Environment Report – Today’s Food Stories

Are you running a food business today and in need of inspiration for what your approach to Environmental Sustainability should and could look like – grocery retail, food franchise or food service?

Download our Environmental Sustainability Spotlight on UK Foodservices 2024 NOW, TAF Catering Consultancy’s UNIQUE benchmark of 15 of the UK’s market leading food companies’ environmental focus!

Back in 2019, TAF cast a first Sustainability Spotlight on Single Use Plastics within the UK; at THAT time, the only in-depth review and benchmark of how UK food companies were dealing with single use plastics. This is our follow up report with even more relevant, reliable and timely environmental focus.

Report content – 5 Key Areas:

1. Statistics on company data / results (where possible)
2. Food sector environmental policy benchmark:
   1. 5 Grocery Retailers
   2. 5 Food Franchises
   3. 5 Foodservice Companies
3. Case study examples and success rates
4. Inspiration to consider your own environmental Policy
5. 90-Page report in digital format

TAF Catering Consultancy applauds and welcomes today’s Environmental Sustainability initiatives but calls for more from UK food businesses and operators to eliminate problematic, unnecessary environmental damage.

Tracey Fairclough, TAF’s MD encourages today’s movement must be about wanting to and making changes to our daily lives to reduce our environmental impacts (and it’s not as hard as you think)!

CLICK here to get to your copy of our our report NOW!

TAFTALKS2024 REPORT
UK Contract Caterers | Weighing The Options 2024
By Tracey Fairclough F.I.H. | Catering Consultant

TAF’s Report provides details of 60 UK Contract Caterers. Created with industry professionals, corporate facilities, procurement and hr in mind, the report looks at everything from WHAT the contract caterers say they do, WHERE they’re based, HOW small or large (and how they benchmark), HOW many employees they report today, HOW they engage customers, WHY they’re considered “best practice” (i.e. awards they’ve won), WHO leads them today and the report even holds the reader’s hand all the way to the caterer website. NB. Whilst not the definitive landscape of all caterers, there’s nothing as extensive like it.

features of this report

• What you need to know about 60 UK workplace contract caterers in 2024. 
• Everything you need to know but don’t know who to ask.
• A year’s worth of research in a 80-page report your business will love.
• It saves YOU time, money and resources highlighting “best fit” workplace contract caterers.
• There’s nothing out there like it.
• Written by the freshest, forward-thinking, innovative, app & sustainability savvy UK catering consultancy.
• Author is Tracey Fairclough: ACE’s One of 50 Most Influential Women in Foodservices, SME NEWS Foodservice MD of the Year & Corporate LiveWire Catering Consultancy of the Year… Podcaster and Industry Judge. 

value of the report

TAF unquestionably engage the greatest bandwidth of contract caterers today to know what best practice looks like to present to corporate facilities, procurement and hr who might not necessarily have time, money or resource to:

(a) assess today’s contract caterer landscape,
(b) make more informed decisions about the way they feed their people (through their incumbent caterer) and
(c) adapt, evolve and shape their company’s foodservices through the freshest insights and “best fit” catering NOW.

report content

• Part A | THE CATERERS are presented in a simple, easy to read single-page caterer profiles with key information enabling easy benchmarking and each profile page leading to a click-on to go to the caterer website. TAF make it as easy as possible to get the reader to a desirable result.
• Part B | THE INSIGHTS are benchmarked in simple, easy to compare tables, graphs and charts so the reader gets an all-important a proverbial helicopter view of the best possible contract caterers, for their specific needs, from three perspectives: By Scale/Size/Scope.

conclusion

TAF claim their report will be: “the easiest you’ll have digested for some time and one of the most valuable sources of the most relevant, reliable, timely contract insights, leading you to understand the potential features/benefits of contract caterers for YOU in 2024.

buy a copy now:

TAFTALKS2024 | UK Contract Caterers | Weighing The Options 2024

£1,000 plus VAT

£1,000.00 – Purchase Your Report View basket and checkout Added to basket

contact:

If you require a presentation of these insights instead or the full report, or would like to set up a meeting to discuss about your specific challenges or simply need the contact details for the companies detailed in our report, we’d be delighted to support you.

Tracey Fairclough F.I.H. | Managing Director & Founder
mobile: 07968 796964 | email:

The TAF Catering Consultancy attended “Plant Based World Expo, Europe” today at Olympia (London); Europe’s biggest professional event; and only 100% plant-based one for foodservice, retail, distributors, investors & manufacturers.

Why? If you’re catering for a workforce, through your own staff restaurant, we challenge you to ask: “do WE have what it takes to engage OUR people TODAY with plant-based menus (as a main focus rather than tick box)?” If the answer is “no”, do take a look at our TAF’s Top Ten Plant Based Takeaways for inspiration to re-imagine a culinary revolution.

