Need to Know
06 : 07 : 22

UK – Non-alcoholic canned beverage brand Punchy is disrupting the mixer category with a line of drinks that contain 50% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D. Featuring vegan, natural and low-sugar ingredients, Punchy offers a health-conscious alternative to conventional mixers.

With playful packaging and innovative flavour combinations – including cucumber, yuzu and rosemary – the drinks reflect a growing desire to prioritise wellness without sacrificing convenience or taste. ‘Vitamin D keeps your immune system rolling with the punches – but for half the year during winter we don’t get enough from sunlight,’ explains Paddy Cavanagh-Butler, founder of Punchy. ‘That’s why we’ve charged every can of Punchy with 200 IU vitamin D (50% RI) – just enough to give a balanced diet an extra boost.’

With this product, the brand is looking to achieve a healthy balance between functional benefits and desirable drinks. Punchy also supports the evolution of the Food-as-medicine Movement.

London – Tinder has partnered with LGBTQ+ artists to recreate a series of memes into GIFs that singles can use to spark new connections throughout Pride month and beyond. With 84% of people in the queer community saying humour is key when making the first move, according to OnePoll, and GIFs acting as a linchpin of chat conversations on the platform, the memes tap into queer love in a playful way.

The dating platform collaborated with five artists – Dom&Ink, Ashton Attzs, Andrew Ahern, Artist Named Nobody and Kxmolo – to create the work, while the memes were selected by Tinder’s meme panel, which included influential members of the LGBTQ+ community. This ensured the GIFs authentically represented the hyper-specific references used by the community, helping to boost user engagement by making them feel timely, relevant – and most of all – funny. Tinder also pledged to make a donation to Raze, an NGO focused on creating cultural opportunities for LGBTQ+ artists and creators.

The launch taps into changing attitudes to online dating, including a shift towards community-orientated platforms identified in our Big Idea piece, Generation Z Are Ready to Reboot Dating.

Even with the global pandemic and high inflation, more consumers are dining out and investing in experiences. According to research by Yelp, experiential dining options such as conveyor belt sushi and dinner theatres increased by 500% and 240%, respectively, in the US from January to April 2022 compared with the previous year.

Consumers are looking for an opportunity to share new experiences and are willing to invest in businesses that create vibrant opportunities, despite seemingly inevitable price increases. Anthony Cross, vice-president of product at Yelp, says: ‘After two years of lockdowns and restrictions, consumers are eager to return to celebrating special events with friends and family at restaurants where they know they will be well taken care of.’ But although there has been a 48% rise in diners seated via Yelp in Q1 2022, inflation remains a prominent concern, with mentions of price increases in reviews up 25% in the first quarter.

While inflation continues to soar, this research shows that quality experiences still have appeal. Previously, we have seen restaurants explore extreme strategies to create memorable and emotional experiences for diners.