McDonald’s U.K. is feeding British Gen Z’s appetite for international foods. Their limited-time “World’s Menu Heist” promotion lets fans try popular menu items from McDonald’s locations around the world without having to travel. This second installment lineup introduces four new offerings: China’s Chicken McWings, Spain’s McExtreme, Germany’s Twix White Salted Caramel McFlurry, and Singapore’s Peach x Sprite Zero. (Fans can also revisit favorites from the first menu drop.) To promote it, the brand released themed short-form films across socials and hosted an exclusive tasting event ahead of the menu release. The launch follows fan demand for more international items after the first haul, and McDonald’s is now letting fans suggest which international menu items they’d like to see arrive in the U.K. next. It’s a promotion that likely resonates with British Gen Z since YPulse data shows 85% of 13-24-year-old Brits agree, “I like to eat foods from different cultures and ethnicities.” (Little Black Book)
👀 Read more from YPulse: YPulse’s Western Europe Food Shopping and Trends report
Calvin Klein chose Gen Z football star Jude Bellingham as their latest ambassador. The 23-year-old joins their years-long tradition of recruiting buzzy male celebs and athletes for their iconic underwear campaigns. The new ad shows Bellingham wearing Calvin Klein jeans and a simple white tank top before transitioning into a montage modeling a range of the brand’s boxers and briefs. Bellingham is no stranger to fashion, having appeared in campaigns for Louis Vuitton and SKIMS, but Calvin Klein is betting on his growing cultural relevance to reach a new audience. Following this summer’s World Cup, he gained visibility among consumers far beyond sports fans, bringing his reach to nearly 57M Instagram followers. The brand hopes by spotlighting Bellingham, they can “showcase talent in ways that audiences may not have seen before so campaign imagery feels fresh and exciting.” (BoF)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Ronaldo and Messi are Young Europeans’ Favourite Athletes
Collins’ top Words of the Year picks are—no surprise—Gen Z slang. Their official Word of the Year is “mogging,” which means to outshine someone or something, and comes from bodybuilding culture. (A term YPulse explained in our Health and Fitness report earlier this year!) That said, it’s become especially popular this year among viral alpha male content, from looksmaxxers to memes about them. Other shortlist mentions and new dictionary entries reflect the political and ecological state of the U.K. They include “Manchesterism,” PM Andy Burnham’s philosophy, “firewave,” “ghost job,” and, most soul-crushing of all, “P(doom)”—the “likelihood that artificial intelligence will cause the collapse of human civilisation.” A few lighter-hearted terms are being ratified, though; “fricy” for fruity-spicy flavors and “bixies” for bob-pixie blends. (The Guardian)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Even Young Europeans Named “6-7” Their Word of the Year
Charli XCX’s closet is coming to Vinted. Available to buyers in the U.K., U.S., and Australia, looks from her recent tour and personal closet are going on sale November 16, and all the proceeds are going to LGBTQI+ charity Rainbow Railroad. But Charli isn’t just selling—she’s shopping on Vinted, too. As part of this partnership, she and her stylist have been buying tour, award show, and festival looks from real resellers. Users can even tag their listings directly with #charlixcx to give their items a chance at being hers next. Celebs have partnered with resale platforms to sell their real wardrobe before—most recently, Zara Larsson—which YPulse has said is something thrifty young consumers want to see. (Hypebae)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Where is European Gen Z Shopping Secondhand?
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