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Restaurant industry trends & foresight
This is where we share our opinions, industry insights & commentary about on the latest hospitality sector trends.


How can a family attraction improve it's food and beverage offering?
MINI CHEF, the seated restaurant at Lego House, operates under the playful tagline "you play to get your food."
James Hacon
3 min read


Is the UK Government stifling inbound restaurant investment with it's taxation policies?
The recent budget has brought to a halt much of the international investment activity into the UK restaurant sector.
James Hacon
3 min read


Is it possible to AI-generate a restaurant concept?
James Hacon’s AI-generated restaurant experiment explores how AI can rapidly create concepts, menus, and branding while highlighting human c
James Hacon
5 min read


Why can’t hoteliers run restaurants?
Discover the differences between running restaurants & hotels, and the challenges hoteliers face in running successful restaurants.
James Hacon
3 min read


How to unlock the potential of hotel F&B agreements and boost hotel asset value
Explore how hotel owners can leverage third-party F&B agreements to enhance asset value, drive revenue, and improve the guest experience.
Jennifer-Pettinger Haines
3 min read


Scaling a restaurant brand: How big is too big?
Explore the challenges of restaurant growth and scaling a brand, Discover key strategies for sustainable success in multi-site restaurants.
James Hacon
4 min read


What are the strategic options for restaurant brands in supermarkets?
Supermarkets and, increasingly, convenience stores move aggressively to capture the UK lunch trade with their meal deals
Michael Ingemann
5 min read


What are the levers to strategically optimise restaurant performance to grow revenue?
It’s no secret that the combined impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit led to a notable brain drain, with experienced leaders and talent leaving...
James Hacon
3 min read


Growing a successful restaurant brand on a global stage
Think Hospitality Managing Partner, James Hacon takes to the Future Hospitality Investment Stage to chair a panel on growing a successful...
James Hacon
1 min read


How can hotel asset owners maximise returns with F&B joint ventures or leasing?
Think Hospitality Managing Partner, James Hacon takes to the Future Hospitality Investment Stage in Abu Dhabi to chair a panel on the...
James Hacon
1 min read


How will robotics & technology define the future of the restaurant?
James Hacon, Managing Partner at Think Hospitality presents a view on how robotics and technology will define the future of the...
James Hacon
1 min read


Expanding and localising restaurant brands into Saudi Arabia
Think Hospitality Managing Partner, James Hacon takes to the Future Hospitality Investment Stage to chair a panel on entering the Saudi...
James Hacon
1 min read


Exporting restaurant brands from the Middle East around the globe
Think Hospitality founder & managing partner, James Hacon interviews Sisban Managing Director, Tariq al Tuwaijry about the vision of...
James Hacon
1 min read

Restaurant diversification strategies - moving into retail
Restaurant brands are increasingly ripping up the rule book of just delivering traditional hospitality in-venue and at the table, to...
James Hacon
7 min read


Restaurant internationalisation: which British brands are making it overseas?
In the world of restaurants, the United States have long ruled at internationalisation. Many wrongly think McDonald’s was the first...
James Hacon
7 min read


What are the key challenges facing HoReCa in 2023?
Last week I chaired 25 sessions over 5 days at the HoReCa Academy, part of Ambiente, one of the largest consumer goods trade fairs in the...
Heleri Rande
3 min read


Unlocking the power of restaurant technology: what should your strategy be?
Adoption of customer-facing restaurant technology skyrocketed in during covid, as you’d expect given the unique circumstances. The legacy...
James Hacon
2 min read


Discover the future of restaurant marketing: is it time for a revolution?
It’s now a fortnight since we wrapped up the fifth edition of the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator (RMI) European Summit, which attracted...
James Hacon
5 min read


Can restaurant businesses unlock the power of purposeful profitability?
In economically challenging periods like today, it’s easy to cut corners and throw values out of the window in the name of survival. A...
James Hacon
2 min read


Will restaurants continue to be an attractive investment proposition?
James Hacon, Partner at THINK Hospitality moderates a panel at the Future Hospitality Invesment Summit in Dubai discussing whether...
James Hacon
3 min read


How are restaurants, pubs & bars adapting to the coronavirus outbreak?
Think Hospitality share what restaurant and hospitality operators are doing to adapt to the coronavirus.
James Hacon
8 min read


How can restaurants & bars survive the COVID-19 pandemic?
We are in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the travel and hospitality sector. Public health organisations and...
James Hacon
5 min read


How are changing consumer preferences & behaviours influencing the restaurant sector?
THINK Hospitality founder, James Hacon chairs a panel of operators at the Global Restaurant Investment Forum considering how changing...
James Hacon
1 min read


How are restaurants evolving their practices to become more sustainable?
THINK Hospitality partner, Heleri Rande chairs a panel at the Global Restaurant Investment Forum looking at how AI, robots and big data...
News Hound
1 min read


