Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Fare
Freebie
Brands offer cost-free menu items to intrigue and delight consumers.
2.8
Trend score
Trend
What is the Fare Freebie trend?
Fare Freebie: In an attempt to draw in new consumers, food and beverage companies offer flavorful giveaways as a means to reach a broader audience. By providing consumers with cost-free snacks and drinks, brands are able to showcase their products and build a more diverse following. This creates a more authentic, humanized brand perception, which is especially relevant to consumers in the social media age.
Trend themes
Themes within the Fare Freebie trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Freebies and Giveaways
Brands offer free products to customers in order to broaden their audience and humanize their brand; health conscious consumers and millennials appreciate free nutritious options.
02
Celebration Promotions
Special promotions linked to occasions make customers feel included in the celebration, fostering strong customer relationships and generating free press.
03
Food Pairing Promotions
Promotions linking popular foods such as coffee and donuts, or grilled cheese and ice cream, encourage customers to purchase complementary or unexpected combinations and help brands stand out.
Industry implications
What the Fare Freebie trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage
Free food and drink giveaways are a new marketing incentive to attract customers and promote a brand's unique offerings.
For
Healthcare
Companies such as Cinnabon and Wienerschnitzel have offered promotions that are targeted at healthcare professionals, both fostering brand loyalty with an important audience segment and recognizing the importance of their work.
For
Event Management
Special occasions such as National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day and National Nurses Week are being recognized by companies across industries, allowing for opportunities to showcase unique services and offerings, and generate free press and social media buzz.
Workshop question
If you were to launch a promotion with product giveaways, which products would you offer to draw in consumers?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Fare Freebie
Trend score 2.8 out of 10, from popularity 41%, activity 35%, freshness 8%.
Popularity41%
Activity35%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Fare Freebie trend
6 featured examples from Oct 9, 2015 to Sep 29, 2016CategoryMarketing
Coffee Pairing Promotions
Krispy Kreme is Celebrating National Coffee Day 2016 with Free Food
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative marketing strategies to attract and retain customers.
CategoryMarketing
Tasty Mother's Day Giveaways
This Wienerschnitzel Promotion Rewards Moms with a Free Meal
Fast food restaurants can create engaging seasonal campaigns aligned with their brand identity to drive customer traffic and gain market share
CategoryLifestyle
Food Truck Pumpkin Giveaways
This Healthy Food Truck is Giving Out Free Pumpkin Pie Quest Bars
Opportunities for food and beverage brands to create innovative marketing campaigns using promotional giveaways and seasonal flavors.
CategoryMarketing
Appreciative Cinnamon Bun Giveaways
This Cinnabon Promotion Celebrates National Nurses Week
Food and beverage companies are developing appreciation promotions and giveaways to show support for healthcare workers during special occasions.
CategoryMarketing
Unlimited Ice Cream Giveaways
This Chain is Giving Away Free Scoops of Its Most Popular Flavors
Restaurants and food companies alike can benefit from offering free samples or promotional events to attract new customers and increase sales.
CategoryLifestyle
Celebratory Grilled Cheese Giveaways
This Event Marks National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
Opportunity for restaurants, food trucks, and food manufacturers to capitalize on the popularity of grilled cheese sandwiches and create innovative offerings.
