Move over cucumber sandwiches – today’s teddy bears are green, gadget-obsessed and partial to a babyccino
- Today’s must-haves for teddy bear picnics include toy pizza ovens (32%), an air fryers (24%), and espresso machines (20%)
- Teddy bears’ picnics are no longer just for kids: a huge two thirds (67%) of Gen Z adults say they’ve either already arranged their plushies into a picnic or would be up for giving it a go (and posting it online!)
- AO has created bespoke mini appliances to meet the new picnic standards – including a tiny air fryer and espresso machine made just for the occasion
Teddy Bears’ Picnics are having a moment – but not as you remember them. Forget tea sets and cucumber sandwiches – today’s soft toys are sipping babyccinos, munching on sushi rolls and requesting home-made pizzas.
New research* from online electricals retailer, AO shows that teddy bears’ picnics are still a huge part of kids’ lives today, with nearly 70% of children aged 5–10 saying they’ve hosted one for their soft toys. But the menus? They’ve evolved with the times. Toy burgers (50%) and pretend home-made pizzas (49%) top the list, with even sushi rolls (17%) making a surprise appearance. Rock buns, on the other hand, are firmly out – with just 13% still opting for the classic treat.
Not only that – the picnic basket essentials have dramatically changed too, with toy pizza ovens (32%), air fryers (24%) and espresso machines (20%) now topping the list of must-have picnic kit for kids.
To celebrate how the perfect plushie picnic has evolved, AO has unveiled a limited-edition and very contemporary teddy picnic set. The set features scaled-down replicas of its bestselling double-drawer air fryer and semi-automatic espresso machine, hand-finished by prop artisans and designed to bring a touch of realism (and a whole lot of whimsy) to the picnic blanket.
According to the research by AO, it’s not just kids bringing teddy bears picnics into the 21st century. A significant majority of Gen Zs are also fuelling the fascination, with more than two thirds (67%) of 16-28 year olds** saying they’ve already hosted a picnic for their own plushies or would consider doing so – even capturing the moment on camera for social media. (Further Gen Z research can be found in notes to editors).
Additional research results among Gen Alpha (children aged 5 – 10):
- 79% of kids aged 5–10 know what a Teddy Bears’ Picnic is, with the highest awareness in Nottingham (96%), Liverpool (94%) and Plymouth (91%)
- Not just teddy bears. Top guests now include Barbie (23%), superhero toys (26%), Pokémon (24%) and Peppa Pig (24%)
- The toy menu is all about variety (and 2025 tastes) – with smoothies (27%), hot dogs (45%) and even sushi (17%) on offer
- Step aside tea cups and napkin rings, essential kit now includes mini pizza ovens (32%), air fryers (24%) and espresso machines (20%) – proving that even teddies love a gadget
AO’s own mascot, Bear, stars in the launch campaign – tucking into a picnic spread surrounded by soft toy pals, baby veg, reusable cups and a healthy dose of alfresco flair.
Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO, says: “Today’s families are using small appliances in all sorts of creative ways, and it’s great to see that even teddy bear picnics are being brought into the modern age. From air fryers to espresso machines, these gadgets are now part of everyday life – so it felt only right to create scaled-down versions that reflect how families really eat, play, and spend time together.”
Whether you’re five or twenty-five, there’s never been a better time to grab a blanket, your fluffiest friend and a snack or two – because the teddy bears are going on a picnic. And this time, they’re doing it properly. And now, you could win your very own modern teddy bear picnic kit by heading to @ao on Instagram – competition will run between 18th – 25th July 2025.