Technology such as Wi-Fi is a concerning factor for the majority of consumers when picking a food outlet, according to a recent report. Future Shock, published by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) in partnership with CGA, found that over half of customers believe technology improves their social experience with the most successful hospitality operators now using the newest technology to enhance the overall theatre of the customer experience.
The rise of a connected social experience has seen hospitality outlets offering Instagram-worthy and sharable food. Food-led premises have seen a 1.6% growth in the year to December 2015, in line with the fundamental shift in eating and drinking-out patterns away from pubs and bars, to branded dining outlets.
High Streets are the heartbeat of local communities across the UK, and have shown an impressive propensity to adapt to the social and technological trends that have changed the face of our High Streets in recent years. Hospitality outlets have become increasingly tech-savvy and food-focused to provide the experience that consumers crave.
ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Recent years have seen a significant shift in the makeup of the High Street, driven by changes in consumers’ technological and social habits. The High Street has become a social hub with branded dining outlets dominating. The focus of successful High Street operators is on providing the ultimate consumer experience.
“The British Retail Consortium recently reported that 900,000 jobs would be cut and thousands of shops could close over the next decade. The hospitality and licensed retail sector is not immune to these closures, so operators are future-proofing themselves with technological innovation and high quality food.”
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