Water-provider Brita Professional surveyed 750 hospitality businesses to discover their thoughts of where the industry will be in 25 years.
It found operators felt future success – particularly in being able to serve customers on a 24/7 basis – would be inhibited by unreliable and incapable equipment, in addition to staff and skill shortages.
Some 58% of those surveyed said they felt they would be held back by team members not having the skills to “deliver personalised dining experiences”.
Businesses were also concerned about recruitment, with 52% saying they could be limited by a lack of staff.
It comes as trade associations are working with the Government and education providers to ensure there is enough enthusiasm from UK workers to make up for any recruitment shortages caused by changes to the immigration system following Brexit.
Just under half of those asked (49%) said they would face problems with having capable equipment, while 42% said unreliable equipment could pose problems in the future.
The vast majority of hospitality operators surveyed (81%) said they believed achieving zero waste would be the main priority for the sector when it comes to sustainability.
Operators believe the industry will adopt kitchen technology that reduces water waste (72%) and product innovation that leads to a total ban on single-use plastics (53%).
Looking ahead
Brita UK managing director Sarah Taylor said pub operators should consider the sustainability of their kitchen equipment in order to keep up with technology-focused operations.
She said: “If there’s one glaring observation from our research, it’s that advancements in technology will be the driving force for change in the hospitality industry in the next 25 years.
“With equipment having such a prominent role in all aspects of a hospitality business, maintaining its performance is paramount not just to the efficiency and adaptability of kitchens, but to its environmental impact.
“As such, investing in protection is one of the most important things for hospitality professionals to keep in mind as their business expands.”
“As the sector continues to rapidly grow, hospitality professionals need to look ahead to emerging trends, adopt new technology and actively seek solutions in order to future-proof and stay ahead of the competition.”
Brita Professional has produced a new toolkit to coincide with its research, called Life is Better Filtered: The Catering School of Expertise.
