Catering News – October ’09

More of the latest news from the catering, hospitality and foodservice industry.

Restaurant Bookings Top 2M As More Go Online

The restaurant industry’s “reservations” about online bookings seem to be waning – as Michelin-starred and pub restaurateurs use the internet to drive business.

Online restaurant marketer, Livebookings, is seeing an unprecedented number of diners booking online in the UK, as the company passed the two million diners mark for this year.

The number of online reservations is growing at more than double the rate of last year. Despite the economic downturn, Livebookings is growing 107% year on year. But not every reservations manager, publican or caterer is ‘going digital’.

Industry statistics show that the number of restaurants in the UK using an online bookings system is still in the region of just 7% meaning there is room for growth.

GK Gets Food Boost

Pub food sales helped Greene King shake off the downturn, but the brewer with 2400 pubs worries that rising unemployment will keep drinkers away. GK reported a 4.6% rise in like-for-like sales at managed pubs in England in the 17 weeks to August 3oth, with like-for-like sales of food jumping 8.1%.

Elderly Keep Diners Happy

Older people bring higher levels of customer satisfaction to businesses who employ them, according to new research by Lancaster University.

Their report showing the commercial benefits of blending youth and experience, focused on 400 McDonalds restaurants, where a 20% rise in customer satisfaction was found by those employing older people.

McDonalds chief people officer David Fairhurst, says “It might surprise people to learn that we employ over 1000 people aged 60 and above. These play an important role and, as the research shows, make a huge impact on customer satisfaction.”

CESA Urges Government Action

The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) wants the Government to act on carbon reduction incentives.

Glen Roberts, managing director of Gram UK, represented CESA at recent talks with the Treasury and made it clear to them the disconnection between the current level of incentives for buyers of equipment, the practical reality of the foodservice market, and the Government’s stated objectives.

At the heart of the issue is the government’s Energy Technology List with equipment only able to be included in the ETL if it is shown to be energy efficient – and buyers who select equipment from the list qualify for financial and tax benefits.

The only category of catering equipment on the ETL is refrigeration and despite strong lobbying from CESA and others, it is taking years to add new categories.

£43 Million Coffee Campaign

Nescafé has launched a £43 million marketing campaign, called ‘Coffee at its Brightest’ spanning in and out of home markets. Nescafé says: “It will provide a compelling platform for caterers to up-sell the brand and add value to their own beverage offer. This high profile initiative will look to reconnect consumers with the journey of coffee, from plant to jar, while driving the message out that our coffee is made from 100% pure and natural beans.”