Media Centre

Feature Briefs

 

27 January 2025: AI in hospitality

 

Deadline for copy and pictures: 27 November 2024

 

What are the latest applications of artificial intelligence in hospitality? We’ll look into areas like accounting and financial reconciliation; guest experience and service; reputation management; predictive analytics; predictive maintenance; and energy management. Please send case studies with operator comments where possible.

 

Contact: Ben Walker

Benwalker618@outlook.com

 

10 February 2025: Food waste management

Deadline for copy and pictures: 6 January 2025
 
The countdown is on to the Simpler Recycling regulations coming into force on 31 March in England, mandating that businesses have to separate their food waste and recycling collections. So what do hospitality operators need to know to finalise their preparations to meet the new rules, and how can the supply chain support these efforts? We’ll speak to the sector to find out.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

17 February 2025: HRC equipment & technology preview

Deadline for copy and pictures: 13 January 2025
 
HRC, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, returns with a bang to London’s ExCeL on 17-19 March. We round up all the must-see equipment and technology stands at the show, so any exhibitors in these sectors should submit a 100-word stand description highlighting any new launches, your stand number and associated images of your latest product arrivals.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

24 February 2025: HRC food & beverage preview

Deadline for copy and pictures: 20 January 2025
 
The HRC trade show, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, will showcase the freshest food and drink products on offer to the hospitality sector when it heads back to London’s ExCeL on 17-19 March. Exhibitors looking to make tasty launches at the event should submit a 100-word stand profile detailing these, along with your stand number and images of the new additions.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

10 March 2025: Seafood

 

Deadline for copy and pictures: 24 January 2025

 

Seafood consumption in the UK has fallen sharply over the past few decades, driven by cultural trends and, perhaps, repeated warnings about low stocks of certain highly-regarded species. On the flipside, though, Britain has seen a spate of high-quality mid-market fish restaurants open, which are defying decades-old assumptions about British customers’ lack of adventure when it comes to seafood. Do they point the way to a healthier future for fish in food service, or is there another trend that could reverse the decline? We’ll take a look at the top operators and producers to find out what lies ahead for seafood.

 

Contact: Will Hawkes

willhawkes1@gmail.com

 

24 March 2025: Warewashing

Deadline for copy and pictures: 3 March 2025
 
Warewashing technology is progressing all the time, but manufacturers don’t necessarily have to launch a whole new model to transform an appliance’s capabilities. There is also a steady stream of introductions for accessories and retrofitted systems, so we take a look at the latest functional additions which can help expand a professional warewasher’s potential, covering anything from washing plastic cups to easier internal maintenance.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

31 March 2025: Breakfast foods

Deadline for copy and pictures: 14 February 2025
 
From grab-and-go to the full monty, foodservice breakfast menus are more diverse than ever. With customer expectations ranging from healthy choices to an indulgent offer, should operators try to cover all the bases, or aim to specialise? What innovations are suppliers bringing to the out-of-home breakfast foods market, and what the key menu trends? Please include operator comment and case studies where possible.      
 
Contact: John Porter
john@apieandapint.com
07734 054389

 

7 April 2025: Revenue management technology

 

Deadline for copy and pictures: 21 February 2025

 

What are the latest applications of revenue management in hospitality? We’ll look into areas like forecasting, total revenue management, attribute-based selling, distribution and more. Please send case studies with operator comments where possible.

 

Contact: Ben Walker

Benwalker618@outlook.com

 

14 April 2025: Pub trends

Deadline for copy and pictures: 28 February 2025
 
Are reports of the demise of the Great British Pub exaggerated? Although total numbers continue to decline, with more than 400 pubs closing in 2024, with supplier support, many operators are bucking the trend and continuing to pull the pints, and pull in the punters. This feature will focus on the options available to licensees in areas including food, drink, events and entertainment.
 