Knowing WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT & HOW TO MANAGE YOUR CATERING BUDGETS are never more important than today, heading into the festive season; demand for workplace hospitality rising (around labour shortages and soaring food price rises). What must you in FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT be mindful of?

FAST FACTS

• Headlines| According to this month’s national news, the cost of living is increasing at its fastest rate in 40 years, largely as a result of rising food and energy prices and the Bank of England has increased interest rates to 3%, the biggest hike in more than three decades.
• Definition of Inflation | For example, if a bottle of milk costs £1 and it goes up to £1.03 a year later, then annual milk inflation is 3%.
• Inflation Rate | To come up with an inflation figure, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) keeps track of the prices of hundreds of everyday items. This is known as the “basket of goods”.
• Goods Inflation | According to the ONS, the CPIH goods annual inflation rate increased to 14.8% from 13.2% September.
• Workplace Wages | According to official figures, average wages, not including bonuses, rose by 5.7% in the three months to September 2022, compared with the same period in 2021. Wages for people working in the private sector increased by 6.6%, compared with 2.2% for those in public sector jobs. But overall, once inflation is taken into account, average pay actually fell by 2.7%.

 TOP TEN TRENDS TO HELP TACKLE INFLATION THROUGH WORKPLACE CATERING, ENTICE CUSTOMERS TO “STEP INTO CHRISTMAS” WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS WHILST MANAGING YOUR CORPORATE BUDGET

FOOD

1. FOOD PRICES | UK grocery prices have gone up 10.2% compared to last November, as inflation slows.*1
2. EGGS-PENSIVE | The price of eggsin the UK is rising fastest across the UK’s 5 leading grocery retailers.*1
3. CUT BACKS | Brits have reduced their purchasing in seven out of nine categories.*2
4. LUXURY BRANDS | 7 out of 10 Brits are buying less premium or luxury food.*2
5. CHEAPER BRANDS | 2% of Brits are switching to cheaper F&B brands.*2
6. CHEAPER CUTS |4% of Brits are choosing cheaper foods i.e. cheaper cuts of meat.*2
7. FOOD-TO-BUDGET |2% of Brits sticking to a budget when they go to a supermarket.*2
8. ALTERNATIVE SHOPS | 4 out of 10 Brits are switching to cheaper shops, those shopping at Aldi and Lidl increasing to 39.1%.*2
9. CRISPS & SNACKS |3% of Brits are switching crisps/snack brands.*2
10. CEREALS/BISCUIT/SWEETS |1% of Brits are switching both cereals and biscuit/sweet brands.*2

COFFEE 

1. MORE COFFEE | Over 50% of Brits drank more coffee while working from home during the pandemic.*3
2. MORNING COFFEE | The average time for a Brit to drink their first cup of coffee is 9:01 am. *3
3. COSTS | Costa is the most popular coffee shop chain in the UK. *3
4. FREQUENCY OF VISITATION | 80% of people that visit coffee shops visit at least once a week.*3
5. MILLENIALS | Millennials are the most likely generation to visit coffee shops.*3
6. PRICE OF COFFEE | Brits pay on average £2.75 for a coffee shop cappuccino.*3
7. HOME COFFEE | 73% of coffee prepared at home is instant, Brits spend c.£16 p/m on coffee at home.*3
8. COFFEE MACHINES | 39% of Brits have a coffee machine at home.*3
9. TEA | The same number of people consume coffee every day as those that drink tea.*3
10. POPULAR COFFEE | Five times as many cups of takeaway coffee are sold compared to takeaway tea.*3

*1 – The Grocer | Key Value Items (KVI) tracker monitors prices and promotions on circa.200 items across 10 categories, inc. own label wholemeal bread and tinned tomatoes, and branded items like Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Coca-Cola, tracking in up to seven retailers (Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose).

*2 Attest | Attest’s survey of 1,000 working-age UK consumers finds grocery shoppers are keeping a tight rein on their spending, with 42.3% sticking to a budget when they go to the supermarket. Consumers have reduced their purchasing in seven out of nine categories.

*2 Coffee Affection | CA blog about everything coffee. Gear, beans, types of roasts, and all the new inventions that are introduced to the industry every year. They blog daily, and constantly try to up game by following other blogs, news, and YouTubers. They publish multiple pieces each week.

