The UK’s foodservice market is huge, encompassing all food and drink consumed out of home. Operators who accommodate for the latest trends and meet ever-changing customer desires are onto a winner – not only will it help to deliver a healthy bottom line, but will attract new and existing custom. Here at Big Al’s we have established the current trends in the market to keep you up to date:
Customisation
It is becoming the norm for consumers to have the option of personalising their purchases to their individual preferences, and the same can be said for food. It is now expected for brands to fulfil customer needs and demands, with Technomic reporting 72% of consumers expect to be able to customise the dishes they order. A great example of this is the recent announcement of John Lewis offering Quality Street Pick’n’Mix tins in store, allowing customers to choose their favourite flavours and build their own offering.
Whether its offering a range of toppings, condiments or salads or allowing side orders to be mixed and matched, this trend is easy for operators to tap into using Big Al’s products.
Snacking
Similar to the customisation trend, consumers believe they should be able to have what they want, when they want it. Due to increasingly busier lifestyles, traditional mealtimes aren’t always held as gospel but instead people eat as and when they can. Consequently, IGD are predicting that the food-to-go market will be worth £23.5 billion by 2022.
From the Sausage Patty for a bite to eat in the morning, to a variation of different flavoured Pizza Twists for lunch, Big Al’s has a perfect range of all day, on the go solutions.
Increased Transactions
Today’s shoppers often feel they can’t or don’t want to buy everything in one place, but visit a variety of outlets. This has been perceived in the food-to-go occasion, with 52% of shoppers visiting two or more stores when buying breakfast .
Ensure to offer a range of products for customers to choose from, enticing them to stay loyal to your outlet.
Sustainability
There has been an increased consumer focus regarding sustainability, not only of food, but also packaging by following environmentally friendly practices.
Provide recycling bins near your outlet, encouraging people to recycle packaging after consuming their food. Additionally, assure customers on the provenance of ingredients and products – the Big Al’s range is fully traceable from farm to fork and can be cooked to order, thus reducing food waste.
