Assisted Choices
Specialty
Cafe
Cafes market themselves as having one prominent specialty.
Trend
What is the Specialty Cafe trend?
Specialty Cafe: Where once cafes known for specializing in certain foods gained awareness through word of mouth, they are now pronouncing their specialties and designing entire business models around them. This shift is a result of changing consumer behavior, where brand awareness is more likely to spread via social media platforms–resulting in a need for businesses to create a unique point of distinction to enhance engagement.
Trend themes
Themes within the Specialty Cafe trend
Three behaviours holding the trend togetherSpecialized cafe menus
Cafes are designing whole business models around their unique point of distinction to enhance engagement, and they are creating pronounced specialties that serve to gain wider recognition.
Cereal cafes
Restaurants dedicated to cereal are redefining the traditional breakfast cereal concept into a customizable gourmet meal with added candies, toppings and even ingredients like Pop-Tarts for a unique consumer experience.
Artisan dessert cafes
Cafes specializing in artisanal desserts are offering unique sweets, often with ethnic flare, served alongside high quality coffee in an atmosphere designed to cater to the millennial consumer.
Industry implications
What the Specialty Cafe trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookHospitality industry
Specialized cafe menus offer hospitality industry professionals an opportunity to create unique businesses around their personal brand, whether it is a specific food or atmosphere.
Food industry
Cereal and artisan dessert cafes require food industry professionals to think creatively about the range and combination of ingredients they can offer in order to differentiate from competitors.
Retail industry
Cafes can borrow the social media savvy convenience store concept to better market their brand and attract consumers who will associate their physical space with their online profiles.
Workshop question
How can your brand better outline the ways in which it is distinct?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Specialty Cafe
Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 72%, activity 69%, freshness 8%.
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Evidence
Examples of the Specialty Cafe trend
5 featured examples from May 17, 2017 to Feb 14, 2018Futuristic Urban Cereal Bars
New York's Cereal Bar is Expanding Globally with 'Kith Treats Tokyo'
The expansion of cereal bars globally, as seen with Kith Treats Tokyo, creates opportunities for the food and beverage industry to capitalize on unique cereal-based offerings and…
Artisan Churro Cafes
La Bodega del Barrio Mimics an Urban Convenience Store
Artisan churro cafes can tap into the growing demand for unique coffee experiences and gourmet desserts.
Urban Cereal Cafes
Kellogg's Cereal Cafe Has Opened a Permanent Space in NYC's Union Square
The food and beverage industry can capitalize on the cereal cafe trend by developing innovative cereal-based products and experiences that resonate with nostalgic and adventurous…
Nut Spread Cafes
The Nutella Cafe is Soon Opening Its Doors in Chicago
As the popularity of Nutella Cafe shows, there is demand for new and innovative food and beverage concepts that cater to people's love for unique and indulgent experiences.
Whimsical Cereal Cafes
The Cereal Box, Inc. Serves More Than 50 Types of Cereal
The food and beverage industry can explore opportunities to create customizable food experiences and innovative cereal-based products that attract nostalgic and adventurous custom…