With the food service sector set to be worth £56.3bn by 2019 there is clear evidence that our changing lifestyles and increasing availability of free time is allowing us to sample a greater range of food experiences than ever before. Source: http://www.hrzns.com/
Combine that with the growth of food-to-go/quick service restaurants and we’re beginning to see how our high streets can change for the better.
Using technology to drive success
For those working at forefront of food service delivery in customer facing roles, creating simple in-restaurant processes combined with a personal service is key. New tools are helping to improve operational efficiency of restaurants, allowing communications between waiting staff and the kitchen to drive up the quality of the customer dining experience.
Click and Collect Food Ordering is on the increase.
Whether it’s customers using a pre-order app on their phone, click and collect service or intermediary website services like Deliveroo and Just Eat. new tech is also allowing food service operators to communicate and deliver to a wider consumer audience. From initial pop-up restaurants placed in convenient London locations @Londonpopups our restaurant entrepreneurs are using technology to help put themselves on the map, generate custom, improve service and gain further investment and growth.
What’s the future for bars, cafes and restaurants?
Todays’ Pop-ups show the future for emerging brands. The recent purchase of up and coming food chains like GBK by ‘Famous Brands’ shows that the marketplace will invest in brands which it thinks can have a broader market appeal. Even big players like McDonalds recognise the need to adapt to these challengers, our changing consumer tastes and ordering methods. Healthier options are now present on all of its menus. McDonalds fast food competitor Pret a Manager has recorded 16% increase in sales growth 2016 and has recently trialled a vegetarian only food outlet. Source: IGD Research
The UK probably offers the most diverse range of food-to-go and restaurant options available anywhere in the world. Thai and Japanese restaurants in the UK have reported an 18% growth in the last five years. Source: http://eatoutmagazine.co.uk/restaurants-drive-growth-oriental-food-consumption
This trend in consumers seemingly willing to try new cuisines will undoubtedly mean that our High Street will continue to see more new restaurants and restaurant themes develop.
How to measure restaurant service levels
Keeping an eye on the service levels in newly opened establishments requires more than just diligent monitoring. With multiple purchase and service routes now available, using mystery diners can help aid operational and regional management teams to keep an eye on the overall experience. For large scale food service providers measuring the operational effectiveness will drive up profits and customer NPS Scores, in turn helping to prevent those negative online reviews before they even happen.