From burgers presented in sweet waffles, to surf & turf builds, and even gold-leaf embossed buns, the well-established and forever changing burger market shows no sign of slowing down.
The UK’s burger market is estimated to be worth a whopping £3.3bn[1]. The NPD Group is expecting burgers to lead both visit and spend growth over the next few years, predicting outlets that serve burgers are likely to see visits grow by +5.1% this year and a further +4.5% in 2019.
In addition to dining out, burgers are particularly dominant in the takeaway and delivery market, which is up 73% in the last decade and expected to grow 17% over the next two years[2]. Burgers are the third most popular dish for takeaway and delivery food, with 82 million servings[3].
Go gourmet
With 54% of consumers perceiving customisable toppings as indicative of a gourmet burger[4], getting the optional extras right is key to providing a premium offer. Toppings such as pulled pork and bacon adds extra theatre to the offering, and tasty cheeses, flavorsome relishes, and pickles are great add-ons to make dishes stand apart from the competition.
As well as the toppings and all-important patty, 83% of pub and restaurant operators and 84% of consumers agree that a high-quality bun is a key factor in a gourmet burger[5] – on average, consumers are willing to pay up to £1.25 more for their burger if it comes in a gourmet bun[6].
A simple solution
Big Al’s has a variety of products to enable operators to tap into the profitable burger opportunity. In the fully cooked range are the brand’s delicious Flame Cooked 4oz and 6oz Beef Burgers, made with 100% Irish and British beef and quick and simple to prepare in a matter of minutes from frozen.
Additionally, Big Al’s Chicken Fillets are the perfect base for a poultry burger – a menu item that has become increasingly popular. Steam cooked; bar marked and created with 100% fully cooked chicken breast meat, they are an extremely versatile product and an exciting addition to burger menus in all outlets.
Prime Cuts
Last year Big Al’s launched the Prime Burger, the brand’s first raw product, made with 100% grass-fed beef, fully traceable from farm to fork. Created using the chuck and brisket cuts of meat, adding the Prime Burger to their menu will allow operators to enter the gourmet market and in turn help drive profit at the till. The Big Al’s Prime Burger is ideal for operators with a range of kitchen capabilities; the raw patty cooks from frozen in six minutes on a grill, and can be used to cook burgers to suit all consumer taste preferences.
Explore the Big Al’s range here
[1] Mintel, 2016
[2] The NPD Group, April 2018
[3] The NPD Group, April 2018
[5] MCA Pub & Restaurant Decision Maker Gourmet Burger Research, January 2018
[6] MCA Pub & Restaurant Decision Maker Gourmet Burger Research, January 2018
