Here’s how operators can seize the advantage and boost their bottom line airing food and beer is not a new trend, but getting the technicalities of what can sometimes be a challenging task right is sure to make customers smile and, in return, get the till ringing.
Such are the potential benefits of getting a beer and snack matching offer right that, according to McCain Foodservice Solutions, there is a potential opportunity for pub and bar operators to earn a collective incremental £8.1m.
Under the name of Brew City, McCain has launched a series of hot snacks developed to pair with craft lagers and ales in response to changing consumer demand.
Society of Independent Brewers
Out-of-home snacking, according to research by NPD Group, increased by 11% in the past year, of which pubs saw the strongest growth with an uptick of 28%, while almost a quarter of consumers told the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) they would be more likely to visit a pub or restaurant if it had a good selection of craft beers.
Tot up the stats and even those who aren’t number-savvy will note there’s a correlation between a rise in snacking occasions in the pub and increasing demand for craft beer.
As part of its anticipated launch, Brew City – which sits under the McCain Foodservice Solutions umbrella – conducted a consumer Twitter poll of 8,145 votes to discover just how important hot bar snacks are to consumers.
Some 76% of those surveyed said they preferred hot bar snacks over cold, with 73% admitting their pub doesn’t have a wide enough selection of hot bar snacks.
Great experience
“Pub operators want to be able to give their customers a great experience and drive loyalty but, ultimately, they also want to be able to increase their spend.
“Brew City has been designed to do just that,” said McCain Foodservice Solutions category controller Robin Norton.
“The food with drink moment exists in pubs, however, it is not being maximised by current hot food offerings.
Brew City enables pub operators to tap into this space and capitalise on it.” Search for ‘Beermunch Means Business’ to find out more...