LSN : News : Chipotle founder to open robot-run sustainable restaurant

Discover the Future of Travel report by Marriott Bonvoy and The Future Laboratory

The Future of Travel by Marriott Bonvoy and The Future Laboratory

Global – Together with Marriott Bonvoy, The Future Laboratory has released a new report exploring future travel trends in 2024 and beyond.

Sustainability, AI and slow travel are identified as some of the key travel trends for the next three years. The research suggests that UK travellers plan to increase their spending on breaks and holidays over the next few years and will have more of an eye on sustainability than ever before. The report looks at how this will affect the industry across five key consumer values in the EMEA region: Nu-luxury Frontiers, Ethical Escapes, Equitable Itineraries, Destination Wellbeing and Tech-enhanced Experiences.

‘Two trends we have seen coming to the fore in particular from the consumer research are sustainability and AI – particularly among younger travellers under the age of 45,’ says Neal Jones, chief sales and marketing officer EMEA at Marriott International. ‘Being ecologically responsible is moving from being a ‘nice-to-have’ to a ‘must-have’ for many of these travellers and will only become more so.’

Read the full report here. If you would like to connect with our experts and learn more about our Commissioned Thought-Leadership, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Tiffany & Co and Daniel Arsham collaborate on Pokémon-themed jewellery

Tiffany & Co, Daniel Arsham and Pokémon, Japan

US and Japan – Luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co has collaborated with American artist Daniel Arsham on a collection of Pokémon-themed necklaces and pendants.

Inspired by Arsham’s Pokémon sculptures from his 2022 A Ripple in Time exhibition in Tokyo, the capsule collection centres around six Pokémon characters: Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, JigglyPuff, Cubone and Mew.

Each character is available as a sterling silver pendant with diamond accents or in a station necklace featuring all six characters. As the most iconic character, the Pikachu pedant is also available in two sizes in 18ct yellow gold and comes encased in a customised Tiffany blue Poké-Ball.

Prices range from £1,039–23,345 ($1,290–29,000, €1,188–26,675) and the capsule collection will be available in selected stores and on Tiffany.com in North America and Japan from December 2023.

In our Five Future Paths for Luxury Collaborations report, we identified how luxury brands are leaning into unexpected collaborations. By partnering with Pokémon through Arsham’s lens, Tiffany is authentically tapping into the lucrative gaming community.

Strategic opportunity

Embrace the unconventional when it comes to brand partnerships and limited-edition collections to tap into unique markets and diverse audiences

Chipotle founder to open robot-run sustainable restaurant

US – Chipotle founder Steve Ells is pioneering Kernel, a new robot-operated restaurant concept aimed at reducing waste. Located in Manhattan, Kernel will specialise in meat alternatives replicating the taste of beef or chicken while placing a strong emphasis on vegetables and legumes.

Ells envisages Kernel as a chain and plans to open 15 restaurants in New York initially and then to expand to other cities. According to investors, the start-up sees Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, Dig, Cava and Ells’ former company Chipotle as its competitors.

Inspired by climate-conscious initiatives outlined in Bill Gates’s book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Ells aims to combat greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift to plant-based diets. The restaurant’s operations are heavily reliant on robots and could function with as few as three employees. Kernel signifies Ells’ commitment to sustainable, futuristic dining experiences, combining innovation and environmental responsibility, a topic we explore in Why the Future of Alt Meats Relies on Tech.

Sik Mul Sung. Design by Unseenbird, photography by Yongjoon Choi, South Korea

Strategic opportunity

As consumers continue to seek out more sustainable food options, waste reduction and efficiency are innovation priorities for the F&D sector. How relevant are AI and machine learning in re-imagining your manufacturing and operational processes?

Stat: New study reveals the importance of sustainable retail spaces

Atelier100 Drop02 Showroom, UK

UK – In a new study conducted by Landsec in collaboration with public affairs consultancy Bradshaw Advisory, new modelling highlights the substantial growth potential for brands opting for space in sustainable retail locations versus traditional destinations.

The research found that over a decade, brands situated in sustainable retail areas could see a remarkable 13% surge in revenues. Moreover, these eco-friendly spaces could lead to an overall footfall increase of 6%, translating to a potential £100m ($124.3m, €114.4m) economic uplift for local communities.

Landsec’s report, The Potential of Sustainable Retail, delves into the perspectives of key industry influencers – consumers, brands and local authorities – to understand the profound role that sustainable retail can play in fostering thriving environments that positively affect both communities and the planet. This data underlines the economic and environmental viability of adopting sustainable practices in the retail landscape. It also offers a new opportunity to revive the British high street while showing how Neo-collectivist attitudes can create impactful shifts in consumer behaviour.

Strategic opportunity

Today, customers expect brands to participate in positive societal change. As a business, are you effectively implementing policies, whether that is in marketing, strategy, product or service, to leave society in a better state than you found it?