What are the top things we would like to see happen in the industry in 2019?
Properly Tackling the Plastic Problem
Eliminating plastic entirely seems something of a pipe dream, but it’s not impossible. Plastic straws should continue to be removed from restaurants, pubs and cafés (a process that has begun already). Chefs should look at ways to reduce the use of cling film and demand that their suppliers reduce packaging (particularly vacuum packaging) used when products are delivered.
Sort Out the Tipping Situation Once and for All
The tipping issue seems to rear its head every year, but we’d like this year to be the year that restaurants take the initiative and end the confusion once and for all. The industry needs to make tipping practices simple and transparent so that consumers can feel confident that the people who served them and directly contributed to their experience will be subsequently rewarded.
Work to Deal with No-Shows
Figures show that the average no-show rate is one in five in restaurants in major cities. What really needs to happen is for some sort of pre-payment system to become the norm. If all restaurants toughen their stance, diners will no doubt turn up when they are supposed to.
Flooring
Every company in the catering or hospitality sector should look into Laminate Wood Flooring which could be sourced from sites such as https://irwintiles.ie/index.php/wooden-flooring/laminate-flooring.html due to the ease of cleaning and and the professional look it gives in every area.
A More Diverse Workforce
Staff shortages mean that it’s time for employers in the industry to reach out to previously ignored pools of talent. A more diverse workforce brings tangible benefits to businesses and greater knowledge, valuable life experience and a broader range of views. With Brexit on the horizon, the number of potential employees from Europe is likely to shrink significantly, thus widening the recruitment pool is likely to become a necessity.
Brexit
For most restaurants, Brexit is bad news. The elimination of free movement will severely damage the industry. People have already stopped coming from Europe, as they are unsure where they will stand, and this will only get worse. A no-deal Brexit in particular would be a nightmare logistically and prices are likely to rise sharply.
