2023 OOH Foodie Trends Revealed To Customers At Food Exploration Tour
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming business leaders from across the food service industry to a ‘Food Exploration Tour’ in the vibrant heart of Soho, London, to bring to life our latest food industry trends and inspire culinary creativity.
Leading chefs and product innovators were in attendance over the two-day tour representing high-profile names in both the Pub and QSR categories, including Whitbread, Nando's, Costa, Krispy Kreme, Greene King and Burger King.
Introducing our new food trends guides
Catering to both casual dining and grab-and-go concepts, the event marked the launch of our second edition of food and trends guide, ‘Tuck In’. As well as featuring in-depth insight and recipe ideas for chefs, our new guide reveals the latest food industry trends from “The art of the human touch”, “Dining out for occasion” and “Vegan and vegetarianism”, to “Challenging kitchen’s carbon footprint”, “Championing hospitality staff” and “Indulgent desserts”.
Our latest products and what guests had to say
On each day of the event, we provided an exciting product showcase led by our amazing team of in-house Development Chefs. Spotlighting the latest products within the GARDEN GOURMET® and Maggi® ranges, as well as our confectionery brands and ingredients, the showcase was an opportunity to empower guests with ideas on how to harness innovative solutions that help cater to the food trends presented in our new guide.
Highlighting the innovative changes within the food service industry
We also wanted our guests to experience how food and drink outlets are adapting creatively to cater to the new trends set out in the guide. So we set out on an action-packed, hands-on food tour visiting seven of Soho’s finest foodie destinations. Guests saw the innovative app-to-table ordering system at the bustling Arcade Food Hall and the dedication to both vegan and meat excellence at Wonderland. They then got to see the commitment to empowering adults with learning disabilities through the realm of speciality coffee at Fairshot Café.
Head of food at Nando’s UK, Tim Molema, said:
The Food Tour showcased perfectly how brands are innovating to create memorable experiences for customers. I was particularly impressed with Fairshot Café and its commitment to helping young adults with learning disabilities into hospitality. Championing hospitality staff is a passion of ours at Nando’s, so this experience really resonated with me.
Although there are challenges and uncertainties surrounding cost-of-living, dining out for occasion remains a key priority for consumers. We’re actively looking at this, working closely with our partners and suppliers to ensure we’re offering the very best food experiences for people. Nestlé Professional is innovating in many areas of the OOH market, so it was a great opportunity to see first-hand the unique products they have to offer.
Why we think food industry trends are so important
Our very own head of food, Kate Alexander, joined customers on the tour to share insights from the new food trends guide. As well as experiencing these trends through a practical lens at each of the seven foodie destinations, attendees were able to take home plenty of valuable ideas and inspiration to fuel more creativity in their own kitchens.
Commenting on the two-day Food Exploration Tour Our Head of Food & Commercial Channels, Kate Alexander, said:
The general consensus is that while consumers are feeling the pinch in today’s challenging environment, they continue to crave exciting out-of-home dining experiences. So, we were delighted to put on a special event for our partners which highlighted the latest foodie trends, as revealed in our new edition of Tuck In, to get them thinking of new, innovative culinary creations.
Although the rising cost of cooking presents its own challenges, chefs continue to step up to the plate and create impressive solutions. At Nestlé Professional, we’re committed and excited to help them create memorable moments and menu options that keep customers coming back.
To cap off the Food Exploration Tour, guests enjoyed theatrical gastronomy at the art-deco restaurant, Park Row.
We hope this article highlighted our commitment to following food trends and helping develop the food service industry. We strive to constantly keep up with changes in hospitality and how we can help. Check out our article on promoting the hospitality industry to secondary school children, to find out why the younger generation is so important for the future of hospitality.
You can download our latest edition of Tuck In here to view the latest OOH foodie trends.
Bang Bang Veggie Wrap Recipe with Chicken-Style Fillet Pieces
Vegetarian Poke Bowl Recipe with Sriracha Mayo
