Lunch show 2024 summary highlights

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I'm just back from lunch! - The definitive event for the café, coffee shop & food-to-go sector. and The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show buzzing with insights! The shows were a vibrant showcase of what’s next in food retail and hospitality, blended with industry experts' insights speaking about their experiences. I wanted to share my top five takeaways to help your business stay ahead and keep customers coming back:

1. Use Technology to Elevate Customer Experiences
Whether it's supporting your team in delivering exceptional service, enhancing food presentation with Flexeserve, or improving the order and payment process, technology is key. The right solutions will enhance your customer's experience and ensure their journey is smooth from start to finish.

2. Help Customers Make Sustainable Choices
Sustainability is more than a trend—it's an expectation. From reusable cup systems like 'recup' in Germany to innovative in-store bin solutions, there’s a growing demand for practical, in-store eco-conscious choices. The takeaway? Make sustainability easy for your customers to connect with, display it in-store, and they’ll keep coming back.

3. Bold Branding with Personality
We’re seeing a shift towards brands with loud, character-driven visuals. Exciting and memorable branding—full of personality—can make a lasting impression and set you apart in a competitive market. Think about your company's story and how to create a brand personality to communicate this. We can help with this 😉

4. Upsell with an Extended Add-On Range
Consider introducing smaller portions, side dishes, or snack-sized items—like Subway’s Footlong Sidekicks range—that encourage customers to indulge just a little more without leaving the brand. Small bowls, sides, and extras are excellent ways to enhance the customer experience and boost revenue.

5. To Scale or Not to Scale?
When building your brand/ store's vision for the future, do you focus on a smaller, local chain with a highly curated range, or scale globally with a consistent system that adapts to each location? Both models have their merits, but it’s important to stay true to your brand's ethos and the experience you want to offer. Sometimes, less is more, especially when personalizing the customer experience.

At Rigney Forge Ltd. we visit these shows to keep up with trends and understand our customers' challenges. We are passionate about helping retailers and hospitality businesses in Ireland and the UK through creative branding and design. If you're looking to innovate, streamline, or refine your customer experience, let's talk!

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