Food service
There are many opportunities for South Australian businesses to engage in the food service sector, and provide products to a range of clientele, both within the private and public sectors.
South Australia’s food service sector offers a broad range of food and beverage to sectors including retail, catering, events and festivals, cafes, residential dining, corporate hospitality, airlines and fine dining services.
In Australia, eating out is a way of life. While people may trade down to cheaper options during an economic downtrun, they will continue to eat out. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) in the middle of the market are experiencing increased custom – and it is critical that South Australian businesses get the best advice to help them make the most of any opportunities.
Food producers seeking to move into the role of food service providers will need a deep understanding of their business before making this step. A producer may wish to move up from selling into farmer’s markets or supermarkets into the food service sector. Selling into the food service sector often requires the product to be packaged in large industrial sizes and may lack the sophisticated label designs of the individual consumer versions.
A food producer manufacturer may also hire a foodservice brokerage company to help break into a new market, through established foodservice distribution systems.
Food service recipes
Consumers like consistency. If they enjoy a menu item, they'll want the same experience (same taste and portion size) the next time.
There is a wide range of information available to help businesses be consistent with their product range. Focusing on particular areas – such as improved efficiency with recipes – can mean a substantial bottom-line difference.
For example, each item will have a consistent amount of each ingredient and a consistent portion size for each dish. From this, you can calculate a potential or theoretical food cost and compare that to the actual food cost. Training new staff members also is much easier with standard recipes.
Want more information?
BIS Shrapnel, who carry out major food service industry research, are moderately optimistic about the food service sector in the short term, and very optimistic in the long term.
The Australian foodservice market has developed enormously over the past four to five years. It is now valued at about AUD 30 billion at consumer prices. Today, Australians spend 37 cents of their food and non-alcoholic beverage dollar on eating out of home. This percentage has been steadily growing, particularly over the last decade.
BIS Foodservice’s report on the Fast Food market for 2009 highlights changing fast food preferences among Australian consumers. There is a decline in the consumption of traditional fast foods such as hot dogs, Chinese takeaway, pizza and ice cream, with hamburgers being the main exception in today’s market. Consumers increasingly prefer noodles, sushi and sandwiches.
The latest forecast for the commercial foodservice market is a contraction of -2.1% for 2009 with a very modest recovery of 0.5% growth during 2010, lead by demands form the correctional, healthcare and education sectors.
How has the SA Food Centre helped others?
The SA Food Centre has helped many businesses enter the food service market. Case studies and business examples are available.
Articles
Simon Bryant talks food service
Inside industry: Lamb
My Butcher talks innovation and understanding the fresh meat products needs of the food service industry.
Case Study
Who can I contact?
The SA Food Centre is on hand to assist, and can provide advice and assess your business for its food service capability.
- Page last modified: November 15, 2011, 5:53 pm
- Welcome URL is http://www.safoodcentre.com.au/
- This page: http://www.safoodcentre.com.au/customers/food_service
