MAPIC IN FOCUS: F&B
Tech, environment and plant-based options on the F&B menu in Cannes Food & beverage operators will get their own showcase at MAPIC this year, with the launch of The Happetite in Cannes. F&B will also be supported by a set of conferences and workshops featuring the latest trends in the sector
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NE OF the sectors to have come out of the pandemic strongly is the quick-service market and in the UK Five Guys has fixed its sights on ending 2021 with up to 25 more sites than it had last year, after revealing it emerged from the pandemic with its UK operations in profit. The premium burger chain was forced to close the vast majority of its estate when the UK was put into lockdown in March 2020 and did not fully re-open until August 2020, although it continued to trade via takeaway and delivery and also introduced kerbside collection. Five Guys is currently working to reduce the environmental impact of its operations and has already achieved 100% zero-to-landfill, but continues to work on improved recycling segregation across its estate. Currently, it recycles 25% of waste collected, with the rest being converted to energy. Indeed, the push towards sustainability is a major driver among a number of the major quick-service brands. In October, McDonald’s announced its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions across its global operations by 2050. As part of this initiative, the company is joining the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and McDonald’s will increase the emissions-reduction levels in its existing 2030 target and will set a long-term reduction target to reach net-zero emissions. Efforts under way since 2018 have already resulted in an 8.5% reduction in the absolute emissions of restaurant and office facilities and a 5.9% de-
Tim Hortons parent RBI is committing to more sustainability initiatives
crease in supply-chain emissions intensity against a 2015 baseline. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), parent company of the Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes brands, has also announced new commitments to help address climate change. RBI will collaborate with franchisees and suppliers to pursue targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
Digital innovation in F&B Wingstop, the self-described “digitally-savvy, tech-focused restaurant brand”, with more than 1,600 locations worldwide, has appointed Stacy Peterson as executive vice-president, chief digital and technology officer and promoted Marisa Carona to senior vice-president, chief growth officer. These changes support the investment Wingstop is making to drive interactions with the more than 25 million customers in its data platform and, with nearly 65% digital sales, support the brand’s drive to achieve its goal of 100% digital transactions. “As we continue making meaningful investments in our tech stack, we decided to take a page from the structure of many leading tech companies, which often house marketing and digital/IT functions together,” Wingstop chair and CEO, Charlie Morrison, says. “With this, we’ll have two
McDonald’s is accelerating net-zero targets
MAPIC ONE BOOK
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NOVEMBER 2021
