Foodservice: an interview with Chris Stern''The next normal''

Following on from the last ''The Next Normal'' article, where I spoke to many well-known caterers about everything from leadership, adaptability, recruitment & employees. Having evaluated what has happened previously, this is definitely an article on what is happening now, how caterers, but also clients see this ever-adapting situation.

Who best to have an overall picture on the current situation than someone who deals with all caterers, Chris Stern - Stern Consultancy. Along with talking to a couple of other caterers, to understand the situation as we know ''The Next Normal''.

Having spoken to many of you caterers, many contracts have been renegotiated from commercial to cost plus elements, with many understanding clients... allowing time to breathe and strategise - of course this mostly on the Business & Industry side.

What about education? well things seem safer on that side of the sector, although no one truly knows until September, when schools reopen. It seems a lot of the Independent education contracts have been out for tender, and even in this uncertain time, new contracts have been won... with new ways of executing this over Zoom!

Teams have some uncertain times ahead, with clients contacting us to help support those made redundant (please feel free to contact me for advice)! Of course with the recent launch of Food Service Circle, which has seen the collaboration of caterers, recruiters and competitors come together to support those made redundant - https://foodservicecircle.com/.

Food Service is definitely known within hospitality to be slower on the uptake of the technology! COVID-19 pushed all caterers into top gear to not only update systems, but look at app usage, particularly around sites with smaller food offerings. Yes of course, track & trace, payment and ordering systems... but in fact around delivery elements, this has been the biggest influx.

For those sites with either no kitchen open or limited due to smaller office number, many caterers have opened or opening dark kitchens, to take pre-orders for multiple cuisines. Now not only are caterers competing with the high street, but in fact the likes of Deliveroo, UberEats & JustEat, but at more comfortable price to the consumer.

We share things now more than ever across the industry, sector and to our competitors. This is key for our sector not to be washed away.

There are even new caterers coming out of this, such as Blue Strawberry's B&I company - Florish (https://flourishfood.co.uk/about/), StreetBites - a concession within B&I & University sites and caterers launching into new sectors education and healthcare. Giving time for change, consolation, control and effective catering.

Does this mean we got a shakeup that was needed, well it seems at the expense of key team members, but in terms of adding something to a sector that its competing with every other hospitality element. Most probably YES!

Having seen some well-known faces now set up on their own, consult and even give life to some lost companies.... Long may the collaboration continue, to enable caterers to thrive in all areas and give this loved sector time to expand again, albeit in perhaps a different direction.

Big thanks to all clients that gave time to give insights, and of course to Chris Stern!

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3gfdRxv