Contact: John Porter
john@apieandapint.com
07734 054389

 

28 April 2025: BBQ

Deadline for copy and pictures: 7 April 2025
 
The popularity of barbecued food in hospitality sites is growing year on year, with venues from American chains to fine dining restaurants firing up their grills. So we’re taking the temperature of the professional barbecue sector in the UK, looking at the latest food, ingredients and technology that are pushing the offering far beyond a burnt burger and a singed sausage. Please include recent hospitality case studies and comment where possible.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

12 May 2025: Soft drinks

Deadline for copy and pictures: 28 March 2025
 
Despite the growth in sales of no and low alcohol brands, soft drinks remain the option of choice for the majority of consumers avoiding the hard stuff out-of-home. What are the key trends across carbonates, mixers, mocktails and juices and how are suppliers supporting soft drinks sales? This feature will include advice on flavour trends and planning a profitable soft drinks range.
 
Contact: John Porter
john@apieandapint.com
07734 054389

 

19 May 2025: Vegetarian and vegan

Deadline for copy and pictures: 4 April 2025

 

At Better Dairy in east London, they’re creating the future. Using a technique called precision fermentation, this company is aiming to create vegan cheese indistinguishable from the real stuff – a development that could prove genuinely revolutionary. Vegan cheese has grown gradually over the past few years, but there’s still plenty of opportunity out there. We’ll take a look at the most innovative producers, the restaurants pioneering vegan cheese, yoghurt and ice-cream, and the best products on the market.

 

Contact: Will Hawkes

willhawkes1@gmail.com

 

2 June 2025: Workforce management technology

Deadline for copy and pictures: 17 April 2025

 

As labour costs have become an increasing focus for hospitality companies, the need to optimise the way they handle their employees has become more acute. How is workforce management software being predominantly used by hospitality companies today? Are businesses of all sizes using such solutions? What does state-of-the-art workforce management look like? How has workforce management software developed recently and how is it incorporating AI to better deliver results to hospitality clients?

 

Contact: Glynn Davis

glynn@busicomm.co.uk

 

9 June 2025: Coffee

Deadline for copy and pictures: 25 April 2025
 
Coffee is by far the biggest out-of-home hot drinks category, but popularity brings its own challenges. Consumers have a bewildering range of choice when it comes to their daily caffeine boost. How can operators ensure their coffee menu stands out in a competitive market and what are the key trends enabling operators to premiumise, from speciality coffees to single source varieties, and fairtrade to flavoured brews?      
 
Contact: John Porter
john@apieandapint.com
07734 054389

 

16 June 2025: Cleaning & hygiene

Deadline for copy and pictures: 27 May 2025
 
A clean hospitality site is absolutely vital, not just to attract and maintain custom, but to also make sure operators don’t fall foul of environmental health inspections. Therefore we’ll investigate the most up to date ways that venues can ensure cleanliness, incorporating the latest products, techniques and technologies that keep sites spotless. Recent case studies and operator comment will be particularly welcome.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

23 June 2025: Fat, oil and grease management

Deadline for copy and pictures: 2 June 2025
 
With the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) launching a project looking into charging foodservice sites based on levels of fats, oils and grease (FOG) and food waste in their wastewater, it has never been more important for hospitality operators to gain control of their grease output. As venues need to reduce or dispose of FOG effectively, we examine the latest technology enabling them to do so. Recent operator case studies will be particularly welcome.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

30 June 2025: Grab & go

Deadline for copy and pictures: 9 June 2025
 
As busy workers return to city centres on more weekdays, accordingly the demand for quick meals and snacks is beginning to rebound. So what do operators need to know when implementing a grab and go provision, particularly to offer a point of difference? We look at the latest essential food, drink, equipment and technology tailored to grab and go sites.
 
Contact: Clare Nicholls
clare.nicholls@thecaterer.com

 

July

• Sustainable packaging and disposables
• Breakfast beverages
• Technology: EPoS/payments

August

• Rapid cook
• Fish and chips
• Refrigeration
• Bakery

September

• Christmas foods
• Laundry
• Prime cooking

October

• Dairy alternatives
• Christmas drinks
• Meat and poultry

November

• Technology: property management
• Chocolate and pâtisserie
• Low- and no-alcohol drinks

December

• Tea
• TBC

 

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