BENCHMARKING
Dear CRITERION Members,
We are excited to share our latest survey results from CRITERION!
When we created this final survey for the CRITERION series, we wanted you to think about what the next five years may look like in the workplace. This survey asked what key trends will continue or fade away, and what may impact the future of foodservice and employee amenities. As you are aware, this survey is on The Future of Foodservice and Employee Amenities at work. We asked questions that included your opinion on where employee foodservice and amenities are heading.
We inquired about your view on employee amenities in areas such as commuter solutions, childcare, commuter subsidies, the hybrid office, the importance of coworking space, and how the traditional office may change. We also touch on sustainability and zero waste targets, how artificial intelligence and mobile technology will impact the amenity space, plant-based option importance, healthy options, and so much more. No one can predict the future; however, post-COVID we have certainly learned how much this industry adapts to change and how we need to constantly be ready for what we may encounter in the future.
Managing food service is a process of constant change. In the past, we have dealt with financial spending and the P & L being a major focus and then shifting to workplaces seeing the benefit of a subsidized offer, to keep employees on site and productive, which far outweighed the cost of the subsidy. Then, post-Covid the challenges of predicting who will be onsite, and more importantly, what days of the week. Keeping abreast of what office amenities are important to employees will remain critical as we evolve into what the new normal of the hybrid workplace will be.
Regarding commuter solutions, the respondents to this survey feel commuter solutions will be especially important in the next five years (62%). Several food service topics will remain important such as sustainability, zero waste, plantbased options, healthy options, and flexible and dynamic coffee being offered. Seventy-seven percent feel plant-based options will be part of the standard offer. Not only are food service topics important but, so is technology according to our results. Technology, specifically artificial Intelligence (AI), will be a crucial factor in the future of work. On a scale of 1-5 the score landed at 4.15 for AI’s importance, which makes it significantly important. Regarding mobile technology, 100% of responders answered it will play a significant role in the future of food service.
Since none of us holds a crystal ball, we do not know what the future will truly look like but based on our experience, ever-changing workplace flexibility, and key learnings, we must continue to familiarize ourselves with the current and future trends.
In this comprehensive report, you will find:
Top five highlights of the findings
Visual view of the results per question
Specific survey questions and results
4xi has considered it a privilege to have had you as a CRITERION member. We are working diligently on “CRITERION 2.0” which will kick off with an annual Customer Experience (CX) Survey in September 2024. As a participant, you will receive the results along with a research report that details the state of CX. We anticipate the full report being available in January. The second annual survey and report will be on the Away from Home Markets and be released in early March with the report coming later in the year. We will send you each survey to ensure we have your input on these important topics.
Please reach out if you have a specific research or survey projects you would like us to conduct, as I would be honored to assist.
Sincerely,
Ann McNally
Ann McNally Practice Lead CRITERION Benchmarking
4xi Global Consulting & Solutions
e: annmcnally@4xiconsulting.com
p: (732)677-9060
w: www.4xiconsulting.com
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
100% 94% 83%
feel technology will play a significant role in the future of food service.
feel the hybrid workplace will play an important role in the future workplace.
feel artificial intelligence will have a high impact on employee amenities.
feel that plant-based options will be part of the standard food offer.
62%
feel commuter solutions will be extremely important in the future.
Commuter Solutions
Somewhat Not Important
The Most Impactful Commuter Solution - Ranked
#1 Flexible arrival/departure schedules
#2 Ride share programs
#3 Public transportation subsidies
#4 Company busses and shuttles
#5 Bike storage (and changing rooms)
Amenity services in order of importance
#1 Flexible workspaces
#2 Free meals/snacks
#3 Mental health support
#4 Fitness facilities
#5 On-site childcare
Hybrid workplace will play a significant role in the future
4.69 Overall
Do you have co working options?
Have you made changes to your co working space?
