
Why are we magically attracted to a certain smartphone, while another hardly attracts any attention? Why is the logo of a brand so deeply imprinted in our consciousness that we immediately recognize it even on a faded poster? The answer is obvious: Intuitive design, strategic storytelling and communication that is not instructive, but makes us want it.
While companies from the fashion, tech and luxury sectors have mastered these mechanisms, the F&B world remains surprisingly reserved in this respect. Food is cooked with heart and served with passion - but the power of consistent, visually appealing brand communication remains untapped in many places. There is enormous potential here!
The big fast food franchises have of course long since recognized that it is not only the product, but also the brand experience that drives decisions. However, if you want to successfully bring sustainable, healthy cuisine into the mainstream, you not only have to convince with quality and values, but also with an aesthetic that arouses emotions and creates desire – for good food, for conscious enjoyment, for a lifestyle that combines sustainability with pleasure.
The future of gastronomy belongs to businesses that see sustainability as both an ethical obligation and an opportunity. This is not just about the origin and processing of products, but also about focusing on their added value through targeted presentation, communication and positioning. Sustainability and desirability can go hand in hand – if there is a strategy behind it.
One thing is clear: consumers value sustainability – and show this with their purchasing behavior. 92% state that sustainability is important when choosing a brand. Terms such as “organic” are more in demand than ever, while newer concepts such as regenerative agriculture, carbon footprint or responsible sourcing are becoming increasingly important in the branding context.
The aim is to translate familiar mechanisms from the world of valuable brands into the food service industry. Ideally, this will create a certain addictive factor – a culinary experience that not only offers enjoyment, but also triggers a release of dopamine. Guests should have the satisfying feeling of doing something good for themselves (and the world) and want to satisfy this craving again and again – until they automatically become enthusiastic regulars.
Read more about pleasurable communication in the first Genusspunkt e-paper!
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards are making history: for the first time, the prestigious awards ceremony will take place in Abu Dhabi in 2026. What this means for the international gastronomy scene, why the location is a strategically wise choice, and what impetus this will provide for hospitality, fine dining, and global food trends.
When more than 275 star chefs gather at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, it’s more than just a gala event. It creates a powerhouse of culinary art – concentrated, condensed, highly professional. The ahgz Star Awards 2026, presented during the “Night of Stars,” impressively demonstrated how strongly top-class gastronomy is networked in German-speaking countries – and how willing it is to reflect on itself.
What is it? Technically hardly necessary, loud and therefore highly suspicious from a social perspective, and experiencing its second spring or autumn in February? That’s right – it’s the leaf blower! Once invented to blow autumn leaves off the streets and somewhere where, in the best case scenario, they might be less of a nuisance. Currently, this device is experiencing an unexpected wake-up call from hibernation. It is needed to blow away confetti after the carnival parade. The controller may be pleased to be able to amortize a “fabulously expensive” machine in half the time. The neighbors are probably less enthusiastic about this.
Why are we magically attracted to a certain smartphone, while another hardly attracts any attention? Why is the logo of a brand so deeply imprinted in our consciousness that we immediately recognize it even on a faded poster? The answer is obvious: Intuitive design, strategic storytelling and communication that is not instructive, but makes us want it.