What's important to restaurant investors in 2020?
THINK Hospitality founder, James Hacon wraps up the Global Restaurant Investment Forum 2020 looking at what's important to investors and...
James Hacon
1 min read


What can F&B do for your hotel asset?
Heleri Rande and James Hacon from Think Hospitality were keynote speakers at the International Hospitality Conference 2020 held at the...
James Hacon
1 min read


Top Five Themes from Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2020
Speakers came from the biggest and best brands and agencies in the hospitality industry to RMI 2020 European Summit, here's James' round-up.
James Hacon
4 min read


What do we predict as restaurant & hospitality trends for 2020?
Here at THINK Hospitality Group HQ we’ve spent the void between Christmas and New Year wisely, thinking to the future. Here in this...
James Hacon
6 min read

How are restaurant groups diversifying to grow?
As the saying goes, you’re either growing or you’re dying. In uncertain times a lot of businesses talk about “taking stock” or...
James Hacon
7 min read

How can you bring objectivity to decision-making?
Michael Ingemann gives advice on how to bring objectivity to decision-making through fact based analysis & constructive experimentation
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4 min read


Is calling Indian food 'Curry' an outdated label?
With national Curry week upon us, Angela Malik traces the journey of the term ‘curry’ to understand its roots in the Brit culinary culture.
Angela Malik
2 min read


How do you shift unconscious biases in the workplace?
Strategy Director, Angela Malik shares why it's important to shift unconscious biases in the workplace alongside her top 'must dos'.
Angela Malik
3 min read


How can you improve trading in your restaurant this Christmas?
December is a vital month for the restaurant sector. We've done the research to help you understand what to concentrate on.
James Hacon
5 min read


What is the future of the food hall?
Food hall concepts have exploded in recent years. What was innovative in 2011 and on-trend in 2017 is now rapidly becoming ubiquitous in...
James Hacon
5 min read


What were the top restaurant investment trends from GRIF London?
Our Managing Director, James Hacon, shares his ten takeaways from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum London Briefing, held at Bala...
James Hacon
3 min read


Why is indecision a challenge for restaurant leaders?
James and Michael share the 5 ways to keep your business away from indecision and closer to success.
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5 min read


How can you recruit & retain chefs for longer?
With hospitality retentions rate currently 10% lower than the U.K. average at 70%, the chef crisis is only worsening and making recruitment
News Hound
1 min read


Why should restaurants be worried about the Amazon & Deliveroo deal?
The news that Amazon is investing in Deliveroo is not unexpected. James talks on how this will impact the hospitality industry.
James Hacon
5 min read


What will the restaurant of the future look like?
In our Restaurant of the Future report we provide a view in to the next generation of restaurants. Ten top multi-disciplinary industry...
News Hound
1 min read


Why should hospitality businesses look to embrace alumni?
The turnover of talent in hospitality is higher than many other sectors. It’s not uncommon to see team members move on after just six or...
James Hacon
4 min read


What does Marco Pierre White think about Michelin?
The legendary and outspoken Marco Pierre White in conversation with Think Hospitality Associate, Heleri Rande on everything from the...
News Hound
1 min read


What are the top trends affecting restaurant investment?
Earlier this month a large delegation of British restaurateurs, investors, landlords and consultants crossed the North Sea to attend the...
James Hacon
5 min read


How did Martin Morales help Londoners love Peruvian food?
THINK Hospitality's CEO, James Hacon interviews Martin Morales of Ceviche Family about introducing the first Peruvian restaurant concept...
James Hacon
1 min read


How are people helping to differentiate Bahrain as a destination?
The hospitality sector is very much a people business, from the front of house teams that adds values through great service, to the...
James Hacon
2 min read


What are the key takeaways from Global Restaurant Forum 2019?
Our Managing Director James Hacon give his overview from Global Restaurant Investment Forum 2019.
James Hacon
1 min read


What are the restaurant investment trends for 2019?
Our Managing Director James Hacon give his round up of the key points from day one at GRIF 2019.
James Hacon
1 min read


What are the recent investor trends and activity in the UK & European market?
Our partner Michael Ingemann delivers a GRIF & THINK Hospitality original research round-up at the Global Restaurant Investment Forum in...
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1 min read


How can you create a multi-concept restaurant portfolio?
Our Managing Director James Hacon in converstion with Yossi Eliyahoo, Founder & Co-Owner, The Entourage Group on creating convertible...
James Hacon
1 min read


What are the key hospitality issues and trends in UK and Ireland?
Our Managing Director James Hacon in conversation with Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland and ...
James Hacon
1 min read


How should restaurant groups handle NPD?
THINK Hospitality James Hacon talks to senior executives of Yo Sushi, Wagamama & Yummy Pubs about restaurant & pub new product development.
James Hacon
1 min read
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