Eat issue 17 2024

AND welcome…

The warmer weather is finally here, hooray! As I’m writing this, the sunshine has appeared after what feels like months of dreary skies and it definitely feels like

This issue focuses on how you can increase footfall and spend in your venues this summer. On page 11, we delve into how you can recruit and retain the best employees and how having a strong team will really help your venue shine. With exciting sporting events on the horizon, such as the Olympics, there are plenty of ways you can make the most out of this season. Turn to page 14–16 for more on that! Over on page 19, we take a look at how you can maximise spend on your drinks menus this summer. From refreshing rosés to cooling colas, it’s an important category to make the most of. Lastly, one item on your menu you can be sure will rocket this summer is ice cream (page 23). It's a winning treat for

Jess’s mustreads this issue

JESS DOUGLAS DIRECTOR CONFEX LTD

Useful insight, page 11

KAM Media’s Katy Moses shares brand-new research

Summer drinks, page 19 Thirst-quenching ideas

Five ways with, page 26

Some fun ways to include strawberries in your menus

YOUR SALES ENERGISE

*Nielsen IQ CHILLED JUICE in Total CoverageGB Latest 104 Wks - w/e 18/11/23 **Nielsen IQ GLUCOSE/STIMULANT DRINKS in Total Coverage/GB Latest 52 Wks - w/e 18/11/23

58% OF SHOPPERS SAY THAT THEY WANT TO SEE HEALTHIER SOFT DRINKS IN RETAILERS RANGES*

86% OF SHOPPERS ARE INTERESTED IN AN ENERGY DRINK FROM A WELL-KNOWN JUICE BRAND

65% OF SHOPPERS WHO DRINK CSDS SAY THAT ADDED HEALTH BENEFITS WOULD MAKE THEM BUY MORE OFTEN*

NATURAL CAFFEINE + VITAMINS

*Sources: NeilsonQ, Kantar Brand Equity Tracking, San Pellegrino brand website *ToLuna x Tropicana Concept Testing, 2023

Eat is published by

The Bright Media Agency, The Old Bank, 2 Cross Street, Enderby, Leicestershire LE19 4NJ, on behalf of Confex Ltd.

» FOR CONFEX LTD

Jess Douglas

» FOR THE BRIGHT MEDIA AGENCY

» Content Director

Stephenie Shaw

» Editor

Rosie Johnstone

» Creative Director

Emma Bramwell

» Senior Designer

Rafaela Aguiar-Hill

» Media Sales Manager

Patsy Kelly

» Publisher

David Shaw

To advertise, please contact Patsy Kelly at patsy@thebrightmediaagency.com or call 07514 623564 14 19 06

06 What's new?

Our round-up of the latest must-stock products

08 CORE of it

Focus on your margins with own-brand range advice

11 Insight

Recruit and retain the best team with research from KAM Media

14 Seasonal opportunities

Make your venue the hottest place in town by following these top tips

19

Three cheers to summer

Drive up sales and stand out from the crowd this summer by offering something new and exciting when it comes to summer tipples

23 Sunshine scoop

Temperatures are soaring, so get ready to reinvigorate your ice cream and sorbet offering to maximise sales

26

Five ways with...

Strawberries. A classic for summer with so many ways you can have fun

WANT TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS OR YOUR BUSINESS?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED OR SEE US FEATURE A PARTICULAR SUBJECT, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH EAT@THEBRIGHTMEDIAAGENCY.COM

Here’s WHAT’S NEW

A round-up of the latest product releases

Spice it up

Made from a blend of 14 quality spices, Old Bay combines spicy and sweet and is impossible to replicate. Ideal for enhancing flavours, Old Bay is perfect for seasoning burgers, chicken and seafood, sprinkling on chips or corn on the cob and other vegetables, and even shaking onto popcorn.

Fruity newness

Raise the bar

In response to customer demand, KitKat® Chunky White with Lotus Biscoff is making its highly anticipated comeback, ready to delight taste buds once again.

The bar combines signature KitKat® wafer, adorned with original Lotus Biscoff caramelised biscuit crumb, enveloped in a velvety smooth white layer.

This collaboration between KitKat and Lotus Biscoff is truly iconic, bringing together two beloved brands to create an unforgettable taste experience. This is not one to miss!

Variety is the spice of life

Seabrook Crinkle Cut Crisps Variety 5 Pack £1.50 PMP provides a mix of the brand’s top two most popular flavours. Everyone has their favourite flavour, so these packs are ideal for customers packing up a picnic or heading to a local party or barbecue and will drive sales with great margins.

