At the start of the new year, it is essential for any business in the food service and manufacturing industry to stay ahead of the curve and be proactively informed about the latest trends to ensure success. As such, businesses need to arm themselves with the appropriate insights and data to make sure that they are up-to-date and staying in-tune with fast-evolving trends – all written from the lens of the technology provider.
From the menu data and restaurant tech coverage to sales prospecting, marketing and data enrichment, Brizo has compiled a board set of data and insights to provide targeted research and prospecting in the food service market. In this article, we will answer some of the questions that industry decision makers have surrounding the food service trends in 2023.
What are the latest food service trends?
2023 will see a huge emphasis on convenience and customisation, driven by both rising consumer demand for convenience food and a desire for unique, tailored experiences when they are in a restaurant. As a result, we are now seeing the rise of services like UberEats and Deliveroo and concepts such as “virtual restaurants” – restaurants without a physical location, but which upload rotating menus onto food delivery apps.
Meanwhile, sustainability and transparency will also increasingly become core focuses for both operators and consumers. This is a consequence of the global food industry’s growing recognition of the environmental, social, and economic inclinations of global populations. As such, businesses in this industry should be focusing on small, responsible production processes – such as local sourcing and minimising food waste – all while upholding the ideals of traceable food origin that customers expect.
What should be the first steps in using data to make food service decisions?
When making decisions involving data within the food service market, it is important to establish the metrics you are tracking and what your end goal is. For instance, depending on what you are trying to achieve, you may be interested in optimising operational efficiency, boosting customer satisfaction ratings, or increasing sales revenue.
Once you have identified what metrics need to be focused on, you can then begin to analyse the data against your goals. This could involve looking at past sales, discounts, customer feedback, customer behaviour, or even macro and micro trends in the market that are affecting the sector. Utilising this data, you can then make informed predictions and decisions that will result in positive change.
How can data be used to market to the food service market?
By utilising data that has been gathered on the food service market, businesses can gain valuable insights and analytics to help them launch marketing campaigns that are specific to the demographic and segment that they are targeting.
For instance, by looking at the past buying behaviour and purchases of customers, you can then tailor your campaigns to entice these customers to come back by offering discounts or other promotions. You can likewise look at what other customers in the same demographic have done or purchased, and create campaigns that target to them and incite the same action.
What insights can we learn from foodservice market intelligence?
Using foodservice market intelligence provides invaluable insights into industry trends, customer preferences, and macro conditions. With this information, it is then possible to use predictive analytics to forecast changes in the market, such as the price of commodities and the direction of the industry. This can be used to develop strategies that will ensure the company is prepared and can ride the wave of change in the sector.
How can data be used when finding kitchens and expanding operations?
Data can be incredibly useful when it comes to locating kitchens and expanding operations, as it provides a wealth of information that can be analysed to determine the most suitable location for a new kitchen, or to determine the most appropriate courses of action when introducing a new kitchen.
Using data to find kitchens allows you to identify and analyse the areas that are most likely to generate the highest foot traffic or provide the best return on investment. You can use data to monitor demographic trends in the region and gain an understanding of customer preferences, too. Expansion can then be managed and planned strategically using the insights from the data.