Co-working Evolution
Over the Next 5 Years
54% 31% 15%
More flexible and dynamic
Less relevant
Replaced by remote work solutions
Demand for Commuter Solutions Over the Next 5 Years
54% 23% 15%
Increase significantly Increase moderately
Stay the same
Future of Work Accommodating Remote Workers
23%
Partial integration with designated remote days
77%
Fully integrated remote work set up
Importance of Supporting Hybrid Workers
Stay the same
Increase significantly 15%
85%
Flexible workspace and retaining top talent level of importance
4.77
The Importance of Healthy Eating Options in the future of Foodservice
Importance of plant-based options as part of the standard offer
Importance of Sustainability to Future Employees
4.77
Zero Waste Importance in the Future
the same
Role/ Importance of Technology in Foodservice in the Future
100%
Central role
Importance of Artificial Intelligence on Employee Amenities
Foodservice Innovations to Most Impact in the Future
8% Sustainability Tie between Tie between
31% Personalized meal plans
31% Automatic ordering and delivery systems
15% AI
15% Healthy Options
Onsite amenity least important in 5 years
Childcare
Prediction on employee wellness practices
Other Future Trends
Postcard to the Future of Foodservice
Design & Curated Work
Experiences: Personalized experiences from recruitment, onboarding, commuting, home/campus experience, and home again.
Food+Health+Fitness+Life
Workplace and employee amenities will become the facilitator of the overall work experience as opposed to the driver. Work experience of the future will be all about how to make work more consumable, more integrated with life, more seamless, and those are the key factors as we need to attract and retain the best talent into the future.
Our HQ will be a museum/homage to our culture and history.
High end technology, very healthy plant-based options are the norm.
Work = Life = Work
Work will be an experientially led activity that will focus on the factors to optimize satisfaction, engagement, community, collaboration, and happiness (yes, HAPPINESS!). Post pandemic people realize that the 5 day a week, 2 hour commute is a waste of life and there is an alternative. People want to consume work when and how they want, not be consumed by work as in the past. Workplaces of the future will become attractions not destinations. They will be reminders of culture and places where people choose to go, not have to go. Latent space will be turned into community use, accommodation, hotels, and retail. The future is the Espresso Office: Half the size, twice the experience.
It didn’t change as much as we thought.
Choices, choices, and more choices of how, where, and when we work.
Focused on well being, more personalized workplace becomes a place people look forward to coming into or visiting . Hybrid and work from home solutions more advanced and integrated.
SURVEY RESULTS
How important will commuter solutions (e.g., transportation, transportation subsidies, bike storage, ride sharing) be in employee amenities?
important
Somewhat not important Extremely not important
What would you say will be the number one most impactful commuter solution?
#1 Flexible arrival/departure schedules
#2 Ride share programs
#3 Public transportation subsidies
#4 Company busses and shuttles
#5 Bike storage (and changing rooms)
Please rank the below amenity services in order of importance .
#1 Flexible workspaces
#2 Free meals/snacks
#3 Mental health support
#4 Fitness facilities
#5 On-site childcare
How significant will the support for hybrid workers be in the future workplace?
4.69 Overall
What other workplace amenities will rise in importance over the next 5 years?
Regional Offices (Lighthouses) and Local Community Hubs to provide more flexibility for employees and ease commute.
Integrated workplace experiences, no matter where the employee is.
Foodatainment: making the food experience central to the workplace community.
The office will be an experience (a treat) to come in and taste the culture of the organization and connect with colleagues and friends.
Cool breakroom and pantry programs focused on the needs of the local working group i.e. Tech, call center, creative etc.
Total Flexible Working (TFW)
More pantries with better offerings. Eliminate vending and replace it with micromarkets. Food oasis with smaller footprints.
Comprehensive (and subsidized) commuter solutions. More community programming (speakers, classes, events). Employee Apps will become prevalent. Flexible working 24/7 come when you want schedules....
Flexible working needs to be cemented as a policy, both in terms of days required in, but also time in the office. Right now, there are unwritten policies, so uncertainty remains. The ability to work from other company locations, including branches. A commitment to an equitable approach - making more amenity & other programs available across locations (even if a subsidy for a local gym), Reducing some of the ivory tower perks - many leaders talk about appreciating their employees but when they have access to many free office perks and many employees don’t even have a cafe, there is a clear disparity.
Work from home support, Concierge services, Continues education and training
Do you have co-working options today?
If you said yes to co-working options, what are they?
Local hubs
Capital One Cafe network
Starbucks!
Hotel lobbies, Santander Work Cafes, Starbucks, Restaurants.