Strongbow Zest (ABV 4%), the apple cider carefully blended with lime, lemon and orange flavours, will be available in wholesale channels from June, with 4x400ml and 500ml formats, as well as 10x330ml. Perfect for summer!

A sign that it’s time to fire up the BBQ

The perfect combination of sweet molasses and sugar with tangy vinegar and ripe tomatoes, award-winning Cattlemen’s® Kansas City Classic® BBQ Sauce brings regional flair and flavour to mainstream barbecue. Formulated to hold up to high temperatures to prevent burning, this is a fantastic ingredient which is ideal for a marinade, dipping sauce or even in a stew or casserole.

The Grand Old Duke of Yorkie

The limited-edition YORKIE Honeycomb flavour features solid chunks of smooth honeycomb-flavour milk chocolate and crunchy pieces of sweet honeycomb. With the YORKIE Duo range growing +38.2%,* the new variant brings in the most requested flavour for YORKIE, therefore expect customer demand to be high.

(Source: *IRI All Outlets & Kantar World Panel, Discounters, Value Sales, 52 w/e 19.03.24)

Get some wiiings

Introducing the new Red Bull Summer Edition, now with the exotic taste of curuba and elderflower.

The flavoured energy drink market is flying and Red Bull Editions are giving it wiiings, growing 2x faster than the category and bringing in 75% incremental sales. Editions are key to bringing in new shoppers and creating value for your business, so stock up on the new Summer Edition today, here for a limited time only!

The solution to your customers’ sweet tooth

Get sharing with the all-new AERO® Neapolitan Sharing Bag of bubbly milk chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavour melts. MUNCHIES® Cookie Dough Flavour Sharing Bag offers a cookie dough flavour core and chocolate biscuit shell, while MILKYBAR® Raspberry Ripple Sharing Bag is filled with marbled white and pink raspberry flavour buttons.

wrap THAT’S A

Create delicious dishes while protecting your profits with CORE products

Operators can enhance their lunch menus with top-quality wraps from CORE, developed by foodservice professionals.

With a six-month shelf life, flavour-packed wraps are perfect for on-the-go lunches, packing up a picnic or for dining in. A tasty change from sandwiches, wraps are an endlessly versatile option.

Offering a quality alternative to the bestselling brands at an affordable price, CORE – the own brand from Confex for the foodservice sector – is a fantastic way to protect those all-important profits to ensure your business is thriving.

Creating the perfect wrap

With more space to play with than in a traditional sandwich, you can have a lot of fun with your wrap fillings. Condiments help keep them moist and don’t be afraid of

being adventurous with flavour combinations and textures. Lettuce makes a great addition to give a satisfying crunch and if you’re feeling daring, you could even add small croutons to a chicken Caesar wrap (just be sure to let your customers know on the packaging).

Perfect the art of wrapping to make sure your wrap doesn’t fall apart. Spread the filling around the wrap so it doesn’t leak out and try to avoid too many wet ingredients, such as an excess of sauce. A good rule of thumb is to fill the ingredients to one-third the size of the wrap.

How to attract and keep talent

Teamwork makes the dream work and making sure you recruit and retain the best front-of-house team can ultimately help your bottom line, says Katy Moses, Managing Director at KAM

Each member of your team can make the difference between a guest becoming a lifelong customer or not returning to your venue again, so hiring and keeping the perfect team is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business.

From greeting customers with a smile and asking about their day, to going out of their way to make sure customers’ experiences are as memorable as possible, there are so many ways team members can have a positive influence on the customer journey. Dedicating time and resources to providing a pleasant work environment with opportunities to develop, reasonable pay and benefits and a good work/life balance will prove to be a worthwhile investment when it comes to ultimately retaining customers too.

POWER OF THE PEOPLE

When putting together rotas for your team, it’s important to think about the level of staffing your venue really needs to run at its best and most efficient.

According to a report by KAM x Limber, 64% of hospitality workers feel they can’t deliver the level of service they want to due to understaffing and 43% of employees said understaffing made them look elsewhere for work. This doesn’t go

79% OF GEN Z WANT EMPLOYEES TO LOOK AT MORE INNOVATIVE AND MODERN WAYS TO RECRUIT

»A key way to retain top talent is by ensuring the employee benefits you offer match up with what your team is looking for

unnoticed by customers, either. 26% of customers noticed a venue was shortstaffed within the last three months, while 22% said it had taken too long for food and drink to arrive. Though it may be tempting to prioritise the bottom line by having as few team members on per shift as

possible, this could have a negative effect on both the customer experience and on your employees’ morale, which may ultimately lead to them looking for work elsewhere and you losing a valuable member of staff.

