Insights.

In our latest foodservice-focused report, we’ve collated the current trends, challenges and opportunities from across the sector.

From the rising costs of ingredients to labour shortages, to ever-shifting consumer trends, staying ahead of the curve requires more than just a great menu. So, what trends and issues are shaping the market, and which strategies are needed to thrive?

We’ve gathered exclusive interviews with leading experts across key foodservice sectors to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and a glimpse into the future.

What are the challenges and opportunities facing retailers this year? 

With nearly 50,000 stores generating £47.1bn in sales , the UK’s convenience sector is a force to be reckoned with. It’s also an increasingly important bellwether for consumer trends. 

Whether it’s changing shopper attitudes as we emerge from the cost-of-living crisis or the latest product going viral on TikTok, more and more convenience retailers find themselves at the cutting edge of trends and are often the first to pick up on important shifts in shopping habits. 

Trend reports have been landing thick and fast lately. To save you having to read through them all, we’ve picked the best from the bunch – and importantly, not just those things in vogue, but insights you can actually action.

So read on to find out how Gen Alpha are starting to influence buying behaviour, how you can take advantage of everything from eatertainment to food-themed home décor trends, and how media and influencers can help you to create new occasions for your food or drink brand.

The Clarion B2B team has been busy this year meeting and learning from some of the most forward-thinking retailers and suppliers operating in convenience retail in the UK today.

Whether at conferences and events, or engaging with our very own retailer panel, we’ve listened to thought-provoking discussions and expert guest speakers and participated in masterclasses and focus group sessions aplenty.

Summarised in this report are the key lessons we took on the trends shaping the sector right now, informed by first-hand accounts from retailers about the challenges they face – and the opportunities that excite them.

Whether it’s the latest viral phenomenon, or staying on top of the latest drinks trend, the food and drink world seems to be moving at a truly remarkable rate. So much so that it can be difficult to stay in the know.

At Clarion Communications, we live and breathe the sector everyday – not just staying up to date but innovating in the space.

So, whether you are an operator trying to reach consumers, or a brand trying to reach an operator, you can rely on us to keep you up to speed on the latest trends.