Hello and welcome...

Autumn is coming, and I was going to say cooler days too but we’ve had many of those over our so-called summer this year! And I write this while enjoying the September heatwave, so it seems strange to be thinking about Halloween and roast dinners but, as always in foodservice, it pays to plan ahead and be prepared to maximise sales.

Our main feature this issue is Halloween. It’s a huge opportunity for operators and an occasion that gets bigger and bigger as each year passes. We have some delightfully spooky ideas and inspiration for you on pages 12-14.

As we step into autumn, the lure of a roast dinner is too hard to resist, so on pages 19-21 we’ve focused on how to reinvigorate the ever-popular roast to excite customers and attract footfall. From suggestions on jazzing up meat to tasty twists for meat-free options, side dishes and accompaniments, you should see customers coming back for more. Have a great autumn!

JESS DOUGLAS, DIRECTOR, CONFEX

Jess's must-reads this issue

Intriguing insight, page 9: KAM Media's Katie Jenkins shares brand-new research

Soft drinks, page 16: Thirst-quenching ideas

5 ways with… page 22: It's versatile and hugely popular halloumi