THE NEXT GENERATION

According to a study by KAM x Hospitality Rising, the recruitment process needs shaking up for Gen Z. One in two of Gen Z have abandoned a job application halfway through because it was taking too long, whereas 67% of Gen Z agree the traditional process of applying for a job is tedious and 79% of Gen Z want employees to look at more innovative and modern ways to recruit. Online interviews would be appreciated by 68%, whereas 47% of Gen Z would prefer to send a bespoke introduction letter but no CV. Are you maximising every candidate ‘touchpoint’, just like you would for a customer?

THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

How you initially reach out to a candidate will set the tone and help form important first impressions of your business. A key way to retain top talent

»Though it may be tempting to prioritise the bottom line by having as few team members on per shift as possible, this could have a negative effect on both the customer experience and on your employees’ morale

is by ensuring the employee benefits you offer match up with what your team is looking for. If in doubt, ask your team directly what benefits are most important to them. According to a report by KAM x HJUK, 95% of employees say that the most important benefit to them is a fair salary, however just 62% of employees believe they are receiving this. Only 47% of employees think of food/ drink/dining discounts as important to them, while 59% are receiving these. Training and development is listed as a key benefit by 87% of employees, but just 48% say they are currently being offered this.

The report also discovered that a positive

64% OF HOSPITALITY WORKERS FEEL THEY CAN’T DELIVER THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY WANT TO DUE TO UNDERSTAFFING Did you know?

Did you know?

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IS LISTED AS A KEY BENEFIT BY 87% OF EMPLOYEES, BUT JUST 48% SAY THEY ARE CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED THIS

culture at work plays a crucial part in harnessing the best team, with nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents saying that the people they work with are an important factor in keeping them in their hospitality role. Are you shouting about what you are offering already? Whether it’s a monthly newsletter or a quick weekly memo via WhatsApp, help boost the morale of your team by making sure they’re aware of all the benefits they are entitled to.

Seasonal

OPPORTUNITIES

Whatever the weather may have in store for us this summer, follow these tips to make your venue the hottest place in town

Help your venue to pack a punch this summer by embracing everything the sunshine has to offer. From impulse purchases by customers looking for a quick and low-cost way to cool down, to inspiring those heading to a barbecue or picnic, there are so many ways you can increase your bottom line.

It’s a summer full of sport this year too, with

Euro 2024, the Olympics a up early (the delicious smell alone will encourage more diners) and keep it rolling throughout the afternoon. Burgers, sausages and chicken legs might be the classic go-to options but mix it up with flavour variations. Remember to cater for those looking for glutenfree, vegetarian and vegan choices too. Make some simple

CREATE A SEASONAL DISPLAY FOR CUSTOMERS LOOKING TO PACK UP A PICNIC. THINK SAUSAGE ROLLS, OLIVES AND CORONATION CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH A SLICE OF SHORTBREAD TO FINISH

low-cost investments to boost your garden’s aesthetic and make it more enticing. Firstly, make sure your tables and chairs are cleaned with a pressure washer at the start of the season and wipe them down frequently throughout each day. Nobody wants to sit with old crumbs from that morning’s breakfast. Secondly, add some festoon lights, cosy outdoor rugs and pop some blankets nearby for the chillier evenings. Live musicians are a great way to

create the perfect atmosphere for a summer’s evening.

Summer of sports

If you listen very carefully, you may already be able to hear the faint roars of crowds cheering. The sporting calendar is full to the brim with exciting events this year and with them brings the opportunity to maximise your sales, if you plan carefully. If your venue is a bar or a pub, having a TV (even if just for the summer) is

Top tip

a sure-fire way to ensure that customers stick around for longer. Make use of social media to let your customers know they can watch sporting events at your venue and consider offering promotions while they are on.

Placing subtle decorations around your venue, such as bunting, is a great way to get into the spirit. Why not sell some themed food, too? You could offer strawberries and cream for Wimbledon or a cake featuring the UK flag for the Olympics.

DON’T FORGET THE DRINKS! KEEP A SELECTION OF SUMMER FAVOURITES, SUCH AS ROSÉ, FIZZY DRINKS AND FRUIT JUICES IN THE FRIDGE READY FOR WARMER DAYS. STOCK UP ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER, SUCH AS HEINEKEN 0.0%, TO GIVE THOSE NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL A VARIETY OF OPTIONS TOO

Top tip

SUMMER SIZZLER

For an easy no-bake summer pud, de-stem and cut 200g of fresh strawberries into quarters. Pop them in a bowl and sprinkle over 2 tbsp of granulated sugar. Let this sit for 20 minutes. While you’re waiting, whip together 250ml of cream in a large bowl with 3 tbsp of icing sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla bean paste until you have soft peaks. Add the sweetened strawberries to the cream mixture, cover with cling film and pop in the fridge for up

TRUE TASTE OF AMERICA

AMERICA’S NO.1 HOT SAUCE*

Drench their taste buds with the perfect blend of heat and flavour, made using premium aged cayenne peppers. Kick your menus up a notch with ultimate buffalo wings or fiery Bloody Marys.

