Trends to Follow in 2024

As we enter the new year there are lots of exciting trends in the hospitality sector that any business can capitalise on. From innovative guest experiences to sustainable practices, this comprehensive guide will provide you with a sneak peek into the future of hospitality, ensuring you're well-prepared to adapt and thrive.

The rise of sous-vide

Sous-vide cooking, a culinary technique beloved by chefs and home cooks alike, involves sealing food in a vacuum-sealed bag and cooking it slowly in a precisely controlled water bath.

Sous-vide cooking isn’t only trendy and upscale; it also requires less skill and training, while producing high-quality entrees and proteins quickly.

 

Automated cooking

Kitchens employing smartphone- and app-enabled appliances and processes can now get food cooked during off-hours, and from off-site. This means less strenuous labour requirements without sacrificing productivity or availability.

 

Smaller footprints, larger gains

The “bigger is better” mentality of the 90s/00s is out of date. Consumers no longer need an expansive banquet hall to feel like they’ll be well served, and smaller, incredibly efficient cooking technology is allowing more BOH operations fit in smaller spaces.

 

Food innovation for simpler service

It isn’t just tech products pushing boundaries. Food solutions like multi-use syrups (for use in coffee, desserts, sides and other menu items), and SKU rationalisation in general, mean training on a single product can cover a large number of menu items, lessening your overall training load.

Similarly, doughs and prepared starches like potatoes have seen major strides in innovation — increasing in quality, as well as ease of preparation. Boasting greater product diversity that now includes pizza doughs with a baked-in “made from scratch” look and texture, these “easy” starches can cut labour time without sacrificing taste.

 

As we step into the new year, the hospitality sector offers exciting opportunities for businesses to thrive. Check in with our latest blog posts to stay ahead of the curve.