The Americas
GLP-1 users keep eating out but spend less when they do, says new report
Weight-loss medication users are not abandoning dining out, but they are changing their behavior, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group. The study, which surveyed more over 1,500 GLP-1 users across nine markets, found that users plan to change their spending across all dining formats, from cafes to fine dining to fast casual, ordering smaller portions, choosing lighter options and drinking less alcohol. Total food spending is not falling, but the composition of what gets ordered is shifting. Monthly dining occasions fall from 11 before starting medication to five during use.
Technology drives global QSR growth as brands embed digital into core operations
Digital infrastructure is reshaping how global QSR chains scale, price and protect margins, according to a research note from DBS Bank, alongside a rise in beverage innovation. Digital ordering, AI-powered personalization and data-driven menu management have shifted from support to the primary architecture of growth and margin protection across the global QSR. DBS said the sector is demonstrating structural resilience unlike prior cycles, with major chains now embedding digital efficiency into their core operations. Digital ordering platforms are no longer ancillary sales channels but central to performance through data-driven upselling and dynamic menu management.
Asia Pacific
Jollibee posts record quarterly profit as international sales rise 25%
Jollibee Foods Corporation reported a record quarterly net income up 5.7% year-on-year (YoY), for the second quarter of 2026, as international sales growth and margin recovery drove the strongest bottom-line result in the group’s history. The group operates a massive global footprint spanning over 10,700 stores across 33 countries, combining its domestic presence in the Philippines with aggressive overseas scaling.
HOTELEX Shenzhen 2026 to strengthen global connections
As China’s hospitality and foodservice industry continues to evolve, businesses are placing greater focus on efficient sourcing, supply chain collaboration and new growth opportunities. Taking place 13-15 October 2026 at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, HOTELEX Shenzhen 2026 will bring together global suppliers, manufacturers and professional buyers to explore business opportunities in South China and beyond. HOTELEX Shenzhen 2026 will serve as a comprehensive sourcing and business platform for the hospitality and foodservice industry, bringing together 2,000+ exhibitors and 150,000+ professional buyers across 10 exhibition halls, showcasing products and solutions across the entire industry value chain.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
The Hoxton Dubai will be the brand’s first Middle East hotel
Ennismore has announced the opening of The Hoxton Dubai Media City, a 230-room property in the emirate’s creative district. With a launch date yet to be announced, it marks the brand’s debut in the Middle East, adding another lifestyle option for travelers heading to the UAE. The agreement, signed between Ennismore and Dubai-based developer Select Group, will see Shoreditch born hotel brand get a foothold in United Arab Emirates with this first flagship hotel in the region.
Auntie Anne’s hits 50 UK and Ireland outlets with Eastbourne opening
Auntie Anne’s has opened its 50th pretzel shop in the UK and Ireland at The Beacons shopping center in Eastbourne on 12 September, progressing a pipeline of opportunities with five locations currently under negotiation. The opening marks the halfway point towards its target of 100 locations across the UK and Ireland by 2030. Founded in 1988 from a single stand at a Pennsylvania farmer’s market, Auntie Anne’s entered the UK and Ireland in 2008 and has since expanded through franchising, operating kiosks and stores in shopping centers and transport stations.
