Supply Chain Issues Still Challenge Cruise Line Food & Beverage

The global food and beverage market is estimated at $8 9 trillion in 2026, according to Seatrade Cruise Global Since six top cruise lines account for more than $2 billion in food and beverage each year, the trade group explored trends in the post-pandemic industry

“Based on findings from this Cruise F&B Trends E-Report,” writes Holly Payne in the “Cruise F&B Trends” report, “cruise vessel supply chains within the food and beverage segment are growing increasingly complex, as several in-demand products prove difficult to procure and passenger expectations show the potential to drive further change: from more specialty dining options, to meat alternatives to non-alcohol beverages or drinks containing health supplements ”

Cruise lines are turning to everevolving technologies to improve food and drink options, including contactless menus, self-ser ve ordering kiosks and QR codes

“A growing awareness of the need for more sustainable dining options emerges in this report, as more than a third of respondents expressed the view that sustainable seafood will take off in 2023/2024,” Payne writes “The

2022 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report produced by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations shows that the world’s consumption of aquatic foods has increased substantially in recent years and will continue to rise ”

More and more consumers on land and sea want meat substitutes and zero waste cooking, but the Seatrade report shows respondents want dining experiences they can post on Instagram more than they want cruelty-free produce – by twice as much

Not surprisingly, buffet and self-ser vice food was reported as changing the most in the past year at 80 percent, followed by specialty restaurants at 52 percent, in cabin dining/service at 26 percent and main dining rooms at 24 percent

Bars saw the least change at 19 percent

Inflation and price increases ranked as the top challenge cruise lines face (78 percent), with supply chain disruption (76 percent) and longer lead times for restocking orders (44 percent) also cited “Issues around packaging, sourcing local and meeting

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