Report Title FOOD AND BEVERAGE Name | Course Title | Date Heading 1 QUESTION 2 The food service industry is surrounded with activities, services, and business functions involved in preparing and serving food to people eating away from home. Within this industry there are a number of different industrial sectors and these are categorised according to the type of customer demand being met. Each sector may be further analysed by considering a set of variables that exist in the different sectors. Such variables represent elements that vary in particular sectors and thus provide a basis for examining the different types of foodservice operations within specific sectors. Follow carefully the instructions below. 1. Identify one particular sector on which you want to focus and elaborate your report. 2. Research, identify and analyse the various variables pertaining to the chosen sector. 3. By using the 8 steps in the Foodservice cycle, compile a report on how the chosen sector will work from an operational point of view. 3 PAGE 1 Task 1 What is and what is not acceptable about food depends on the different social backgrounds and cultures of people. Even today people have conflicting ideas about what constitutes good cooking and what a good chef should provide. The French tradition of producing fine foods from highly respected chefs continues to this day, while other countries may have less in interest in the art of gastronomy. During the French revolution most, witnessed the disappearance of aristocracy, thus leaving cooks wandering of what would be the next step. As the political situation was getting stabilized, a new form of dining was required for the wealthy upper class. Many restaurants started experimenting with menus varying from multiple dishes to menus consisting of only one course dinner starting with soups. Restaurants were the place for everyone as long people had the money otherwise it was the in place for new French bourgeoisie society. Interesting to say that between the end of the 19th century and world war one was a wonderful era for the culinary art. This was followed by what is known as the modern cuisine. After 1914, this evolution can be traced to two essential elements, artificial refrigeration and a greater availability of funds. After world war two the United states exported the new concept of hygiene to the world, therefore nowadays there is a desperate search for genuine traditions and civilized cuisines. As the 20th century came along, with the help of transportation a mobilization of more people from around the world started to settle in developing countries in search of better working conditions and lifestyles, and so began the introduction of styles of food and service from a wide choice of nations resulting in the number of ethnic dishes which are still popular today. There are various drivers that influenced our perspective of dining today such as socio economics, urbanizations, and trade policies. Market liberalization brought forward the rise in supermarkets with all year-round availability of commodities and ready-made foods prepared with intensive production methods and new technologies. Eating at the place of work, at schools in hospital and institutions led to a need for healthy, budget conscious food. Late in the 19th century, the composition of menus was more possible as PAGE 2 food was being transported from around the world and was available at hand with the aid of air transport. There also consequences to this namely is the over urbanization, negative impact on the environment and sustainability of fish stocks naming a few. As a society we ended up with over food consumption resulting in health issues and with a convergence of diets. It is important to remember that this dimension depends on people’s views and backgrounds to dictate to what and how is the food itself must look, smell and taste. Different social backgrounds dictated what constitutes the idea of a snack, a proper meal or a celebration. What a person’s idea of a snack may be another person’s idea of a main meal. Nutritionists form the image of food by informing what is good for your diet. And this also changes due to updated research and what is available in the market. The perception on the image of food depends on “we are what we eat. “The quantity eaten may indicate if one is a glutton or a gourmand. This may also depend on the logistics of economic affordability, time available, and the ease of obtaining what as to how the individual to decide to dine at home, ordering fast food or dining at a restaurant on daily or weekly basis. Different social backgrounds dictated what constitutes the idea of a snack, a proper meal or a celebration. What a person’s idea of a snack may be another person’s idea of a main meal. Nutritionists form the image of food by informing what is good for our diet through various media. And this also changes due to updated research and what is available in the market and what we learnt from schools and through different meal experiences. My perception on the image of food depends on “we are what we eat. “The quantity eaten may indicate if one is a glutton or a gourmand. Taste affects food choice and is based on the biological, social and cultural perspectives. These compounds are based on the four sensations of vision, smell, taste and touch. There are various factors that affect what we eat. For the individual, tastes and habits in eating are affected by three main factor such as upbringing, peer group behavior and the social background. What is to be eaten, when is PAGE 3 to be eaten and the individual health consideration are other factors to be considered when addressing this subject. There are