Opinion
The latest opinion, from industry figures and the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.
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Jan- 2019 -18 January
Closing time? How pubs and bars can fight back in 2019
The UK hospitality industry has witnessed a similar trajectory to the high street, with many pubs and bars struggling to make ends meet and remain profitable. According to the Office of National Statistics, 25% of pubs have closed since 2001 and the number of pubs has fallen from 52,500 in…
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10 January
Reflecting on 2018 and looking forward to 2019
For most people, January is all about new year’s resolutions, change, eliminating bad habits and accomplishing goals – and that applies to our business too. September 2018 marked 30 years since my family uprooted from Huddersfield in west Yorkshire and moved to rural Lincolnshire in search of a new life.…
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9 January
Top 10 accessible restaurants in the UK
There are so many restaurants throughout the UK which are held in high regard, but are the facilities accessible? Award-winning stairlift manufacturer Acorn Stairlifts is on hand to list their top 10 most accessible restaurants in the UK. Check out the eateries that made the cut, which are listed in…
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7 January
2019 food trends
The political environment, concerns around sustainability and food provenance are set to fuel the major food trends of 2019, according to a new insight-driven guide from Bidfood. In this guide, four ‘Mega Trends’ have been identified which will influence consumer choices over the coming year: Good For Me, Good For You:…
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Dec- 2018 -21 December
Food and drink culture – the rebellion is here
For decades, there has been strict control on how we eat, when we eat and what we eat. Historically, there existed an old routine of only having porridge or sausages in the morning; or only having a club sandwich at noon; or indeed roast beef and mashed potatoes in the…
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19 December
100% recyclable isn’t good enough anymore
Co-working giant WeWork has recently announced that they will not be spending a penny more on products that are packaged using plastics. This includes everything from plastic cups to food containers, whether they are recyclable or not. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) reports that around 40% of plastic is…
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18 December
Four drinks trends for 2019
Independent drinks company Global Brands supplies a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to restaurants, bars and pubs around the world. Based on consumer research, sales data and customer relations, the company has identified four trends that will influence on-trade drinks purchasing in 2019. Marketing director, Jen Draper, shared these…
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3 December
Following the success of Hygge or Lagom…businesses should now follow the mantra of Prajāva
The Swedish lifestyle concept has become big news in recent years. First Hygge (cosy) and then Lagom (just enough) have become massively popular, even boosting Sweden to the Top 10 ranking in the World Happiness Report. This got me thinking – what international concept would most benefit the business world…
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Oct- 2018 -26 October
How digital tech like AI and chatbots is changing the catering industry
Digital technology has revolutionised the way customers search and choose what hotel accommodation to book when travelling for business or pleasure. In addition, digital technology and social media now play a major part in forming customer expectations of hotels and helping to influence which hotel a customer will choose. For…
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11 October
Apprenticeships reform: Good news for SMEs
“For the past 18 months the Apprenticeship Levy has been firmly in the spotlight. While larger business with a pay bill over £3m now pay monthly into their levy pots, SMEs have been hit by new requirements to pay a 10% contribution to their apprenticeships, where previously they received the…
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