CONTACT US TODAY for 100% independent eyes on your catering to support your facilities and procurement teams to manage YOUR budgets:

Tracey Fairclough | Managing Director & Founder

And so to TAF Catering Consultancy’s FOURTH birthday, we reach out to all of those contract caterers, with whom we currently engage – and there are over 40 in our network today – to say WELL DONE, THANK YOU & KEEP STRONG…

• Well Done | It’s been a tough year but you’ve achieved so much – more than you probably realise – so if you’re reading this, give YOURSELF a pat on the back (whether you’ve won a trophy or not).
• Thank You | For your support, site visits and successes you’ve shared, throughout the last four years, these have enabled us to give corporate clients hope for solutions to feed those who matter the most to them.
• Keep Strong | Rewriting history is not easy, you’re carving out a new foodservices path in a new era of catering and foodservices. We just wanted to say that nothing, as far as we’re concerned, has gone unnoticed.

Thank you for the catering, the food you’re making … for all the joy you’re bringing!

Tracey Fairclough | Managing Director & Founder

#foodservices #contractcatering #catering

To all the caterers we engage in 2022: Accent Catering Services | Aramark | ARTIZIAN CATERING | Atalian Servest UK & Ireland | THE BALANCED FOOD COMPANY LTD | BARTLETT MITCHELL LIMITED | BaxterStorey | Bennett Hay | Blue Apple Workplace Catering | THE BLUE STRAWBERRY GROUP LTD | CH&CO | City Dining | Compass Group UK & Ireland | Connect Catering Ltd | Delaware North UK  | Elior UK | Eurest UK | Feastly | Fika Catering | Food by Dish | Fooditude | Four Gables | Gather & Gather | The Genuine Dining Co. | The Good Eating Company | Graysons Green & Fortune | Harrison Catering Services | Houston & Hawkes | ISS A/S | Lexington Catering | Levy Restaurants | Olive Catering Services Limited | PS Catering Management Ltd | Radish Restaurant Associates UK  | Rhubarb Hospitality Collection | NEW Savoir | Searcys | Sodexo UK and Ireland | Talkington Bates Ltd | Thomas Franks Ltd | T”n”S Catering Management Services | Vacherin | Wilson Vale |

Well what a year it’s been since 1st January 2022 alone, for our catering consultancy, catering consultants, TAF’s friends and associates, as I draw breath on our FOURTH BIRTHDAY today. Above all, there are many things to be THANKFUL for.

Whilst it has been super challenging to provide FRESH, FORWARD-THINKING, INNOVATIVE, APP-SAVVY & SUSTAINABLE foodservice and hospitality solutions, in an industry that faces continuous challenges, we’re inspired by so many in our network, which means we’ve been able to present bespoke solutions to our many clients – whether corporate, care or council feeding.

If you’re trying to weather the storm and need support around YOUR IN-HOUSE or OUTSOURCED foodservices – Catering Audits, Catering Tenders, Customer Engagement, Design & Branding, Food Safety, Mobilisations, Research & Insights or Benchmarking – then contact us, there are options and we can support you to the best one for YOU!

Tracey Fairclough | Managing Director & Founder

 

TAF Catering Consultancy wish to thank all of our clients for trusting us to guide you over the last FOUR years, especially given recent financial headwinds, to provide the best possible catering and foodservice.

We’ve been lucky enough to have been employed by so many of you – over 30 in fact – and don’t take any clients for granted given the importance of those you feed.

Without each and every one of you, we wouldn’t have been gainfully employed to provide FRESH, FORWARD-THINKING, INNOVATIVE, APP-SAVVY & SUSTAINABLE foodservice and hospitality solutions to celebrate today.

If you’re not a TAF client and are still trying to weather the storm and need support to help shape YOUR IN-HOUSE or OUTSOURCED foodservices – Catering Audits, Catering Tenders, Customer Engagement, Design & Branding, Food Safety, Mobilisations, Research & Insights or Benchmarking – then do contact us. There are ALWAYS options & we can guide you to choose the best one for YOU!

Tracey Fairclough | Managing Director & Founder

Email: | Website: www.tafcateringconsultancy.com

#foodservices #contractcatering #catering #facilities #cateringconsultancy

Rising inflation is driving Brits back to work this month and the TAF Collective Model defines a crucial new way to collaborate around WORKPLACE FEEDING – focusing Corporate Client, Caterer & Consultancy like never before.

According to Tracey Fairclough, Managing Director, it’s the consultancy’s definitive and fresh approach to 2022 foodservice solutions that fosters more collaborating, openness, transparency and value bespoke solutions AT THE SAME PRICE AS BEFORE.

THE CHALLENGE

According to the Bank of England, the rate of inflation started rising in 2021, largely due to increased spending on goods during the pandemic. As the UK reopened, after restrictions eased, some businesses struggled meeting extra demand because of difficulties in obtaining materials.

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine led to a sharp increase in the price of energy and caused increases in agricultural commodity prices, such as grain, needed to produce food.

Today with more job vacancies than people to fill (i.e. 174,000 according to UK Hospitality), employers must offer higher wages (to attract applicants) and businesses must charge more for products/services. All this has pushed prices up, and rate of inflation.