various explanations of a consumption of a meal. The Nordic researchers have concluded that the meal event falls under four categories. Categories include dining alone at home, dining with friends at own home, dining alone in restaurants, at work or on the streets, and dining with friends in restaurants and canteens. There are various perspectives depending on the approach to the dimension of the meal, these involve biological, physiological, normal and abnormal psychological, anthropological, sociological and nutritional. These perspectives look into various meal patterns, requirements, hunger satiety stages and the fact the meal itself is a time of day. Eating is a necessity, but it also a means of developing social relationships. The need and preferences of the people you eat with should be considered. There are various environments that can foster these relationships especially when there is a reason for celebrating occasions such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries or may be just to be with a few friends in a restaurant. From the emotional point of view, food can be of comfort to people especially after sad moments in life, such as wakes or may be as a means of appreciation for someone’s accomplishments. Considering the above points, one notices that the birth of various commercial businesses such as themed restaurants, fast food restaurants, bars, pubs, canteens, hostels, hotels know today are originated from these perspectives and different meal events. Then we move on to product development, sensory experiences, nutritional values, provisioning, design and physical settings, pricing and marketing, for various sectors of the food cycle. Planning menus today may depend on a wide spectrum of perspectives depending on the needs of the individual and to provide the ingredients necessary for the individual for maximum enjoyment of his meal. In the light of FAMM and the acceptance of the context of a meal model is based on three factors such as the food product itself, the consumer and the environment. Among the various aspects related to FAMM, because of the constant changes in trends of the industry, being different in terms of product and architectural and interior designs. These factors depend on the type and demands of today’s customers one is envisaging, the management policies and decisions, and the quality of staff available. PAGE 4 Anderson and Mossberg manifested that when reflecting on planning the meal, several factors are to be taken into consideration such as cuisine, restaurant interior, service, company and other guests. Slack et al (2007) measured success of the meal experience as the parameters of being fast and consistent, cost effective, dependable and flexible. The restaurant industry is changing from the operation driven focus of the past to the media and innovative design of the future. The famous Michelin guide for restaurants and hotels came out with a model idea and is described as the approach with a beginning with an entrance and seating of the customer, the meeting process, the product and the management control system. And all of the above lead to the fifth aspect of completing the meal experience followed by a scientific definition of each aspect. The models are the variables to be discussed by the management and chefs regards the dining atmosphere they need to create in terms of the dining facilities, communications and the product they sell. The consequence of failing to follow such procedures to gain customer satisfaction may result in the matter of people getting in, dining and paying their bill and fail to see the big picture to see what a true dining experience may truly become. Creating the right atmosphere is crucial for the consumption of a meal as it dictates the success of the restaurant. Having the right environment in terms of dining facilities with the correct fittings tat suit the need of the customer and the style of food aims to present. Atmosphere is what gives restaurants that vibration, as is intangible as what makes a good novel. Restaurants are culture, not just catering. Part of the joy of eating is unpredictability, the unlikely combination of ingredients that goes in recipes. At the end dining is the outward reflection of who you are, and what you would like to be and all the aspects of the atmosphere such as dining experience, the customers and the overall product will come up to that expectation. On the basis of Gustafsson and Meiselman views of the FAMM model Lashley et al (2005) suggested that “the meal experience represents an event containing symbolic and emotional components, and is multidimensional in nature”. The observations by the above authors revolves around emotions of joy, pleasure, enchantment, romance, rush of excitement and they differentiate those feelings to make the customer feeling more at home when dining out. End PAGE 5 References Breffni M. Noone, Sheryl E. Kimes, Anna S. Mattila and Jochen Wirtz (2007) The Effect of Meal Pace on Customer Satisfaction Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. 48; 231 Davis, B., Lockwood, A. Pantelidis, I.S. & Alcott, P., (2008) Food and Beverage Management (4th ed), London; Elsevier Dixon M., Kimes S.E, Verma R. (2009) Customer Preferences for Restaurant Technology Innovations. Cornell Hospitality Report Vol 9 No 7. Hemmington, N. (2007) From Service to Experience: Understanding and defining the Hospitality Business. The Service Industries Journal. 27(6):747-755 Lashley C., Morrison A., Randal S. (2005) More than a service encounter? Insights into the emotions of hospitality through special meal occasions. