Video in the new normal – the death of production values?
In the absence of almost all face to face interactions in our working lives, it’s amazing how quickly in isolation we have adapted and gotten used to viewing each other as small, slightly pixelated digital beings, via video platforms like Zoom or Teams.
Ways to better your well-being
When it feels like we’re living in a Groundhog Day, the task of finding ways to stay positive is becoming a challenge we’re all facing. Whist we’re doing what we should to stay physically healthy, it’s equally as critical we stay on top of our mental health. Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology and host of The Happiness Lab podcast recently spoke about the ways in which we can boost our well-being during these unprecedented times. Here’s the key take-outs from her most recent Q&A:
The New Frugality in Food
I read a news story in The Caterer recently that spoke about how zero waste and modest ingredients will be key post-lockdown for chefs and it made me realise just how much we’ve been relying on these types of ingredients ourselves of late – the ‘new frugality’ if you will.
Ask Arena – Lessons from Asia
Usually when you think of Arena events you think palatial venues, glasses of bubbles, canapés and of course a fabulous three course lunch. Not to mention the shared insights from those at the top of their game and the chance to catch-up with industry contacts old and new.
What Does the Future Hold?
Coined the ‘new normal’ there are numerous predictions about how our ‘adjusted normality’ will pan out. Of course, nobody knows for sure how this unprecedented pandemic will affect UK consumers and the eating out scene in the months ahead, but here are some of the top predictions across both…
Hobart UK makes Healthcare it’s “absolute number one priority”
This week our client Hobart – the UK’s leading catering equipment manufacturer and service provider – announced that it is to make the healthcare sector its “absolute number one priority” helping keep public sector kitchens operational in the face of overwhelming demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
6 key trends for the post-corona consumer
1. Hyper-connected consumer
Since lock down, 9,000,000,000 mins of video meetings are being hosted on Microsoft Teams each week. Google searches on ‘language learning’ are up 100% yoy. Facebook Group calls are up +1000% in the last month. Web content download traffic up 90%. (Source: The Goat Agency.) What does this mean for future behaviour?
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A Brief View of the Future – Simon Stenning of Future Foodservice
I normally analyse the key factors, macro trends and drivers of change for the long-term future of our industry, forecasting through to 2030; this is of course irrelevant at this point when it is difficult to see what the next few weeks and months will bring.
Homemade by Jellybean
Working from home has gifted many of us more time in the day as we no longer need to sit in traffic or commute to our place of work. Whilst some of us choose to have a lie-in, others use the extra time to exercise or even to read a couple of chapters in their current book and enjoy a quiet cup of tea to start the day. Whether out of passion, creativity, stress or boredom it seems the Jellybeans (foodies that we are!) have been spending the extra hours in our day with an apron on. Here we share some of the recipes we’ve been trialling and dare I say, mastering:
How healthy are your trade communications? Take our free health check to find out.
Now more than at any other time in recent history, food and drink suppliers, retailers and the whole of the supply chain are in the spotlight as they pull together to feed the nation. For food and drink brands looking to not just survive but thrive through these unprecedented times, now is not the time to step back from trade communications – quite the opposite is true. Stepping up, planning and managing effective trade communications is the right thing to do as it will ensure suppliers are providing retailers, trade press and other key industry stakeholders with the support and information that is desperately needed and so critically important.
Doing the Right Thing
With the on-set of UK lockdown and the effective closure of a large proportion of foodservice and hospitality businesses, foodservice focused brands find themselves in a tough position. What is the right thing to do?
The good the bad and the ugly…
Dealing with a situation like Covid19 on a local, national and global scale is unprecedented and uncharted and it touches every single one of us on a macro and micro scale. Never before have we felt so vulnerable, fighting an invisible enemy, afraid for our health, our friends’ and families’ health, our future jobs and the damage to us financially and emotionally, as we lock down to flatten the curve and take pressure off essential services.
5 Steps for effective retail trade comms during the coronavirus
Right now, business in retail and across the supply chain is very far from usual. Amidst the hell of this pandemic, the mantra of ‘business as usual’ should be followed by suppliers because that’s exactly what retailers need now more than at any other time in recent history. Effective communication, business continuity and your firm support is critical to them and critical to feeding the nation. Retailers need to hear how suppliers are working hard to not let them down and how they are pulling out all the stops to meet the unprecedented demand for food and drink.
Necessity is the Mother of all Invention
The Pivot
In these unprecedented times the hospitality and foodservice sector has been thrown a curve ball of unfathomable proportions. As a specialist foodservice agency we feel for all the restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels trying to make the best of a what is a hugely challenging and scary situation. Of course the wellbeing and safety of staff and the population as a whole is paramount and Boris was quite right to do what he did in the circumstances, but it has been a belly blow to the sector.
10 ways to make the most out of Facebook to market your food or drink brand
I know, I know… Facebook might sound a bit dated or uncool to some of us these days. Many assume people only use it to see who’s got married, who’s had kids and who’s been marked safe in the most recent disastrous event (no sarcasm on this one, we’re very grateful for this feature!) But in actual fact, it is one of the most powerful online tools for marketing your food and/or drink brand. That’s if you know how to make the most of it.
HRC 2020
This March saw the return of one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious event for the hospitality and foodservice industry, HRC. As the leading foodservice agency, jellybeanwere proud once again to be involved with this reputable show. From the important business of sampling the latest food innovations to running on-stand press briefings for clients and Tilda’s Chef Team of the Year competition, HRC had a lot in store for our hard-working, dedicated team.
Beautiful Bruges ♥
Picture this… cobbled streets intertwining, calm canal water sparkling under the winter sun, muted sounds of horses’ clip clopping – sounds good right? Well, not only does Bruges offer postcard-like scenery straight out of the movies, it has some of finest foodie delicacies known to woman. Your daily diet could (and should) consist of silky-smooth chocolates, traditionally brewed beer (gin in my case) and fresh fluffy waffles. A winning combination for a European getaway, I think you’d agree.
Top B2B Marketing Agency
As a specialist food and drink agency targeting the foodservice, grocery and retail trade we do more than our fair share of B2B communications. As such we have long been an advocates of B2B Marketing and the report and league table it produces each year ranking agencies and providing insight to the industry. This year we are delighted to rank as 61st overall and in the ‘Top 30 Independent Integrated B2B Agencies’ at 28th, coming in 4th for independent integrated B2B agencies with less than 25 employees (we are after all – as trite as it may sound – big enough to matter but small enough to care).
National Burger Awards? Yes please.
On Wednesday 19th of February, two Beans ventured to the Islington Metal Works to attend the much-awaited National Burger Awards 2020.










