Comment: 2014 F&B trends predicted

What’s the ABCD for 2014? Forget the other predictions you’ve read. This is the daddy. The comprehensive, the extensive, and indeed, the definitive list. I have even compiled them perfectly into an easy to remember ABCD format for you.

I know, it’s a touch of utter brilliance, a focused and perfect guide of four things to watch out for in 2014.

Read up, wise up and watch, as each of these slowly starts to take centre stage by December
31 this year. Mark my words...

A is for ‘Arab-thenticity’. Yep, I know it’s a made up word, but the sentiment and meaning of it is something close to my heart. Regular readers will know I am constantly talking up authentic and cool Arabic design schemes, whether they be with a contemporary twist of colour, cross culture or decadent flair.

Arab-thenticity should get a real slice of exposure this year. I know of many schemes on the metaphoric drawing board that are really capturing this thinking and hopefully, with a good wind, will get to market and show how cool new-wave Arabic design schemes can be.

B is for ‘burger-mania’. I spend my time between the UAE and London, and in the latter, every restaurant I see is selling burgers. Gourmet, dirty, skinny, farm-fresh, hand-made, trendy, indie, American, ironic, pop-up ... you name it, every design style and every taste profile has been covered.

Strange then that here in the UAE I have to work hard to find myself any sort of decent burger. Sure, there are the usual fast foodie types, a bit of organic choice and a few lame hotel versions, but burger-mania is yet to hit here. I just cannot believe this epidemic will not spread this short distance sometime very soon.

C is for ‘cool spaces’. We have started to see the emergence of some cool space utilisation in the last 12 months and this is something we will see continuing throughout 2014: old warehouses changing usage from factory to café, from storage facility to gallery.

They have freshness to them. They have an edge and energy, almost like it tries harder as a space to please more in some way. As spaces, they attract a different sort of person. A less mainstream crowd, more free thinking and experimental — all good traits in my mind. Not better, just different. It’s a ‘unity in diversity’ kind of thing. Different spaces for different folks.

D is for ‘design edge’. We are slipping into a deep and distressing comfort zone in the region right now, me thinks. Schemes are becoming a bit too plushed-up and plump for my liking. Owners and investors need to steer projects to the edge. No, not financially or morally but in a design sense — design edge!

The young, the hip and the adventurous are being denied brilliant edgy design — something that normally grows out of bar and club culture because all of these type of outlets are run by or governed by hoteliers. I have nothing against hoteliers but in design terms it is very limiting, suppressing street trends ... the very life blood of great design, of every great city!

Aidan Keane is the larger-than-life founder and creative director of Keane Brands, one of the world’s specialist design houses based in London, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.
Visit www.keane-brands.com