Catering to the workplace of the future

Sponsored article: Nestlé Professional® is on a mission to prepare caterers for the future of the workplace

By 2030 Millennials and Gen Z will account for three quarters of the global workforce . This generation has a completely different set of expectations concerning what the workplace should offer, from technology to wellbeing.

As a launchpad for its brand-new report, Gen Z into The Workplace: Cater the Future, Nestlé Professional® hosted media and industry professionals in a showcase of the evolving demands being placed on workplaces and what this means for contract caterers.

From food delivery robots to micro-algae edible packaging for beverages and sauces, the event provided an exciting glimpse of what’s to come as well as providing tips and advice for caterers to implement today.

Embrace technology

It appears technology will be a divisive factor when it comes to appealing to the future workforce, with 91% of Gen Z claiming that technology would influence their job choice among similar employment offers . The appeal of technology will extend to the workplace canteen; get ahead of competitors by introducing digital solutions such as apps or online menu browsing and booking tools.

Guest speaker, Nadia El Hadery, Founder & CEO of YFood identified some of the main start-ups making waves across the industry, from Kiwi, a food delivery robot to Nutrifix, a virtual staff canteen that creates personalised weekly menu plans for employees.

Make flexible working and decentralisation work for you

We are changing the ways in which we consume and whilst this initially provides an obstacle for caterers to overcome, it also presents new opportunities. With 44% of Generation Z favouring a flexible working environment , Nestlé Professional® suggests dealing with lower footfall by utilising technology that will allow for caterers to engage customers in a different capacity. For example, caterers could introduce a delivery service for employees working from home.

Go green and reap the rewards

Increasingly, the workforce are demonstrating a desire to work with organisations who have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility; for Generation Z this is second only in importance to advanced technology when choosing a job . Organisations will likely aim to work with caterers with similar ethos, meaning there’s a huge opportunity for companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact .

Start looking ahead to the future of catering today by downloading free report Gen Z into The Workplace: Cater the Future from Nestlé Professional®.