Hey Hot Potatoes,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Hot Potato Newsletter. Now Max, I hear you ask, bar Hot Potato, what are the hottest trends in the industry right now? Well, in today’s edition we explore everything that’s hot right now in hospitality, from what’s going on with some of my favourite cuisines to a sprinkle of positive news… shocking I know?! There’s actually positive stories to talk about! Well buckle in, grab a hot drink and get ready for the latest hot trends.

In today’s email: The Hottest Trends in Hospitality (+ Bonus Positive News)

Read Times: Approx 6 mins

New York IN, Neapolitan OUT

The pizza scene in London and the UK overall has been stagnant for a while. It feels like there has been a lack of fresh ideas. However in recent times, there has been a new wave of pizzerias hitting the scene, with the New York style pizza leading the charge.

For all you Neapolitan lovers out there, don’t hate me, but it’s a style we have been accustomed to for quite a while in the UK, and don’t get me wrong it’s good, BUT there hasn’t been much diversity. That being said, over the past year or so, we’ve seen the pizza landscape start to shift; lo and behold a new wave of pizzerias, serving up that thin and crispy New York style pizza.

I for one am all here for this hot trend, I bloody love thin and crispy pizza, that is my kind of style. Back in the day I’d have been happy with a Pizza Express Romana, but now the choice out there is even better and constantly evolving. Say hello to the new line up! We’ve got Crisp Pizza in Hammersmith, Vincenzo’s in Bushey, Gracey’s in St Albans, Alley Cats in Marylebone and Chelsea, Patio Pizza in Kingston and the new Lenny’s Appiza in Finsbury Park. Lenny’s is even bringing a brand new style of pizza called the New Haven, known for it’s even thinner cracker-like base.

There are loads of other solid options (IMHO) popping up, many pizza brands are collaborating with pubs too, and it’s exciting to see how a stagnant sector has revived and made the kind of comeback I am down for.

Let me know your favourite pizzeria, I’m always up for hearing about more hot pizza spots!

P.S. I still wouldn’t say not to an OG Pizza Express.

Hello Smash Burgers

Source: Restaurant Online

The burger scene in both London and the UK has seen some seriously good burgers over the years… the likes of Bleecker, Black Bear, Nanny Bills, Honest Burger and Patty & Bun to name a few. These burger spots tick so many boxes, they’re big on flavour and have great menu options with a variety of toppings, all at a reasonable price point. Recently however, there has been one trend in this space that we can’t ignore, and it comes smashed.

Almost wafer thin crispy patty’s smashed down onto the grill, classically served with cheese, pickle, onions, sauces, a bun… and bosh, your smash burger awaits. Whilst Meat Liquor has supposedly been smashing burgers since 2011, the smash burger phenomenon has taken the restaurant scene by storm. Look around and new players are popping up left, right and centre, including Supernova, SMSH BN, Junk Burgers, Bun & Sum and Bake Street.

Smash burgers have been gaining a lot of traction on social media; Supernova in particular has seen huge hype with customer queues stretching around the block. I do love going to a burger place that keeps it simple, serving just burgers, fries and shakes. You know when a place focuses on three menu items only, they’ve got to be good.

There is real optimism that this trend won’t just be a fad. Majed Mansour and Wissem Ben Ammar, founders of newly opened Junk Burger see a big opportunity for growth in this space in the UK and even more so internationally. They’re super tasty but also very simple to make, making them massively appealing from both a customer perspective and operational point of view.

Health is Wealth

Source: Restaurant Online / TimeOut

Alright I know what you might be thinking, Max, you’ve just been harping on about pizzas and burgers and now you’re going to tell me health is hot? Well yes, yes I am.

Salads in particular are having a bit of a moment. If you spend 10 minutes walking around Central London at lunchtime, you’re bound to see someone with one of those oversized kraft bowls, most likely from either the Salad Project, Urban Greens, Farmer J or Atis. Customers have been craving healthy grab and go options with variety, especially at lunchtime when out and about or during those office days. There has been a high demand for healthy eating, clearly demonstrated by the fact that Atis, who recently celebrated their 5th birthday, have now opened 8 sites, with plans to grow even more.

We also can’t brush over the hot new drink in town that everyone seems to be opting for, it’s got to be matcha. This bright green drink still gives you that pick-me-up feeling, but unlike it’s well known older step sibling coffee, you don’t get huge energy spikes followed by caffeine crashes. Rest assured, I do still love my coffee, but matcha appeals to many as it is loaded with a ton of vitamin and minerals, so it comes as no surprise that we can’t get enough of this magic green tea powder. In fact in the UK, last year alone, matcha consumption increased by 202%, strongly showcasing its unstoppable rise. It is also becoming way more accessible too, with pretty much every (but not all) coffee shop or coffee chain out there serving it.

I might as well have called this section, ‘we’re eating and drinking a lot more green stuff.’ Whilst eating wholefoods, salads and specialised drinks does tend to come at a slightly higher cost, you can’t put a price on your health, right?

Bonus: Positive News in the Industry

Source: Restaurant Online/ MCA Insight

Hospitality is a tough industry, you all know that, and the past few years in particular have been challenging to say the least. With that being said, there has been some positive news and things are looking up.

Key Points:

1. Open vacancies are down: For the first time since the pandemic, hospitality vacancies in the UK have fallen below 100,000, with UKHospitality Chief Exec Katie Nichols claiming this to be a ‘positive milestone’ for the industry. Whilst open vacancies are still above pre-pandemic levels, things are moving in the right direction.

2. Foodservice inflation easing: Guess what, the positive news doesn’t end there! Foodservice inflation has continued to ease, seeing a fall each month for the past 13 months, no doubt a big relief to the entire industry. Dairy and oil in particular have seen the most notable drop in inflation. These results combined with energy prices easing means cost pressures seem to be subsiding, get in.

3. First QoQ outlet growth for 2 years: Taking this one step further, for the first time in 2 years, there has been a net increase in new restaurant openings. Between March and June this year, just a four month period, 462 new outlets opened. While it’s still early days, signs of recovery from a tough few years are starting to be seen.

4. Sweet treats remain strong: Consumer spending has been tight in the UK in recent months, however reports show a 3.8% increase in hospitality spending in August. Interestingly, a persistent trend is that almost half of all consumers (47%) still continue to buy small, luxury baked goods that give them that little bit of joy. Layla Bakery in Notting Hill is the spot I go to when I’m in the mood for a treat, I love the pastries there!

Despite not being out the woods yet, it certainly feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Today has been a deep dive into some of the hottest trends in the industry right now. What are some hot trends you’ve been seeing?

Next up, have you ever wondered how to launch your own food brand? We will be exploring the different steps you can take and where to start, even if you don’t have your own restaurant to begin with.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated weekly on all things hospitality!

Bon appétit,

Max Shipman, Editor-in-Chief, Hot Potato

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