You can avail yourself of drop in seats at some locations, but they are limited in number. You cannot just drop in to any floor.
What changes do you foresee in the future of co-working spaces?
Respondents
Future Of Co-Working Spaces
LEGEND
They will become more popular
They will remain the same
They will decline in popularity
They will be replaced by other solutions
They will disappear completely
Other
How will the concept of the traditional office evolve over the next five years?
Respondents
It will become more flexible and dynamic
It will remain largely the same
It will become less relevant
It will be replaced by remote working solutions
It will disappear completely
Other
How do you anticipate the demand for commuter solutions will change in the next five years?
How do you believe the future office will accommodate remote working?
Fully integrated remote work setups
Partial integration with designated remote days
Minimal integration
No integration
Office-based work will return to prominence
How do you see the importance of supporting hybrid workers evolving?
Increasing significantly
Increasing moderately
Staying the same
Decreasing
How important will flexible workspaces be in attracting and retaining talent?
What role will technology play in the future of foodservice?
4.77
Overall
100%
Central role (ordering, delivery, payments)
Supporting role (enhancing service)
Minimal role
What role do you believe healthy eating options will play in the future of foodservice?
They will become the primary focus
They will be equally important as other options
They will remain a niche offering
They will decrease in importance
How likely is it that plant-based menu options will become a standard offering in foodservice?
How important will sustainability practices (e.g., zero waste, local sourcing) be to future employees?
4.77 Overall
How do you see the importance of zero waste initiatives in foodservice evolving?
significantly
What role will mobile technology (e.g., apps, mobile payments) play in the future of foodservice?
How significant will the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) be on employee amenities?
How likely is it that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will significantly impact the foodservice industry?
32%
Somewhat likely
68%
Very likely
Respondents
Which workplace amenity do you think will be least important in five years?
of Respondents
What is your prediction for the future of employee wellness programs?
100%
They will expand and become more comprehensive
They will remain the same
They will be reduced
What future trend do you think will have the most impact on the foodservice industry?
Respondents
Postcard to the Future of Foodservice
If you were to write a postcard to the future of what foodservice and employee amenities will look like in 5 years’ time what would you say?
Design & Curated Work
Experiences: Personalized experiences from recruitment, onboarding, commuting, home/campus experience, and home again.
Workplace and employee amenities will become the facilitator of the overall work experience as opposed to the driver. Work experience of the future will be all about how to make work more consumable, more integrated with life, more seamless, and those are the key factors as we need to attract and retain the best talent into the future.
Our HQ will be a museum/homage to our culture and history.
High end technology, very healthy plant-based options are the norm.
Work = Life = Work
Work will be an experientially led activity that will focus on the factors to optimize satisfaction, engagement, community, collaboration, and happiness (yes, HAPPINESS!). Post pandemic people realize that the 5 day a week, 2 hour commute is a waste of life and there is an alternative. People want to consume work when and how they want, not be consumed by work as in the past. Workplaces of the future will become attractions not destinations. They will be reminders of culture and places where people choose to go, not have to go. Latent space will be turned into community use, accommodation, hotels, and retail. The future is the Espresso Office: Half the size, twice the experience.
It didn’t change as much as we thought.
Focused on well being, more personalized workplace becomes a place people look forward to coming into or visiting . Hybrid and work from home solutions more advanced and integrated.
, flexible working stations
Choices,
choices, and more choices of how, where, and when we work.
Author: Published by:
ANN MCNALLY
Practice Lead CRITERION Benchmarking
Ann worked on the client side of the business for over a decade at both Morgan Stanley and Bristol-Myers Squibb. One of the biggest challenges she faced was senior executives regularly asking how their company compared to others. It ranged from various topics from what and how they offered their amenities to miscellaneous operational questions on just about anything. Ann created CRITERION to help companies answer those questions. Ann had the privilege to lead a survey team at Bristol Myers Squibb where the team created a survey process for 17 departments across facilities. As an experienced leader and subject matter expert Ann will help clients get the answers they are looking for with CRITERION.
annmcnally@4xiconsulting.com
PUBLISHER
4xi Global Consulting
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Simon Elliot Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Barbara Boden Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Tony Johnson Leadership Advisory Council Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
SUPPORT SERVICE
Hannah Spearman Graphic Design & Creative Services