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Online: http://tinyurl.com/mo25uy (accessed May 2009) 1 (David Foskett, 2003) PAGE 6 1.The consumer needs and market potential in the various sectors of the foodservice industry The interest by consumers in the coffee shop industry is sweeping the island. Mocha Latte is positioned to bring this to the Bugibba area. Mocha latte is privately owned and its main aim is the non-captive market. Situated in the heart of Bugibba surrounded by hotels and pubs and restaurants. The area consists of a two-kilometer radius and is heavily populated with mix of young local and foreign people, aiming to have a higher standard of living with incomes at their disposal. This is complemented by a large number of middleclass families, tourists, locals and of town visitors that frequent coffee shops during their daily and weekend promenade walks. Coffee shops are having a great deal of success, which is evidenced by the full houses every day of the week. Even with competition close by Caffe Mocha manages to lead the field by providing first rate catering standards on a consistent basis. The café seats a maximum of 100 covers with a total sale of over a million Euros. The cost of food and beverage is 25%. labour cost is 35% controllable and noncontrollable income of 30%. It generates a profit of 10% before income taxes. 2 The formulation of policy and business objectives that will guide the choice of operational methods that will be used The mision statement at Mocha Latte is to provide a friendly, comfortable atmosphere where the customer can receive quality food, service at reasonable price. PAGE 7 The premises shall open every day from 0800hrs till 2200hrs. It is open to all types of customers including those with very young children. The policy is to give the best level standards of food and beverage service according to the established policy set by the management. To promote advertising through different media such as magazines, television, internet and word of mouth. To use the freshest ingredients and the quality commodities for the preparation of food and beverage. 3.The interpretation of demand to make decisions on the range and type of food and beverages to be provided, as well as other services, and the service levels and prices to be charged Interpreting the customer demand, Mocha latte food and beverage specification, this ranges from serving the needs of customers who would like to have services offered to them alfresco style, ability to buy pastries and savouries from the display counter for takeout, and other services such as an a la carte menu. The premises also offer comfortable airconditioned settings inside for summer and wintry days. The availability of service ranges from 0800hrs till 22oohrs on a daily basis. The customer service specification depends on the method of service Mocha latte offers. The amount of service it gives to the customer and the level of standard of food is offering in terms of reliability and flexibility. Care is to taken to ensure profitability by considering the use of the available resources. The resources include the quality of commodities used, manning costs and the capability of the equipment during pressure times. For this to happen the staff must be trained and by using their technical, interpersonal skills, product knowledge and team work they are capable to handle the customer service specification at Mocha latte. Mocha latte boasts a refrigerated display counter of cakes, pastries, artisanal chocolates and almond frivolities. PAGE 8 The beverage menu will comprise of different Coffee styles and tea of all sorts. The choices of coffee beans are of recommended quality and coffee products range from basic espresso to flavoured Mocha lattes made with French Vanilla, chocolate, marshmallows and hazelnuts. The selection of teas range from English to flavoured herbed varieties. Fresh squeezed juices, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages also will be available. For those who prefer wine, a modest selection of wine and boutique beers is also available. Wine can be ordered by the glass. The breakfast menu features freshly baked croissants, muffins, Sicilian style baked savouries and home baked tea cakes and pastries. The daily menu features freshly made sandwiches and baguettes, Classical and vegan salads, soups made from freshest ingredients in season, light grills and pasta dishes. The customer service specification depends on the method of service Mocha latte offers. The amount of service it gives to the customer and the level of standard of food is offering in terms of reliability and flexibility. Care is taken to ensure profitability by considering the use of the available resources. The resources include the quality of commodities used, manning costs and the capability of the equipment during pressure times. The price range of all products is similar to that of the competition with different presented dishes presented with more fresh ideas that entices the customer taste and expectations. 