Contents News & Opinion
5 ‘I don’t take any money for myself’: small businesses face a battle to survive 12 Openings The latest hotels and restaurants
Business
16 The Caterer interview Karin Sheppard, managing director for Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts
30 Cover story Industry experts give their verdicts on an AI-created restaurant
Chef 36 Menuwatch Bistro Freddie, London
38 Recipe of the week Aubergine coconut rice from Chetna’s Indian Feasts by Chetna Makan
Products
40 Breaking new ground How the latest machines can create coffee to rival any barista
44 Product news What’s happening in the world of suppliers
Hotel Cateys 2023
47 The cream of the hotel industry gather to celebrate their achievements
People
94 Minute on the clock Jennie Beaumont, head of food at Leon
FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION: LIAM BRAZIER Content team If you have a news story, contact:
news@thecaterer.com 47 38 30 I
t’s been a year since ChatGPT stormed onto our computer screens and prom- ised to change the working world as we
know it. But the impact of this technology doesn’t appear to be as dramatic as analysts predicted, not so far anyway. So, to explore the opportunities we decided to set artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT and image generator Midjourney a number of tasks associated with the planning of a new res- taurant, before asking industry experts to critique the results (page 30). The verdicts ranged from “plenty of good
stuff” to “almost useless” with a pit stop at “lots of fluff with little substance”, so a mixed bag, to say the least. But what stood out was the world of possibility opened up by the enormous leaps made in AI in recent years and its clear potential to transform the way businesses operate. Unsurprisingly, there was no suggestion
from our experts that AI could replace people in hospitality. As one eloquently pointed out, artificial intelligence cannot create an emo- tive experience or a personal connection. This is a conclusion also reached in the
Technology Prospectus 2024, your one-stop- shop for all the information you need about the latest technologies on the market to drive your business forward. In this year’s prospectus we explore how automation technology can assist employ- ees with repetitive, time-consuming tasks that are prone to error, freeing people to do what only they can: improve guest experi- ence and provide that human touch hospital- ity is known for.
Emma Lake Assistant editor
James Stagg Editor
james.stagg@
thecaterer.com 07790 192369
Emma Lake Assistant editor
emma.lake@
thecaterer.com 07826 905176
Caroline Baldwin
Features and special projects editor
caroline.baldwin@
thecaterer.com 07584 429280
Sophie Witts News editor
sophie.witts@thecaterer.com 07786 223325
Jungmin Seo Reporter
jungmin.seo@
thecaterer.com 07715 237557
Victoria Miller Products and
suppliers reporter
victoria.miller@
thecaterer.com 07749 583340
Phone numbers: 0207 881 4800 • Production Senior designer Emma Winton Production editor Kirsty Utting Digital content manager – hospitality Maria Mellor The Caterer events Head of events Martha Allardyce + 728 Other contacts Senior marketing manager Meredith Pistulka + 741 Marketing manager Daisy Smith
Marketing coordinator Lauren Boland To place a display advert, contact: + 317 or email
advertising@thecaterer.com Commercial director Rob Adam Sales manager Cheryl Townsend + 322 + 309 Account director Tanya Read + 272 To place a job advert, email
jobs@thecaterer.com To place a property, classified or The Caterer Directory advert, contact
advertising@thecaterer.com UK CEO Stuart Parish Group CEO Duncan Horton Chairman Clive Jacobs
Reader services The following numbers are for enquiries about subscriptions or newsagent copies. For subscriber enquiries/orders/availability of past issues of The Caterer and to order a back copy, contact Tel: 01293 312091 Email:
thecaterer@subscriptionhelpline.co.uk Vol 207 No 5,298. The Caterer Subscriptions, Unit 6, The Enterprise Centre, Kelvin Lane, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9PE
www.caterersubs.com Subscription rates UK: £196 for Gold Club (print + digital) or £61.78 for digital-only. Overseas: £208 per year (airmail). Two- and three-year rates are available on request. Cheques should be made payable to “Travel Weekly Group Ltd” Newstrade queries 020 3148 3333: The Caterer is published each Friday. © 2023 Travel Weekly Group Ltd, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU. ISSN 2055-7817. Company registration no: 6927031. VAT registration no: GB972307221. Distributed by Marketforce. Printed by Stephens & George Ltd, Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper. Classified advertising prepress by CC Media Group.
www.thecaterer.com 24 November 2023 | The Caterer | 3
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