R U thinking of opening a coffee shop or sandwich shop?

[KevF]

Then you could do much worse than getting down to Olympia for this.

As well as the exibhitors, there are some good workshops to attend with some decent advise....

Went in 2007 and came away with some decent ideas....

http://www.caffeculture.com/


HTH

Kev

[V8mate]

Thanks for the heads-up

[Stig]

KevF said:

Then you could do much worse than getting down to Olympia for this.

As well as the exibhitors, there are some good workshops to attend with some decent advise....

Went in 2007 and came away with some decent ideas....

http://www.caffeculture.com/


HTH

Kev

Hi mate - how's the fast food business given the downturn?

I'd heard that coffe shops and the like were taking a bit of a pasting (Starbucks etc.) but that may just be hearsay.

[KevF]

Stig said:

Hi mate - how's the fast food business given the downturn?

I'd heard that coffe shops and the like were taking a bit of a pasting (Starbucks etc.) but that may just be hearsay.

Chris,

Watch ya....well, business is doing ok mate really.

Sales are up 10.5% over last year with customers up by 7% so doing better than a lot of others. I think those that have limited menu i.e. coffee and errr coffee with chocolate sauce are suffering. It comes down to having a menu that covers most tastes (beef/chicken as well as snack/meal) and prices which are acceptable.

Not sure things will be the same again really. People have become a lot more aware of costs and mark ups since the economic climate problems (and the VAT adjustments) so I reckon when things begin to change for the better, there will still be some hostility/failure to return to those that sold food and drink at a large profit ie. Starbucks etc....

On the whole, the major chains do not seem to be doing that badly but I feel sorry for the smaller one man bands and small regional chains that maybe cant screw down their suppliers as much.

Also the banks are starting to 'renegotiate' charges and finance deals in their favour which doesnt help when your profits are being squeezed so hard and our costs are expanding.......

There are a couple of good workshops at this show that I am looking forward to hearing to get an idea how others are coping and what they can do ........


Kev

[Stig]

KevF said:

Stig said:

Hi mate - how's the fast food business given the downturn?

I'd heard that coffe shops and the like were taking a bit of a pasting (Starbucks etc.) but that may just be hearsay.

Chris,

Watch ya....well, business is doing ok mate really.

Sales are up 10.5% over last year with customers up by 7% so doing better than a lot of others. I think those that have limited menu i.e. coffee and errr coffee with chocolate sauce are suffering. It comes down to having a menu that covers most tastes (beef/chicken as well as snack/meal) and prices which are acceptable.

Not sure things will be the same again really. People have become a lot more aware of costs and mark ups since the economic climate problems (and the VAT adjustments) so I reckon when things begin to change for the better, there will still be some hostility/failure to return to those that sold food and drink at a large profit ie. Starbucks etc....

On the whole, the major chains do not seem to be doing that badly but I feel sorry for the smaller one man bands and small regional chains that maybe cant screw down their suppliers as much.

Also the banks are starting to 'renegotiate' charges and finance deals in their favour which doesnt help when your profits are being squeezed so hard and our costs are expanding.......

There are a couple of good workshops at this show that I am looking forward to hearing to get an idea how others are coping and what they can do ........


Kev

Glad to hear things aren't too bad for you mate. Thanks for the heads-up on the show.