John Pinder, managing director of buying specialist Lynx Purchasing, has shared his thoughts on the UK foodservice market in 2015, saying:
Relatively optimistic
“Consumers are spending on eating out, so operators are relatively optimistic, but the main trend is that there’s really no single trend – what we’re seeing is a very fragmented foodservice market in which a great many operators are trying out a great many ideas in their quest for the ‘next big thing’.
Bewildering mix of formats
“For evidence of the diversity of the market, you only have to look at the latest ‘Ones to Watch’ report from Horizons, which listed Fuel Juice Bars, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pieminister, Abokado and Tortilla Mexican Grill as its top five. That’s a bewildering mix of healthy and indulgent restaurant formats.
“In terms of menus, pulled pork and other pulled meats remain very popular, along with new takes on burgers, kebabs and koftes, all dishes which allow operators to take the most of less popular cuts of meat.
Challenge of the supermarkets
“The challenge is the buying power of the supermarkets – as soon as a dish becomes popular, the retailers will move to secure the available supplies and so foodservice operators lose any pricing advantage. That’s in turn driving the development of new menu formats and more unusual dishes, bringing the market full circle.
Make the most of seasonal pricing
“Although this drive for innovation makes it less straightforward to identify seasonal pricing trends in both meat and seafood, there are still real benefits for operators who can keep their menus flexible enough to make the most of changes in availability and price when the opportunities arise.”
About Lynx Purchasing
Lynx Purchasing works with more than 2,000 businesses, offering caterers access to the best prices in the market, with no fees or contracts. Lynx customers also benefit from detailed market insight, enabling them to plan menus more effectively.
For more information about Lynx Purchasing click here