Supply Chain
We cover the supply chain pressures and developments affecting the UK foodservice and hospitality industry, from ingredient shortages and logistics disruption to price volatility, labour gaps, and sustainability goals. Our coverage brings together our reporting on how restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés, and catering firms are adapting procurement strategies, working with suppliers, and maintaining resilience in the face of global and domestic challenges. Whether you’re re-evaluating sourcing models or navigating cost increases, we provide operational insight and real-world examples to support decision-making across the sector.
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Jun- 2019 -20 JuneAdvice
How to boost coffee sales
Whether you’re running a café, hotel, pub or gym, putting together a successful coffee offer is a multi-faceted balancing act which takes careful consideration. There is no magic solution or quick-fire way to suddenly pull thousands of customers through the door, instead it’s a slow grind (excuse the pun) of…
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19 JuneGovernment
Hospital Caterers Association responds to listeria outbreak
The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) has welcomed the call for an investigation into the listeria outbreak, which has been linked to sandwiches supplied by The Good Food Chain. On 17 June, health secretary Matt Hancock, called for a ‘root and branch’ review of hospital food. He advised parliament the government…
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Mar- 2019 -6 MarchAwards & Events
Foodservice experts gather to discuss fatberg
Catering industry experts from across the UK are gathering in London next week to discuss the growing menace of fatbergs in the UK’s sewerage system, and agree a plan to tackle them. It’s the first time that representatives from foodservice outlets, water companies, sustainability organisations and biofuel companies have joined…
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5 MarchCatering Companies
Cargill looking to acquire chocolate supplier Smet
Cargill has announced it is set to acquire Belgian chocolate supplier in order to enhance its presence in the chocolate sector. The combined business will aim to accelerate growth in the gourmet segment. The deal will allow Cargill to provide increased customer intimacy and enhanced production capabilities with a wide-ranging…
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5 MarchRestaurants
Darren Brown appointed as The Kitchen’s exec head chef
New Cotswold destination Feldon Valley has appointed Darren Brown as executive head chef of The Kitchen, a new restaurant which will launch in March. He joins the team from his post as head chef at The Kingham Plough in Oxfordshire, having previously earned a Michelin star at West Stoke House…
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1 MarchCafes and Coffee Shops
McDonald’s and Starbucks partner to develop sustainable cups
The NextGen Consortium founded by McDonalds and Starbucks, has announced the winners of its NextGen Cup Challenge, a competition to redesign the fiber to-go cup and create a widely recyclable or compostable cup. After a four-month review process by a group of industry judges including NextGen Consortium business leaders, as…
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Feb- 2019 -28 FebruaryOpinion
How AI will disrupt the service industry in 2019
Before we begin, it’s important to define what is meant by artificial intelligence. When mentioned in the media, AI can mean anything from machine learning in supply chain programming to robot baristas serving your morning flat white. According to IBM, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to systems that can actually ‘understand,…
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25 FebruaryOpinion
People Powered: six things I learnt from a sustainable sourcing model
Fairtrade Fortnight (25 February to 10 March) is an annual opportunity to celebrate all that the organisation has achieved over the years. In my view, no other organisation has done more to make consumers stop, consider and care where their food, drink, clothes and jewellery come from. Inspired by Fairtrade,…
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Jan- 2019 -9 JanuaryBusiness
Greggs reports a ‘strong finish’ to 2018
High street bakery Greggs said it had a “strong finish” to 2018 as it reported its total sales for the year were up by 7.2% for the 52 weeks ended 29 December 2018. This follows a year of “significant strategic progress” where the company saw 149 new shops opened in…
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Dec- 2018 -5 DecemberFeatures
Five eating out trends to watch in 2019
Global information company The NPD Group has identified five new trends that will shape Britain’s £56bn out-of-home (OOH) foodservice industry in 2019. 1 – Delivery aggregators will thrive as consumers cocoon themselves indoors Driven by technology, the rise in in-home entertainment subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime and a desire to…
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