Comment
The latest comment and 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.
-
Jun- 2024 -3 June
How to handle a spate of one-star reviews
As nice as it would be to have your establishment receive a 100% positive response rate from customers, the chances are you have received a negative review from time to time. Such reviews are generally harmless when they are far and few between, but a spate of those dreaded one-stars…
Read More » -
May- 2024 -31 May
Are we really out of the woods?
For most of us in hospitality: the last nine to 12 months have been very challenging indeed. One well known operator said to me recently that these were the worst trading conditions he had encountered in 40 years. My hospitality career nowhere near stretches that long, but I agree with…
Read More » -
28 May
The importance of a 360 marketing campaign
The hospitality sector is an incredibly competitive market, with new bars, restaurants, cafes, and hotels opening daily. So, how do you stand out and ensure it’s your venue that consumers choose? A 360 marketing campaign will ensure that potential customers see your venue – and its incredible food, drinks and…
Read More » -
21 May
How to increase spend per head in a no and low alcohol world
Dry January may be behind us, but data shows a huge increase in the amount of people opting for no and low alcohol alternatives. According to a recent report by the hospitality research organisation, KAM, showed that 5.2 million fewer UK adults drank weekly in 2023 than in 2001, and…
Read More » -
Feb- 2024 -21 February
How hospitality businesses can survive in 2024
2024 has only just begun, and we’ve already witnessed a spate of small business closures across the hospitality sector. With the winding up of independent businesses across England, Wales and Scotland, questions have again been raised about the amount of governmental support available to one of the UK’s most beloved…
Read More » -
Jan- 2024 -30 January
The forgotten effect of insolvencies on a premises licence
Can you explain how an insolvency event can cause a premises licence to lapse, and at what point in the process does this typically occur? Before there’s any sign of going into insolvency, I think it’s important for operators to consider not just their wider business, but specifically their licences…
Read More » -
29 January
Franchises in and mid-market out: The year ahead for the restaurant industry
The last year has been a difficult one for the restaurant industry. While the pandemic was tough for a lot of businesses, many managed to hold on to dear life only to go out of business in the years after. This has meant that the market for buying restaurants and…
Read More » -
18 January
‘It’s everyone’s responsibility’: are 50% plant-based menus the future for restaurants?
This year is the 10th anniversary of Veganuary, I’m curious to know your opinion on it. How has the trend evolved in 10 years? I think plant based food has developed enormously in the last 10 years, and I think the rise of vegan restaurants has helped enormously with that.…
Read More » -
17 January
In conversation with Eco Pizza founder Sami Wasif
Can you tell us about your hospitality experience leading up to starting Eco Pizza in 1993? My love of food dates back to my childhood in Egypt, where I learned the secrets of dough making from my grandfather, Gerges, who during the Spring Equinox festival would produce and distribute the…
Read More » -
15 January
Why are insolvencies more likely to affect the hospitality sector?
According to PwC’s outlook for 2024, there will be a significant rise in corporate insolvencies in 2024, just shy of 30,000 with smaller businesses accounting for the lion’s share. However, it further added that industries most impacted are likely to be hotels and catering, along with manufacturing, and transport and…
Read More »