Just recently, British Baker released its annual Bakery Market Report, 2025.[i] Taking a deep dive into the trends across bakery and coffee shops, as well as the top 75 businesses in the market, this report is a great analytical review that can help operators tap into consumer demands and improve performance.
On the 21st May 2025, Courtney and I headed into Clapham for the hottest ticket in town – the CLASS Bar Awards!
What better way to spend a sunny Wednesday afternoon than glamming up for a night out in London and celebrating the achievements of those lucky enough to win a coveted CLASS Bar Award.
As a leading foodservice agency, we never miss the Arena Savoy Lecture, which is a highlight of the foodservice calendar. This year was no exception as Kate Nicholls, OBE, CEO of UK Hospitality and Karl Atkins, CEO of Foodbuy Group and Alex Demetriou, CEO Foodbuy UK&I (the UK’s leading food procurement company) headlined the night as they shared their take on the market to the gathered foodservice professionals.
When social media is driving flavour trends and the economic landscape is ever-changing, it can be tricky keeping up with what’s hot. The main question is, how can operators meet demand, bring something new to the table, and tempt customers through the door. With the help of Lumina Intelligence and an insightful snapshot led by Tim Price, we’ve summarised what’s leading out-of-home at the moment, and what to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Highly anticipated, Arena’s sold out Spring Event, was its first of 2025 and it did not disappoint. Arena provides foodservice industry professionals with a fascinating day of learning, networking and thought provoking discussion on the issues that matter.
Taking place at the Sofitel London St. James, myself and fellow bean, Senior Account Executive Alvi Tysall – along with 200 attendees – gathered for the morning session to find out how the hospitality industry was shaping up.
Presented by Jill Livesey – MD at Lumina Intelligence we were first given a frank take on an industry still in recovery, the sectors performing, food trends to watch out for and predictions for the future.
For those who find themselves in the Gen X category, or even some of you Boomers, I am sure you will recall Hotelympia. Well, it may not be called that anymore, but that hasn’t stopped HRC (it’s current moniker) celebrating an incredible 90 years! Over that time, it’s true that much has changed across the hospitality industry, but the one thing that hasn’t is the fact that at its heart it’s a people business. However much technological advances can help drive guest experience and operational efficiencies, people will always be at the core of hospitality. Which is why it was so good to head up to the ExCel with fellow bean Clare Freeman to check out in person not one, but the four co-located shows: IFE, IFE Manufacturing, The Pub Show and HRC.
At jellybean, it’s our job to stay on top of the ever-changing foodservice industry. That’s why we’re members of the Lumina Intelligence Food Strategy forum and make sure we make it along to their quarterly briefings as we did this March for their Q1 update. As expected, the UK foodservice market is adapting to economic shifts, evolving consumer behaviours, and exciting new trends. Here are the key takeaways from Lumina Intelligence’s latest insights.
If you’ve been following tabletop trends in hospitality and foodservice, you’ve probably heard whispers about the BPA ban. But what does this mean for you, your business, and your customers? Let’s break it down…
At a recent Alliance of Independent Agencies event, I heard a staggering statistic that there are now around 30,000 agencies in the UK, with 16,000 of those set up in the last 10 years! With so much competition and increased pressure on marketing budgets it’s never been more important to have a clear specialism as an agency. Thankfully, jellybean has always been all about food and drink, from our foodservice roots to our natural evolution into retail and consumer. For over 37 years we have been laser focused on food and drink be it foodservice, retail, convenience or consumer. Of course, the downside to being a sector specialist is that you can limit your potential growth into other areas and on occasion come up against client conflict. We believe the upside far outweighs these factors as we have created a clear vision for our business and team, attract other likeminded food-obsessed colleagues and build a depth of knowledge that can help clients’ brands and businesses grow.
The hospitality industry is undergoing a major transformation, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI). From improving operational efficiency to enhancing guest experiences, AI is reshaping how businesses operate. A recent report by CGA powered by Niq with industry leaders found the following:
It feels like it has been an age since I last wrote about the ‘soon to come in’ Food Waste Legislation, and that’s because it has! However, we are now at a point where the UK government has given some clarity around the significant changes to waste handling that are now required of businesses across England.
As we usher in 2025, the food and drink industry is poised for exciting changes. As a leading food and drink marketing agency, we’re here to help you navigate these trends and turn them into actionable strategies. Here’s a deep dive into some of the trends set to shape the industry in 2025 and how you can leverage these insights to stay ahead.
