Third workspace app means you can work form a café rather than

Oat becomes the UK’s preferred dairy alternati ve

A new World Coffee Portal survey shows that oat has overtaken coconut as UK consumers’ preferred dairy alternative in coffee shops, but dairy milk still rules the roost when it comes to pairing with coffee at home.

Oat has unseated coconut as UK consumers’ preferred dairy alternative in coffee shops, the survey of more than 50,000 UK consumers conducted by World Coffee Portal found, with 16% indicating they had tried oat milk in a coffee shop over the last 12 months, ahead of coconut and almond at 12%, and soya at 9%.

Oat has enjoyed a rapid ascendance in the UK (a consumer poll conducted by World Coffee Portal in 2019 placed oat as consumers’ fourth preferred dairy alternative, behind coconut, almond and soy). However, since 2020 World Coffee Portal research shows oat’s popularity in UK coffee shops has risen 6% while almond grew 1% coconut fell 1%, and soya was down 0.5% compared to last year.

Commenting on the survey findings, Allegra Group CEO and founder, Jeffrey Young, said: “It is clear that oat has become an important part of the plantbased offer within UK coffee shops. A significant proportion of British consumers appreciate the neutral taste of oat milk, but increasingly a whole array of alternative milk solutions. We expect to see further penetration of plant-based products in UK coffee shops in the coming year.”

Third workspace app means you can work form a café rather than at home

A collective groan from businesses and hospitality venues alike has followed the government’s ‘Plan B’ announcement, with the move back to working from home (WFH) a catastrophe for many businesses who have been at pains to get people back into the offi ce - as well as hospitality who have welcomed back offi ce workers grabbing lunches and coffees and booking Christmas parties.

With many home offi ce set ups dismantled and fears of a decrease in productivity, businesses are quite rightly worried about indefi nite restrictions. While hospitality is excluded from face masks in the main, COVID passports and a reluctance to socialise due to the ongoing crisis will hit hard, as reports surged of cancelled Christmas dos.

However, the Reef App, can help those who will fi nd it diffi cult to work from home as well as keeping footfall strong across hospitality venues throughout December and beyond, claim its creators. Businesses can sign up to the app which enables their employees to book a convenient workspace in a hospitality venue. Venues can list free of charge what space they have available and when, as well as offering exclusive discounts on food and drink, and almost 200 venues have already signed up.

According to research carried out by Reef App Ltd, almost half of the offi ce workers say their working environment has a serious impact on their mental health (44%). Working from home has left many feeling isolated with burnouts increasing and less collaboration with work colleagues. The Reef App aims to help employers support staff’s mental wellbeing at a crucial time while also maintaining a productive workforce.

James Coughlan, founder of Reef App Ltd, said: “‘Plan B has come at a time when businesses and hospitality were just lifting their heads above the parapet. It’s a bitter pill to swallow and will hit venues hard. When developing the Reef App during the fi rst lockdown, we were conscious that the workplace will never be the same again so companies and hospitality alike need to be agile and able to act quickly in order to support both staff and profi ts. The Reef App manages to bridge the gap between home and offi ce with a hybrid solution, it’s really a no-brainer of a tool to have as a business and a venue. Venues only need to list the space they have available at the times they want, so it’s incredibly fl exible.’ Reef aims to simplify the future of the ‘third workspace’. The app allows teams to work agilely, fi nding suitable and convenient places to work globally, whilst helping venues to increase their footfall and improve their revenue. Aimed at the business market, the app works on a subscription basis for employers, who pay per user. Individuals can then search through the listed venues to fi nd one which works for them, and book the space, free-of-charge. Hospitality venues can also offer incentives to users, such as discounts and special offers.

Old Spike Roastery to open London’s first carbon and plastic neutral speciality coffee shop

Old Spike says that it is the first social enterprise in the UK championing real social and environmental change through speciality coffee, and are on a mission to eradicate homelessness in the UK as well as protect the planet by launching London’s first carbon and plastic neutral café.

For their first venture outside their Peckham HQ, they will be opening in Piccadilly Circus on Sherwood Street this month followed closely by three further central London sites across the next six months. Each new site will provide a London Living Wage job for an individual who’s experienced homelessness, and support a local homeless charity with donations to help move people who are sleeping rough towards a meaningful, fulfilling future.

The site on Sherwood St will see them partner with the Connection at St Martinin-the-Fields, where they will offer customers the opportunity to deliver real impact to people who are homeless through a loyaltybased donation scheme. Each purchase of coffee will generate points via a custom-built app which will allow users to support people sleeping rough with donations. Working directly with the Connection, the rewards-based scheme will provide funds for the charity, whose services cover everything from laundry provision in their drop-in centre for people sleeping on the streets to one-on-one sessions with a mental health therapist.

Pam Orchard, CEO of the Connection said: “The Connection is delighted to be partnering with Old Spike Roastery to support people in their journey from the streets to a meaningful future and home of their own. Central London, in particular, Westminster, where The Connection’s services are based, has the highest number of people sleeping rough in the country so this initiative

is desperately needed. Customers of Old Spike can now enjoy a great cup of coffee, at the same time as helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community to move forward with their lives.”

In addition to their work with people who are homeless, Old Spike will be continuing their partnership with Eden Reforestation Project and commit to planting a tree with every bag of coffee sold which, in the last 12 months, has already planted over 40,000 trees. This focus on the environment will extend in store with each site being both carbon and plastic neutral.

Old Spike Roastery founder, Richard Robinson commented: “These launches will see Old Spike branch out of our home in Peckham and make an impact in other parts of London, through further employment opportunities and donations to local homeless charities in each community where we open.”

Each site will serve their renowned speciality coffee alongside baked goods from their partnership with South East London baked goods specialist, Faran Customs. Reusable coffee silos will be available to encourage refi lls and customers can help themselves to coffee to take home via an on-site dispensary. Interiors will be minimalist, featuring natural materials with gold and brass fi nishes. Bespoke furniture will provide customers with seating - both inside and out - to sit and enjoy their coffees.

Starting in 2014, Old Spike opened their café roastery space in Peckham and have since expanded to an online, wholesale and retail offering. They pride themselves on their coffee quality, social impact and environmental sustainability. Alongside the training and employment of the homeless across their business, they are also carbon neutral and plan a tree for every bag of coffee they sell.

The Connection at St Martin’s works with people who are rough sleeping to move away from, and stay off, the streets of central London, and are alongside people as they recover from life on the streets and move towards a meaningful, fulfi lling future. They provide practical support, and link people in with the full range of services including health, migration advice, employment support, and housing and resettlement support to help them move forward.

www.coffeesafe.com