A versatile savoury seasoning blend of mixed spices, herbs and pepper. Use during and after cooking to instantly add flavour and profit to your dishes.

AMERICA’S NO. 1 MUSTARD*

Made using high quality #1 grade mustard seeds in a recipe that’s been perfected over 100 years. A staple in dirty burgers, messy hot dogs and stacked sandwiches.

BUILT FOR BACK OF HOUSE

The Gold Standard for Original Midwestern BBQ sauce. A delightful balance of tomato, sweet molasses and natural hickory smoke and spice for a well-rounded, world-class BBQ taste.

SUMMER

Offering customers something new and exciting is always a crowd pleaser and presents a great opportunity for bars, cafés and restaurants to drive up sales and stand out from the crowd.

SOFTLY, SOFTLY

tipple »

Stand out from the crowd by following our top tips to maximise your summer drinks sales this season

With warm summer days, customers will be looking for refreshing ways to cool down this summer, so ensure your soft drinks offer is the best it can be. As customers are still feeling the effects of the costof-living crisis, soft drinks provide a value alternative

ACCORDING TO CGA'S WINE INSIGHTS REPORT, PREMIUM ROSÉ SOARED IN VALUE BY +18.9% IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS

to alcohol, so maximise your sales with a great range. Be sure to stock up on sugar-free or diet versions of options such as cola or lemonade for the healthconscious customer. Drive value into your venues by featuring deals across linked soft drinks and food pairings on your menus. For example, a free cola with every burger on nights that are typically quieter.

THE

RISE OF ROSÉ

An unquestionably popular summer drink, rosé is currently dominating the wine category. According to CGA’s Wine Insight Report 2023, a fifth (21%) of consumers drank more rosé in 2023 than they did in 2022 and 24% of consumers typically drank rosé in the on-trade last year.

The report also showed that while rosé attracts consumers of all profiles, women, younger drinkers and those living in a city are more likely to choose it.

It pays to feature premium options on your menus as 62% of consumers are more likely to pay for a betterquality drink, according to the study.

Pale, Provence-style rosé wine is gaining in momentum, but the traditional fruitdriven, darker styles with a richer profile are as popular as ever so it’s crucial to provide diversity and choice in your menus this summer to meet customer demand.

FEELING CRAFTY

Craft beers have had a surge in popularity over recent years and this shows no sign of slowing down. Diversifying in this area is a great way to draw more customers into your venue.

If you’re thinking of adding some more craft beers to your offering, stock various levels of craft to appeal to different tastes.

To successfully sell craft beers, your team needs to be trained on everything you have available and be able to describe them to customers and help them choose something they might like.

Top tip

IF YOU CAN, STOCK DRAUGHT NO-AND-LOW BEER OR LAGER OPTIONS. SOME CUSTOMERS MAY WANT TO INDULGE IN A PINT AND OTHERS MAY NOT WISH TO ANNOUNCE THEY ARE NOT DRINKING AND PREFER THE ANONYMITY OF A PINT GLASS INSTEAD OF A LABELLED BOTTLE

NO-AND-LOW

It’s not news that Brits are cutting down on their alcohol intake. The days of 0% fixtures being reserved for Dry January are a distant memory, with many choosing to either give up alcohol entirely or reserve enjoying an alcoholic tipple for the weekend. According to research by KAM, 5.2 million fewer UK adults drank weekly in 2023 than in 2021. Retail giant John Lewis has also reported that 47% of UK adults are switching between alcohol and low-and-no alcoholic drinks in the same occasion.

It’s more important than ever to provide choice in this category. Having one fixture of no-and-low beer simply won’t cut it any more and you may risk losing custom if your competition has more choice for those not drinking. For example, Budweiser Zero Alcohol- Free Lager has the same iconic taste of Budweiser, brewed with

premium Budweiser barley, hops and malt using the same beechwood ageing technique that delivers the famous Budweiser smoothness. Premium tonics can offer you double the opportunity as they are not only enjoyed as a complementary mixer for gin but they can also be enjoyed as a solo drink for those abstaining from alcohol. The Artisan Drinks Co has a fabulous range of drinks with branding that will stand out in your venues and turn heads. Bestsellers such as bubbly soda water, classic London tonic, fiery ginger beer and pink citrus tonic are sure to be popular with your customers.

