Issues & Trends

Question 1

What are some eating trends?

Answer 1

• Health
• Sustainability
• Technology
• Decline in demand and consumption of red meat
• Increased demand and consumption of white meat, fish and shellfish
• Vegetarian and vegan diets
  ○ 14% of adults in UK are following a meat-free
  diet
  ○ 8.8 million brits plan to go meat-free in 2022
  ○ Younger generations are more likely to follow a
  meat-free diet
• Different diets
  ○ Low carb, high fat (keto)
• Environmental impact of food consumption
• Traceability of food

Question 2

What are some consumer concerns for food?

Answer 2

• Is food organic
• No additives
• Free range animals (chicken)

Question 3

What affects customers menu choices?

Answer 3

• Healthy eating
• Pricing flexibility
• Dietary requirements (nut allergies, gluten free, lactose intolerance)
• Children’s menu & light bites
• Food provenance

Question 4

What are some different customer requirements for food and drink?

Answer 4

• Economic situation / background
• Physical ability
• Age
• Special diets
• Personal expectations
• Cultural / religious background

Question 5

What are some drink trends?

Answer 5

• Coffee culture
• Larger and stout sales is falling but real ale sales are increasing
• Draft and bottles cider sales are increasing
• New world wines (NZ, Australia, SA, Argentina) are still popular but sales are falling
• Spirits
  ○ White spirits (usage fell in 2020)
  § Vodka, white rum, gin, tequila
  § Gin has excelled over the last 4 years
  ○ Dark spirits (usage fell in 2020 but now growing)
  § Single malt whisky, brandy/cognac, scotch
  whisky, bourbon whisky, dark rum
• Non-alcoholic drinks
  ○ Smoothie sales have increased exponentially
  ○ Sport and energy drinks are popular

Question 6

Why do changing lifestyles affect food and drink trends?

Answer 6

• More woman are working compared to previous years
• Possibly less time to cook and prepare food
• More disposable income
• More single households, more couples waiting on having children or not having them
• Increasing active community of retired people
• Pandemic and current economic issues

Question 7

How can businesses respond to the ever changing market?

Answer 7

• Be flexible to changing working patterns
  ○ Menu changes, use of customer feedback,
  changing prices
• Always be aware of customer requirements
• Know what your competition is doing
• Providing various choices and pricing for guests
• Make sure that dishes and menu’s are compatible to the changing needs and desires of customers