Archive
Keep it simple – customers appreciate it
9 September, 2010
When you take a look at Britain’s most popular eating-out brands, judged by the satisfaction ratings that their own customers give them, a theme starts to emerge. Adding complexity doesn’t deliver happiness; but simplicity probably does, writes Peter Martin
more...
Food for the people
27, August, 2010
What better way to spend a dull, damp August Sunday morning than a trip to Ewood Park, Blackburn? No, I’m not talking about football, but food, writes Peter Martin
more...
Wagamama: a story of international scope
5 August, 2010
The news that Wagamama is being put up for sale by its private equity investor is more than just a domestic UK restaurant story – evidenced by the coverage it attracted in the Wall Street Journal this week. The Asian noodle chain is now an international brand, and it is not inconceivable that it could be a target for a major global operator, writes Peter Martin.
more...
Will chains grasp the health challenge?
8 July, 2010
Health and the environment remain strong undercurrents in consumer decision-making despite the recession, with popular chains like McDonalds and Nando’s plugging into the themes with their latest campaigns,writes Peter Martin
more...
Why the States still has the power to inspire
28 June, 2010
Just when you started thinking that the USA might be losing its edge in the innovation stakes, it throws off a whole bunch of new ideas. It seems there’s nothing like adversity – and the States' eating-out market has had it harder than ours – to bring out the best of entrepreneurial American “can-do” spirit. That in itself is worth learning from, writes Peter Martin.
more...
Family market facing biggest squeeze
25 June, 2010
The eating and drinking-out market faces even greater polarisation in the wake of the new Government’s emergency Budget this week. With forecasts that families will fare the worst under the Chancellor’s measures, the restaurant and pub sector looks like becoming even more dependent on the under 25 and over 55 age groups.
more...
Putting ‘local’ back into business
16 June, 2010
Localism has been one of the buzzwords within the Conservative Party for some time now. The Lib Dems are also known for their fondness of local government.
more...
Is Mexican food really the next big thing?
22 June, 2010
Mexican street food is on a roll, with American big shots Taco Bell and Chipotle the latest to take on the home grown brands such as Chilango, Tortilla, north-west based Barburrito and, at the top end of the market, Wahaca. It’s certainly hot, but is it the next Nando’s?
more...
A few words of caution – particularly about the public
10 May, 2010
The dust hasn’t yet settled on the General Election result, but there are those already trying to work out what it all means for the hospitality industry. No easy job, writes Peter Martin.
more...
Accepting the marketing challenge
16 April, 2010
The importance that the eating and drinking-out market now places on understanding and communicating with its customers much better than it does already was amply demonstrated at Peach Network’s Consumer Insight & Marketing seminar.
more...