Higher inflation = higher cost of living.

With most of us buying less, earning the same as before – household income staying the same – we’re already finding our money doesn’t go as far. For younger people, esp. GenZers, aged 18 to 25, experiencing significant inflation for the first time, those in facilities must prepare for their return to the workplace to be fed, as they seek to reduce their cost of living.

THE SOLUTION

With vast numbers heading for the workplace to reduce their household costs, TAF Collective offers corporates – seeking to feed them there – better than ever post pandemic consultancy support.

Rather than being forced to use only those we know or the only available resources from a damaged hospitality sector, where caterers have made resource cut-backs; TAF Collective offers the best practice, bespoke foodservice solution; serving corporates by recruiting and managing the “best” external branding, marketing, culinary, digital and social, food safety and production installation specialists – SME business owners in their own right(with individual track records). These specialists currently help TAF to shape not just good but great post-pandemic foodservice experiences.

By design, TAF Collective delivers the freshest, forward-thinking, innovative, app-savvy and sustainability-focused workplace feeding nationwide. READ on for your THREE key facilities questions answered.

Question 1| WHY is a “collective” model better than a traditional consultancy model?

 

Question 2| HOW does a “collective” model benefit corporate clients?

Question 3| WHO sits in the “collective” to provide unique solutions?

CONTACT US TODAY if your workplace feeding needs a refresh and, in these post pandemic times, you’re not sure of the potential “best fit” bespoke solutions to feed those who matter the most to YOUR business!

CLICK here to make contact, send us an email and tell us what your top FIVE key challenges are:

In an unprecedented year, 2022, the team at the TAF Catering Consultancy is, again, delighted to have found out this week we have won another award. This time we have been awarded the Most Innovative Catering Consultancy – South East England in the Hospitality Awards 2022 hosted by LUXlife!

Apparently there must be … “evidence of expertise within a given field; dedication to customer/client service, satisfaction and retention; and an on-going commitment to providing excellent work.”

TAF’s consultants are super humbled, proud and delighted to have been even considered and thank LUXlife.

Tracey Fairclough says: “We have to pinch ourselves as it’s been a phenomenal couple of years for our consultants and well worth the hard work and effort, as it’s all signalled the dawn of more rewarding collaborative working!” 

#Innovative #catering #CateringConsultancy #foodservice #SouthEastEngland #HospitalityAwards2022 #awards

 

The TAF Catering Consultancy is delighted to announce it’s won Catering Consultancy of the Year – UK award, awarded by Corporate Live Wire’s Innovation & Excellence Awards 2022.

According to Corporate Live Wire:

• During the awards process we invited over 90,000 businesses and corporate professionals, magazine contributors and our subscribers to nominate companies & individuals based on factors such as service, innovation, experience, sustainability and other key criteria.
• Additionally our research team put forward firms deserving of recognition. Award winners gain a place in the Innovation & Excellence Awards Guide 2022 distributed to businesses and professionals in the Corporate LiveWire network.
• The judges were impressed with your team’s personal touch, community feel and passion for what you do.

Innovation & Excellence Awards | CORPORATE LIVEWIRE

According to TAF Catering Consultancy:

• TAF is humbled and delighted to receive this wonderful award and thank Corporate LiveWire for the amazing acknowledgment. We’ve been busier than ever been supporting corporate return-to-work workplace catering strategies with bespoke and best practice solutions by being focused on LISTENING, COLLABORATING and DELIVERING better.
• With vast numbers heading back to work for more days a week to reduce household costs, where a damaged hospitality sector, having made significant resource cut-backs, is having to feed them cost effectively for the business; our TAF Collective approach now offers corporates better than ever post pandemic consultancy workplace feeding solutions support.
• How? We serve corporates by recruiting the “best” external branding, marketing, culinary, digital and social, food safety and production installation specialists – SME business owners in their own right (with individual proven track records). These amazing specialists help TAF to shape (not just good but) great post-pandemic foodservice experiences. So, it’s through the support, dedication, skills, expertise and passion of these specialists in TAF’s community, by design, we deliver the freshest, forward-thinking, innovative, app-savvy and sustainability-focused workplace feeding solutions, as well as that all-important personal touch!

Tracey Fairclough | MANAGING DIRECTOR, TAF Catering Consultancy Ltd

Pictured (left to right): Carey Trevill, Owner of Mission Element (and TAF Collaborator driving creative inspiration to deliver commercially), Tracey Fairclough, Owner of TAF Catering Consultancy (collaborating and delivering catering and foodservice solutions to deliver sustainable post pandemic growth), and Helen Groves, Owner of Food Safety Logic (TAF Collaborator providing expert food safety advice keeping customers safe).