Trend Taster: stinky cheese edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Stinky plant-based cheese
Google TV Streamer
Brits are tired of reboots and superhero films
Qantas jetlag lighting design
Freelance Visa
Stinky plant-based cheese
Plant-based cheese has struggled with taste and texture, but Plonts aims to change that. Founders Nathaniel Chu and Josh Moser believe microbes are the key to improving flavour, stretch, melt and cheesy stink. Using soybeans and fermentation, Plonts is working to create a better plant-based cheese. However, the market remains small, with plant-based cheese making up less than 0.5% of total cheese sales and seeing declines in 2022-2023.
Google TV Streamer
Google has unveiled the new Google TV Streamer, marking the end of the Chromecast line after selling over 100 million units in 11 years. This $100 device, designed to sit on your entertainment console, doubles as a smart home hub with added functionality for controlling Google Home and Matter-enabled devices. Powered by Gemini, the Google TV Streamer curates content based on your preferences and supports 4K playback. Preorders are open now, with shipping set for September 24.
Brits are tired of reboots and superhero films
Post-pandemic, Britons' movie preferences are shifting. Comedy and thriller films are in high demand, while reboots and video game adaptations are losing favour. Superhero films, sports movies, and horror also see declining interest. Animated films, action, and romantic comedies maintain steady support.
Qantas jetlag lighting design
Qantas is renewing its fleet with twelve Airbus A350-1000 planes, capable of non-stop flights from Australia to New York and London. To combat jet lag on these ultra-long hauls, the airline collaborated with the University of Sydney on an advanced lighting system that simulates natural light patterns, helping passengers adjust to their destination's time zone. This wellness feature is seamlessly integrated, requiring no effort from travellers.
Freelance Visa
A freelance visa allows individuals to work independently in a foreign country and often provides location flexibility and a path to citizenship, such as Germany's program, which grants permanent residency after five years. Interest in freelance visas is growing, with Dubai seeing a 493% increase in searches over the past five years. This trend is part of the broader rise in digital nomad visas, which have seen a 4,400% increase in searches, and 50 countries now offer such programs compared to just three in 2020.
