TAKE STOCK
FEATURE
The food-to-go sector is now worth more than
£20bn in the UK and due to grow
3.8% by 2018
Source: Premier Foods
it authentic - they can’t be fooled,” added
redesign of our main restaurants to make
we also have a yoghurt and fresh fruit
them look and feel more like a cafe than
bar too, as well as cereal.” The university
staid refectories.” Replacing old-looking
kitchen hub is its biggest seated
furniture and changing the structure of
establishment where students can come
the old fashioned counter helps them
and have a hot meal, whereas the coffee
compete with the high street. “We wanted
shops are more popular with grab and go
to appeal to the students - and it worked,”
items like paninis.
Phil added.
Phil. “Years ago we’d tone down spicy sauces, but today people's tastes have
Going vegan Best sellers
Phil and his team held a roadshow last
Despite students craving world flavours,
year to gauge what students wanted to
the nation’s favourite still has a place on
eat. “Students are more aware of what
the menu. “We sell around 300 portions
they eat than they used to be,” said Phil.
of freshly battered fish and chips every
“As well as being conscious about health
Friday,” said Phil. “It’s really popular!” And
and dietary requirements, they know
another regular good seller is breakfast.
what food is supposed to look and taste
“We start serving breakfast from 8am and
like.” Phil took all the valuable feedback
“We have to keep the students interested
it’s always busy,” added Phil. “We serve a
they gathered from the roadshow and
so they will choose to eat here rather than
traditional breakfast so students can have
put it to good use. “The main thing that
on the high street,” said Phil. “We had a
a full English or a sausage sandwich, then
stood out was the lack of vegan dishes on
changed dramatically so they expect the flavours to be what they should be - hot and spicy! If we don’t achieve this, we are not only letting the students down, but ourselves too."
High expectations
Matt White, chair of The University Caterers’ Organisation TUCO and director of catering, hotel and conferencing services at the University of Reading, said: “Social media has undeniably impacted the food and drink industry and will continue to do so as shareable and picture-led content shapes online conversations. For university caterers, who are directly providing for the Instagram generation, this doesn’t have to be a complete change in approach. It means finding simple and cost-effective ways to update menus in line with evolving trends. And it’s the ability to do this and adapt to the changing market which makes the higher education catering sector one of the most exciting and creative fields to work in.”
49
takestockmagazine.com