SUNSHINE

Summer is on its way so get ready for your ice cream and sorbet sales to take off. From comforting classics to exotic combinations, there are plenty of opportunities to turn heads with this category

As temperatures soar, it’s no surprise that ice cream and sorbets sit firmly at the top of the list when it comes to the nation’s favourite way to cool down. Whether it’s a

scoop

dine-in dessert or a handheld ice cream to go, it’s essential that you offer what your customers are looking for. Keep an eye on what your competition is offering and if in doubt, ask your customers what they

would like to see on the menu. Increase your kerb appeal during the warmer days by using signage outside your venue to let warm passers-by know that you have delicious ice cream available.

KEEP THE FUN

The main ingredient in ice cream will always be a good sprinkling of fun. Ice cream has a way of transporting us back to childhood memories of summer holidays and running outside to flag down the ice cream van. Customers purchasing ice cream are looking for a fun, indulgent treat rather than simply a refreshment, so why not really lean into this by installing an eyecatching create-your-own ice cream station? Sprinkles, marshmallows, sauces and chocolate chips will all be a fantastic way to help children and adults alike really

HEALTH FOCUS

There is a marked rise in plant-based, lactose-free, gluten-free, low-calorie and sugar-free ice cream options so if you can, make space for these on your shelves. Health continues to drive consumer buying habits and Statista has reported that 26% of UK ice cream consumers said they would be interested in trying reduced sugar ice creams. With many of the top ice cream brands, such as Jude’s and Ben & Jerry’s, offering ice cream options for each of the main dietary requirements, including a few SKUs is an easy win with customers.

MIX IT UP

While the classic flavours such as vanilla, strawberry and chocolate will always be crowd-pleasers, in recent years there has been an explosion of interest in more exotic, unexpected flavours and combinations, creating memorable taste experiences.

REGULARLY

CREAM FLAVOURS AND ADVERTISE THEM ON A SPECIALS BOARD OUTSIDE YOUR VENUE TO ATTRACT POTENTIAL PASSING CUSTOMERS

cream and sorbet or make it yourself? While commercial ice-cream makers come at a more premium cost, don’t be tempted by a cheaper domestic version as these rarely deliver the quality customers expect or the quantity you’ll need. If you can’t financially justify investing in an icecream maker or you want to see how sales perform first, another option is to use a mix such as Bird’s Ice Cream Mix.

MILKSHAKE MANIA

In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, milkshakes are an opportunity for foodservice operators to provide an affordable and more convenient treat that will allow customers to indulge in a small luxury without having to justify the expense

5WAYSWITH…

strawberries

Summer and strawberries go together like fish and chips, salt and pepper or Ant and Dec. Here are five ways to use strawberries in your menus this season

1

Not just a trifle

Easy to make and low cost, trifle is the quintessential English dessert and the perfect summer treat to feature on your menus. Making individual portions will not only look visually appealing but will also charm customers who don’t want to commit to a heavy pudding. Have a few available to take away for those packing up a picnic.

2

Summer in a salad

Strawberries in a salad? Before you turn the page, hear us out. Fruit in a salad may be controversial but give this a go for a refreshing, delicious, speedy and head-turning dish, one that’s absolutely guaranteed to stimulate conversation! Add some walnuts and rocket to make it truly mouth-watering. The peppery taste of the rocket balances the sweetness of the strawberries to delicious effect.

3

Let them eat cake

A visually stunning dessert and a really easy bake too. Light, sweet and refreshing enough to satisfy any craving, this is bound to whizz off your display stands while Wimbledon is on! Make sure you use fresh strawberries as frozen won’t work quite as well and if you have time, use home-made whipped cream for the wow factor. For an eye-catching finish you could also add some red food colouring to the icing to give it a lovely pink tinge, although this is entirely optional!

5 We all scream for ice cream

Perfect on its own or as an accompaniment to summer desserts, homemade strawberry ice cream is a fabulous addition to your menus for little ones and grown-ups alike. Again, use fresh strawberries if you can.

4

A sunshine classic

The perfect no-bake summer pud, tiramisu is made with strawberries, strawberry compote, sponge fingers and mascarpone. Coffee, raw eggs and alcohol aren’t needed for this one. With no baking hot oven needed either and served chilled, this dessert is the perfect antidote to hot summer days. Chill for at least eight hours or preferably overnight to give this the perfect finish before delighting your customers.