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F&B

As an international F&B consultant, I am constantly confronted with statements like, “It’s not rocket science; how difficult can it be, or everyone can run a restaurant?” So I will use this column edition to embark on a little journey with you. We have already established that hospitality experiences are more important than ever. When I started in this industry, we thought 6% F&B was a good rate; now, we are running developments at 20%.

The need for convenience and variety has become paramount. Food halls are increasingly diversifying their offerings and have emerged as a perfect fit for the modern consumer. They have evolved into social hubs, fostering an environment that encourages socialising and meaningful connections, reveals Cushman & Wakefield in its latest Food Halls of Europe Report.

In the ever-evolving hotel industry, there is one category that really stands out – hotels, explains Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting. The hotel landscape is changing on a global scale as hotels seek to attract and cater to a more diverse and international clientele with their F&B and retail offerings. It is a fact: Hotels, gastronomy, and retail go together.

In the ever-evolving hotel industry, there is one category that really stands out – hotels, explains Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting. The hotel landscape is changing on a global scale as hotels seek to attract and cater to a more diverse and international clientele with their F&B and retail offerings. It is a fact: Hotels, gastronomy, and retail go together.

Our industry is strong and can achieve a lot. To emphasize this optimistic spirit, we want to showcase what our industry offers. Recommended by Joanna Fisher, CEO of ECE Marketplaces, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, The Playce and Foodgarden at Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach, Germany are one of the many outstanding placemaking projects that drive the industry forward.

Ten years ago almost on the day, Time Out Market Lisbon opened its doors to the public as the world’s first editorially-curated food and cultural market. It was the culmination of an idea from Time Out Lisbon’s editors to bring their ‘best of the city’ ethos to life and together under one roof: a curated mix of the best chefs, restaurateurs, drinks and cultural experiences. To date, Time Out Market Lisbon — a highlight of the first ACROSS Study Tour in 2023 — has welcomed over 35 million guests, making it one of Portugal’s most popular destinations and sparking a global foodie phenomenon with currently eight Time Out Markets around the world spread across four continents.

Just a few months after the start of construction, ECE Marketplaces celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the new “Food Garden” in the Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach near Frankfurt am Main – together with the builders, representatives of the center owners, the mayor of Sulzbach and the tenant partners. The implementation of the new gastronomic offer in one of the largest, highest-turnover and most successful shopping centers in Germany for decades is thus progressing rapidly. The opening is planned for spring 2025.

As the nostalgic memories of greasy fast food and sticky trays fade away, the death of the old-fashioned food court looms over the culinary landscape. An expert in the world F&B development, Will Odwarka, founder and CEO of Dubai-based firm Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, states in his newest column: “With the rise of trendy market halls, food halls, and multi-purpose restaurant experiences, traditional food courts are struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving dining scene. But wait a minute, is that really true?”

UŠĆE Shopping Center, jointly owned by MPC Properties and Atterbury Europe, has announced its ambitious redevelopment project to elevate the shopping experience. The project, set to revamp the center’s infrastructure and offerings, promises to blend exciting new features with modern amenities, solidifying its position as a hub for leisure, socializing, and shopping.

The Compass Group has been won as the operator of the Foodhall in the new FOUR Frankfurt city quarter. Food Affairs GmbH, a company of Compass Group Deutschland GmbH, intends to curate the approximately 3,000 sq m space according to international standards and develop it into one of Frankfurt’s top food addresses.

“Support smaller, local operators and artisan producers with more flexible spaces,” states Paulina Herrmann, Director at Coverpoint Foodservice Consulting, in the latest “Industry Outlook 2024”.

For the premiere in Belgium, Costa Coffee and its partner Lagardère Travel Retail have chosen a central location at Liège-Guillemins station.

NEINVER has put the finishing touches on the revamped F&B Plaza at Viladecans The Style Outlets, the only outlet center in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. Aimed at rejuvenating the center’s main social and leisure zone, the refurbishment has resulted in enhanced terraced dining areas, seating and events spaces, contributing to a more all-round shopping experience.

It is a complex task to ensure project profitability. There is a struggle between doing what is right and what is reasonable. As an expert in the world F&B development Will Odwarka, founder and CEO of Dubai-based firm Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, states in his newest column: “However, in an ever-growing and competitive landscape, it is crucial to establish distinguishing factors that are recognizable and embrace them wholeheartedly.”

Frequency, length of stay, atmosphere – there are many reasons why gastronomic offerings are an essential part of retail. Olaf Hohmann, Head of Retail Gastronomy Research at the EHI Retail Institute, uses Germany as an example to show the development, trends, and potential of retail gastronomy.