout is considered the critical milestone for preserving the brand's DNA while benefiting from the large group's strike force.

Dr Pepper and Suntory: An Alliance to Conquer Europe

SNACKING – Keurig Dr Pepper and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe have officially sealed a major extension of their long-term strategic partnership.

This agreement entrusts Suntory with the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of the iconic Dr Pepper and Canada Dry brands across several key European markets. The objective is to accelerate the growth and visibility of these beverages in countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. The two giants intend to rely on Suntory's logistical and industrial expertise to strengthen the presence of these products on shelves. This alliance is part of a desire to sustain the international success of Dr Pepper, which remains the oldest soft drink brand in the United States, created in 1885.

Metro France: Cynthia Mérope Takes the Helm to Reinvent the Restaurant Industry

NEO restauration – Mérope was appointed Managing Director of the food and equipment wholesaler Metro France on March 2, 2026, exactly seventeen years to the day after joining the company.

Her roadmap follows the continuity of the "Score 2030" plan, aimed at strengthening global support for independent restaurateurs. She is betting on an omnichannel model capable of assisting professionals at every stage, from kitchen installation to digital solutions such as "Tap to Pay" payments. To meet sustainability requirements, the leader prioritizes local and premium products secured by long-term partnerships with agricultural sectors. As the only woman to sit on certain professional bodies in the sector, she makes the promotion of talent and the evolution of mindsets a major axis of her HR policy.