How are companies adapting to new markets?
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantThe way we dine
out has evolved significantly in the last decade, with brand new audience
segments emerging considering dietary preferences and trends such as veganism,
and the increase in consumers looking to enjoy a unique experience from their
evenings eating out. But how do companies keep up with people flocking to these
new trends, staying current in the palette of an ever-changing market? People
are also more budget conscious than ever, so companies also have to factor this
in to the equation. With some help from Inn Supplies, retailers of biodegradable
plastic cups, let’s look at some of the innovative methods that businesses
are using to change the game in their favour.
Pop-up venues
Eating out became
even more convenient as pop-up venues began to sprout up in some of the UK’s
biggest cities, and it’s fair to say that we couldn’t have imagined the current
appeal of dining inside shipping containers a decade ago! These industrial
looking establishments become populated with various food and beverage
retailers, providing a unique experience and the perfect Instagram backdrop for
customers. Spark: York CIC opened in May 2018, and it features a bar called 4swings, a small unit with 4
hanging swings for customers to sit on while sipping speakeasy inspired
cocktail creations. Meanwhile in the capital, head to the uber trendy London
suburb of Shoreditch and enjoy a pint in Boxpark, a similar collection
of containers serving a whole host of tasty, quick food and plenty of drinks –
don’t miss out on the Soft Serve Society for a tasty ice cream on a sunny day!
In Newcastle Upon Tyne, the city centre has embraced the opening of Stack in August 2018, coined as a
‘creative social hub’ the multi-functional venue with an astounding Japanese
eatery, Sushi Me Rollin’. The area, completed with regular live music and
open–mic nights, is somewhere customers can relax with Indian street food and a
gin and tonic, while soaking up the lively atmosphere. These venues are home to
an array of dining outlets, reflecting the way that the dining sector has
acknowledged the increasing demand for consumer choice.
A meal with a view
The photo sharing
platform Instagram has become a notorious hub for foodies taking the perfect
snap before tucking in. Some of the most popular hashtags
include #foodporn which featured in
179.9 million pictures, and #foodgasm which has been tagged 40.7 million times
to date. Diners are looking for only the finest, most eclectic aesthetics, and
companies have begun to take heed of this. At Duck and Waffle, tower over some
of London’s most iconic buildings and enjoy an evening spent nestled in the
skyline. The venue is the highest restaurant in London, with 24–hour food
service and panoramic views over the city. For a polar opposite experience,
book a table at the Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, and dine in a treehouse
full of character and folksy vibes. With rope bridges and protruding branches
in the floorboards, it is an unparalleled dining experience inspired by nature.
If your venue isn’t ‘Insta-worthy’, then you could have difficulties securing
your appeal to both new and existing customers. It seems that businesses in the
capital have really cottoned on to the value of their visuals, if the
gastro-brasserie Sketch is anything to go
by. From quirky egg-shaped loos, to the iconic all-white staircases, and the
multi-coloured tiles which decorate the curved ceilings, sketch is an
Instagrammers’ dream.
Vegan takeover
More and more
people are changing their dietary preferences, and the rise of veganism has
been an unprecedented trend among those making the switch for health and
environmental reasoning. Even the biggest names in the industry have caved to
demand and introduced non-animal product alternatives, including pasty
connoisseurs Greggs, who added a vegan sausage roll into their cabinet of
delicacies. A survey
found that the number of vegans in the UK had reached 3.5 million in 2018,
which is representative of the soar in consciousness towards ethics and the
environmental impacts of livestock farming. In fact, vegan fine dining is now
commonplace, with establishments such as Simpsons, Birmingham, offering some of
the most exquisite vegan dishes. Refined chef Leo Kattou – fresh from a recent
appearance on MasterChef: The
Professionals, is at the helm of the Michelin–starred venue, where you must
call ahead of time to request a glance of the tasting menu. Other chains such
as Pret a Manger have also reaped the benefits of capitalising on the vegan
boom, by opening versions of their store that only sell vegan alternatives and
twists on some of their classic deli options.
The dining
industry has undoubtedly embraced new cultural changes and demands for variety,
with markets that were once regarded as niche drawing in the masses and
thriving.
Sources:
https://www.sparkyork.org/4swings
https://www.boxpark.co.uk/shoreditch/
http://www.stacknewcastle.com/
https://www.thehandbook.com/london-guidebook/londons-most-instagrammable-restaurants/
https://www.peta.org.uk/features/the-10-best-restaurants-in-the-uk-for-vegan-fine-dining/
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Created on Sep 5th 2019 02:08. Viewed 410 times.