Welcome W


hat an exciting place the restaurant industry in the UK is at the moment. There has been a veritable explosion of creativity in the sector. New concepts abound, driven in part by a vibrant street


food scene, and consumer choice is greater than it has ever been. The sheer diversity of UK restaurants and the food they offer is growing all the time, and while London and the South East continue to generate a wealth of new ideas and businesses, innovation is by no means lim- ited to the capital. Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow are just a few of the many UK cities that have their own thriving independent restaurant scene. So, a rosy picture as far as the consumer is concerned. But what about the operator? Growth is a wonderful thing, but what about some of the challenges it presents? The Caterer teamed up with law firm TLT to ask operators what their percep-


tion of growth in the restaurant business is, and what it means for the way in which they do business. The results of that research can be found on pages 4-7. Some findings – such as the fact that the sector is undeniably in growth – are as you might expect. Others, such as the fact that the opportunity for out- side seating is one of the chief factors considered in choosing a restaurant location, are more surprising. Thanks to TLT, we also offer some key advice on how to make sure you


are set to take advantage of this growth, whether that is through guide- lines on how to prepare for trade sales and buy-outs, key points to consider when it comes to food hygiene and how to protect your brand. And not simply content with presenting the findings of our survey, we drew together some of the foremost experts in the field of restaurants to discuss what they all mean (pages 8-11). We hope you find it all of use. Long may the growth continue!


Neil Gerrard, associate editor, The Caterer Contents


4 The state of the nation What to expect in the next 12 months


7 Restaurants round table: taking the industry’s pulse Industry leaders discuss


12 Appetite for investment Smoothing restaurant buy-outs


13 Brand aid Invest now for the future


14Do you have a licence for café culture? Take your business outside


15 Food hygiene comes under scrutiny with higher and more frequent fines Hygiene penalties are on the rise


2 | Insight Report 12 www.thecaterer.com 14 7


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