FandB Trends 2012

F&B Trends in 2012 Posted: 23 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PDT The UK is set to experience one of its biggest years for sometime with celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee being closely followed by the biggest sporting event on the planet as London hosts the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With millions of people expected to visit our shores from all over the world to attend these events, the hotel and hospitality industry will have to ensure that all visitors are entertained, fed and watered with the best possible food and drink on offer. New British Cuisine! There has been a global perception that UK cuisine is honest, but bland and unimaginative. However, there have been a number of advancements in the restaurant industry throughout the UK, which means that the hotel industry will have to identify these emerging trends in order to compete strongly within the F&B sector. Gastronomic innovations from some of the leading independent chefs in this country have resulted in ‘New British’ cuisine sweeping through high-end restaurants. Traditional British dishes have been reworked and modified to incorporate a broader range of flavours, ingredients and cooking techniques. International F&B Trends The introduction of more global influences and the sourcing of local produce have accelerated a culinary renaissance in the UK, which is set to continue in 2012. The Mexican food industry has been expanding steadily in the UK over the past few years with Taco restaurants and street food such as empanadas increasingly being seen on the high streets and on restaurant menus. In addition, there has been an increased interest by British based chefs in Scandinavian foods following the Noma restaurant in Copenhagen being named the best in the world for the second year running by Restaurant Magazine. It is therefore important for hoteliers to identify what the current food trends and tastes are amongst the exclusive eating establishments, to ensure they are moving with the times and are able to offer the cuisines that are currently in fashion within the F&B sector. Hunter, Gatherer? There are a number of ways for hoteliers to save on expenditure by adopting some of the new up to date methods for obtaining food. Foraging for items, such as mushrooms, seaweed, berries, dandelions and nettles is a way of using the natural foods that grow in the UK and has become a particularly popular and a cost effective way of obtaining fresh, local food. Hotels should also consider growing their own vegetables and herbs, which can be done using onsite gardens. There has also been the development of rooftop gardens at city centre premises with limited space, which means every hotel can promote fresh, local, seasonal and homemade produce on their menus. F&B Trends 2012: Technology Offering consumers further advancements in technology continues to develop and be popular as the trend for i-products expands into further sectors. Restaurants are now providing customers with iPods to listen to a selection of music to suit their requirements and there has been a shift towards having electronic ordering devices to replace waiters. Incorporating new technology into the dining experience could help hoteliers to drive themselves ahead of their competitors and create a more unique hospitality product. It is set to be a big year in 2012 for the hotel and hospitality industry and one that is sure to be more competitive than ever, so it has never been more important to keep up with the new trends that are expected to infiltrate the food and beverage sector. Source: hotel-industry