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| Hospitality Today | Christmas 2016 / January 2017
Seasonal insights from Horizons
2016: A Turning Point
Foodservice industry experts Horizons, opened the Arena Christmas Event with its exclusive annual review of the year and predictions for 2017. Setting the scene, Peter Backman, Horizons’ managing director( above), spoke of a year that has seen market growth“ from Wormwood Scrubs to The Ritz” and an industry that remains dynamic with opportunities. And, a year in which disruptors, from Brexit to the upsurge of delivery, have started disrupting. We now find ourselves in a period of uncertainty as the details of Brexit are discussed and reported, with no clear direction on what it will look like.
Looking back over 2016, the audience was reminded of notable developments( other than Brexit) including: the health debate really evolved; traditionally retail-focused manufacturers started looking towards foodservice; the advance of delivery( including Burger King!); consumers eating out more frequently but expecting more than ever; the opportunities opened by the launch of the night tube; the sophistication of BBQ trends; the ongoing merging of day parts and growth of lunch(+ 2 %), breakfast(+ 5.2 %) and snacking(+ 6.2 %); the American election; and the influence of technology, as Zizzi trains staff on Instagram.
Looking forward to 2017, the headlines could look something like: consumer loyalty declining in favour of good value( which can be either cheap, or“ expensive but worth it”); a decrease in the dominance of casual dining; the volatility of the pound affecting the bottom line as it impacts pricing on equipment, food, fuel etc., however, on the flip side the fall in the pound will continue to bring in more overseas visitors and increase staycations; immigration is likely to be the biggest influence on the foodservice market;‘ Buy British’ might have a resurgence as imports become more expensive; and delivery will continue to change the way businesses work.