Branded restaurants are continuing to steal a march on their independent counterparts, as customers increasingly demand better quality at reasonable prices, according to new research. Figures from the NPD Group show that sales at independent outlets have dropped by 22.8% since 2008, while business in chain restaurants has increased by 15.5% during the same period. [...]
Five new apprenticeship standards for hospitality have been approved by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The standards have been developed by a group of operators known as the hospitality trailblazer, who have been led by Hilton Worldwide and managed by People 1st. Those involved include Compass Group, Brownsword Hotels, Whitbread, and Lancaster London. The [...]
Foodservice bosses have rejected suggestions that the sector is ageist, but have urged operators to remove the barriers preventing older workers from entering the workplace or prepare to face a looming recruitment crunch. Speaking last week at The Caterer’s Foodservice Forum, BaxterStorey director Simon Esner suggested that older workers may be the UK’s only hope [...]
More than 100 restaurateurs, hoteliers and catering professionals have signed an open letter protesting at the "bureaucratic nightmare" of new EU regulations on allergens. The regulations - which became mandatory in December 2014 - require businesses to identify, record and clearly communicate the presence of any of 14 allergens in a dish or drink, aiming to [...]
Food allergies continue to increase. It is a legal requirement that any allergenic ingredients are declared on pre-packed foods, but these requirements do not apply to foods which are sold unwrapped (in restaurants, bakeries, sandwich shops, deli counters, salad bars etc). It also isn’t required of foods that are sold ‘pre-packed for direct sale’ (that’s stuff wrapped [...]