4.The planning and design of facilities required for the food and beverage operations and the plant and equipment required The planning and design of Mocha latte is focused on the market it is trying to attract. It is based on the customer needs, the theme and the type of food and service it is offering. Importance is given to the space as the tables are strategically placed as to create a bustling atmosphere when full and thus create a more customer turnover during busy times. The kitchen and pastry are designed PAGE 9 and equipped with latest technology combi ovens and cooking ranges and refrigeration to handle the busiest times with an efficient delivery of food. Each section of the kitchen is segregated into sections with sanitary requirements according to the health and safety government regulations. The storage of dry, fresh and frozen commodities is located near the kitchen for easy access. Staff dressing rooms are also available. The tables and chairs are all polished wood and the décor and furnishings are according to the style of the place. The interior design is focused on projecting a relaxed atmosphere, and with effective lighting that makes the place look impressive in the evening. The area is divided into two sections. The coffeeshop area consist of custom-made chalk painted chairs and coffee tables made from light oak with heavily decorated mirrors and modern art paintings. The dishes and eating utensils will be mismatched in pastel colours and purchased from antique stores. The coffee cups will be from the forties and fifties era. The bar is fully set up with a three grouped coffee machine and coffee grinders, hot and cold beverage counter, alcoholic displays and wine storage fridges. Bathroom facilities are equipped for the needs of all customers included those with disabilities. The emphasis of the coffee shop section will be on providing a comfortable environment for the customer where they will want to linger and return many times. 5.The organisation of provisioning for food and beverages and other purchasing requirements to meet the needs of food production, beverage provision and the service methods used The provisioning of commodities is done by the café manager, shift supervisor and the chef. The provisioning is done according to revenue of sales and future projections. The dishes are all costed out according to standardized recipes to ensure portion control in relation to food quality and the price. The cost control is managed by a computerized system that estimates the daily requisitions of commodities for production. This is done according to historical sales entered by PAGE 10 management. It also prepares purchasing orders to approved suppliers for the ordering of provisions of food and beverage and perishable goods. Stock rotation and inventory records are also taken every week and at on a random basis. Receiving of goods and signing of invoices is done by chef or the supervisor. 6.production and services Mocha Latte is managed by an experienced cafe manager. The shift supervisor and head chef.They work in conjunction in ordering supplies, maintaining stocks, handling customer complaints, quality checks, hygiene levels, training and scheduling staff. Other duties would include ensuring staff coverage for all shifts and reports to the owner and developing marketing strategies. They will be responsible for the overall management of a staff compliment of 15 employees including par timers. The customer is greeted on entering the coffee shop and may be seated if dining. If the customer prefers to have just coffee or any other small item may do so by ordering through the reception desk at the entrance. The menu is a la carte and the service is plated. If customers require a takeout they are served directly from the counter. On entering Mocha latte, one finds a food display counter and a reception desk. The shift supervisor greets and seats the guests at the table and hands out the menus and explain the specialties and take the orders. The food and drink orders are punched through the pos system and transferred to remote printers in the bar and kitchen. The baristas and kitchen chefs prepare the orders and pass them onto the servers to take to the customer. The coffee and bar area are situated near the pastry and the server display area where it can be manned by the same baristas during idle times. After the guest has finished the meal, the server obtains the guest bill by requesting it via the terminal and printer at the reception desk. The customer receives a hard copy of the data stored in the computer accessed by the table number and server number. The server acts a cashier of his own bills and settlement is recorded for each bill as the server receives cash or credit cards. PAGE 11 7.Controlling of costs associated with the operation of food production, beverage provision and other services and the control of revenues Mocha latte Pos system handles all the take-out customers’ bills, as well as food and beverage bills. For ordering from the food display, purchasing has to be done in advance at the entrance reception desk, and then presented at the display counter barista for collection of goods. For the dining experience, the customer orders the waiter punches the order on his hand-held ordering pos and it is directed to the kitchen and bars as needed. At the end of the meal experience, the end bill will be generated through the pos and presented to customer. Payment can either be made cash, by cheques or by credit cards. The computer system is under the control of the general manager, who manages the business accounts, rosters, payroll, stock control and ordering, cash intake, assists in compiling of menu costing of dishes, online banking. 8.Monitoring of consumer satisfaction to continually check on the extent to which the operation is meeting customer needs and achieving customer satisfaction On interpreting the different customer behavior, from time to time the managers and chef establish the customer needs and review the prices, quality of service, image and style of service from the different customer reviewing media such as trip advisor and mystery guests and customer satisfaction questionnaires and plan the marketing strategy through media relevant to the social class, age and income levels of the customer. References David Foskett, V. C. (2003). the theory of catering. Hodder and Stoughton. PAGE 12