Research by Eventbrite has found that the number of food and drink events which have been hosted on its platform has been increasing on an annual basis.
In an analysis of more than 40,000 of these events, the organisation has also discovered that the fastest growing trend was that of the pop-up dining experience, due to 82 per cent growth being recorded.
In this guide, Flogas, which is one of the UK’s leading LPG suppliers to businesses, has taken a look at how those in the food industry have begun to move away from brick and mortar establishments in their droves:
The growing popularity of pop-up food
To understand why pop-up dining experiences have become so appealing to members of the public, Eventbrite conducted a survey involving more than 2,000 people who have attended such events.
Three-quarters of the event’s attendees (75 per cent) felt that a unique dining experience is worth paying more money for. Around half of respondents also said that they would be happy to pay more for a meal from the exact same menu at a pop-up event where chef interaction is involved, as opposed to one served in a regular restaurant.
When it comes to what people look for in a pop-up event, 84 per cent of survey respondents said it was a unique menu or theme. This was followed by events held at memorable location (76 per cent) and occasions that promised to be a one-of-a-kind experience (74 per cent).
Chef and Co+Lab the pop-up’s creator, Melissa King, pointed out that setting up a unique event works both ways when it comes to the pop-up food industry. “There are so many chefs out there — they have their restaurants, their day jobs, but they’re looking for something more,” she acknowledged. “That’s what the pop-up culture offers them. They are able to take over someone’s space for only a few hours and convert it into their own identity. It’s not just about the food, it’s about creating a memorable experience for the guests.”
The growing popularity of street food
Street food is also on the rise. In fact, UN-FAO statistics claim that street food is now eaten by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide and StreetFood.org.uk had some 2,800 members with over 7,000 units serving food across the UK as of 2015.
It’s little wonder that street food has proven so popular though. The produce available is usually inexpensive, for example, while it also provides a nutritional source that is based on traditional knowledge and often follows the seasonality of farm production.
You won’t need to break the bank to set up a business in the street food industry either. General guidelines suggested by The Hub has detailed that a small second hand catering trailer or market stall could be acquired for under £5,000. A report by the Nationwide Caterers Association acknowledges that a fully equipped market stall can be bought for around £3,000 and a food truck for an estimated £10,000.
Speaking to Produce Business UK, street food vendor Charlie Morse pointed out: “Street food as a trend is certainly growing, although it’s still not at the same level as in New York. I think it will die off a little as a trend and then become a normal, everyday offer. A lot of office workers go to street food
stalls to buy their lunch and eat something healthy, cheap and different. There are so many trends within food but it works when you consider that people are money conscious and like variety.”
Sources:
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i2474e.pdf http://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/street-food-business/
http://www.changemakers.com/sites/default/files/the_street_food_revolution_document_final_1_ 0.pdf