Covid-19 has transformed the food service industry. Businesses forced to close had to adapt or shutter for good, and standard operating procedures became anything but. At the same time, clients’ expectations have evolved. Here are four areas where Epicurean Group envisions current service modifications will become lasting change.

Functional Foods

It’s not just Google reporting increased interest in online searches for “immune-building foods,” Epicurean Group has noticed that in our kitchens too. Clients are moving from health food enthusiasm toward a more science-based approach and demand for foods that support whole-body health including brain, memory and immune systems. Termed “functional foods,” the Mayo Clinic describes the interest as “foods that may have a positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition, supporting optimal health and possibly lowering the risk of disease.”

Eater expectations are evolving. Over the pandemic, a lot of us invested time and money to avoid covid, with food choices a larger part of the solution. According to analytics company IRI, post-covid surveys show 37% of consumers agreeing that “food is better medicine than medicine,” with 17% buying more immune-building products. “Food safety” has mostly been the main consideration for eaters in the recent past, but “health” now consistently shares that spotlight. Hippocrates words finally describe a new American eater.

New preferences bring new opportunities for food service; it’s a unique time to introduce our clientele to foods they wouldn’t try in the past. That includes functional foods such as beans, legumes, whole grains, and vegetables, and more plant-forward options. How about meat as a side dish or seasoning rather than the main attraction? Or blended burger made of meat and ground mushrooms? With nearly 25% of Americans eating more plant-based for whatever reason, food service can be a place for inspiration. Incorporating budding employee interests into company culture is one way to encourage a return to the office.

Sustainability

Healthy people want a healthy planet. More customers expect their business or school to do more with social responsibility and fighting climate change. Generation Z and Millennials actively seek out sustainable product businesses, and are much more likely to prioritize healthy and local than pre-pandemic.

Looking to encourage a return to the office? Offer higher-quality menus and food from responsibly sourced and certified vendors. Include more non-GMO and plant-based options. Growing with less chemicals, smaller-scale animal farms, and more vegetables and fruits significantly reduce impacts on earth’s resources and greenhouse gas emissions.  Reduction of food waste and an increase in carbon-neutral kitchens are on the rise. Epicurean Group helps you  achieve and promote your sustainability goals with our Principles and Practices.

Staff Shortage

From servers to cooks, everyone knows the labor shortage isn’t ending any time soon. Business must find innovative ways to recruit and retain employees. When better pay and benefits are hard to execute, flexibility of schedule might substitute. Epicurean Group believes that investing in education and career advancement of our employees is key. We promote from within, creating programs like Building Culinary Leaders, which has graduated over 150 cooks and 18 executive chefs to date. Do It – Be a Star, is our front-of-house management program which offers employees company-wide recognition and a cash bonus.

The food service industry was pivoting toward digitalization before covid with mobile payment systems like pre-order and pre-pay. Fast forward 3 years and technology has become a crucial way to address operations and staffing as QR codes replace hardcopy menus and digital menus replace waitstaff.
As technology and consumer preferences continue to evolve, Epicurean Group is committed to being at the leading edge of innovation. Incorporation of new systems can transform dining for guests, many who have grown to expect the convenience. Here are some best-in-class technologies we leverage to drive the best possible outcomes and our customer experience.

Mashgin

A next-generation machine that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize items placed on its surface and then charge accordingly. Mashgin ties into a larger POS system, handling all standard functions that a point-of-sale provider would manage. Cameras, AI and public databases make system management easy and error-free, and a touch-free, self-checkout process is possible with NFC payments.

Como with Comillia AI

In static customer environments such as a business or university, it is more important than ever to retain a loyal, repeating customer base. COMO offers detailed insights on customers’ habits, predicting future behavior and targeting offers based on buying patterns. A one-stop-shop for customer reward campaigns, COMO integrates subscriptions, digital wallets, and omnichannel communication with a B&I dashboard that gives real-time insights, and supports field operators with data-driven decisions.

Winnow

Up to 20% of your food budget is wasted, food just thrown in the trash. Winnow uses AI to help reduce food waste by up to half. Simple digital measurement tools and AI-enabled vision ‘learns to see’ food being thrown away and then measures the waste. Further analysis can convert waste into measurables such as dollars, carbon emissions and total water waste.

Point of Sale Ipad Terminals

The day of the large and clunky point-of-sale systems and maintenance-prone in-house servers are gone. Epicurean Group works with Heartland Restaurant on a system that is easy to configure and maintain. Cloud-serviced environments allow for management, visibility and reporting from anywhere. Vast integration possibilities allow for loyalty and ease-of-use enhancements that can drive revenue, ticket average and customer retention.

Catertrax

Catering is integral to what Epicurean Group does for our clients and Catertrax enhances the experience. This catering management system allows our clients a place to track and manage orders in a seamless, user-friendly fashion. Interactive menu guides offer easy online ordering and custom menus. Clients can view a detailed history of their event whenever they choose, including bills and invoices.