CHEFS HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE HEALTH OF THE NATION

The Staff Canteen

CHEFS HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE HEALTH OF THE NATION - Global study shows growing consumer need for more information Global research commissioned by Unilever Food Solutions has revealed that consumers worldwide want greater transparency around nutritional information when eating out of home. UK findings from the World Menu Report[1] reveal that almost three quarters (73%) of consumers want to know more about what is in their food when eating out. 61% of respondents said they preferred to eat in places that are transparent about the ingredients they use; and 59% of those surveyed thought that knowing about the nutritional information would influence their choice of establishment - of these 75% said health was the reason. The findings come against a backdrop of the UK having the highest obesity rates in Europe[2] and diet related illnesses costing the NHS £6billion per year[3]. Tracey Rogers, Managing Director, Unilever Food Solutions says: "The World Menu Report has highlighted a clear message to those of us within the food service industry. We know that not all consumers are asking about the nutritional value of their food when eating out of home, but if the information was available to them then this could increase. We also know that the industry is far too complex and wide-ranging to deliver a one-size-fits-all solution but with one in six meals eaten out of home we can't afford to sit back and do nothing. "We should work collectively as an industry to come up with workable solutions that give consumers an informed choice and meet caterers' commercial and operational criteria. We're already working closely with our customers to provide some of the solutions so we know it's possible.  We believe that by providing these solutions we can empower chefs to change the health of the nation." The launch of the World Menu Report forms part of the Unilever Food Solutions' brand rejuvenation, which reflects Unilever Food Solutions' new vision - to support chefs and caterers in satisfying their customers with inspiring, healthy, nutritious food to keep them coming back for more. The company has committed to providing chefs and caterers with information, advice and ingredients that will help them satisfy their guests' needs. As part of the relaunch, Unilever Food Solutions will be introducing three new services to further help chefs and caterers:
  • "˜Your Guest', which is about understanding the needs and motivations of their guests
  • "˜Your Menu', where Unilever Food Solutions will help chefs and caterers to deliver nutritious, healthy and profitable menus
  • "˜Your Kitchen', which will look at kitchen efficiency
The rejuvenation also includes a change in the visual identity, in particular the corporate logo, to closely align with Unilever and to express the new vision through the "Inspiration every day" brand promise. Tracey Rogers concludes: "This is an exciting time for Unilever Food Solutions. The launch of the new brand reflects our passion and commitment to addressing the needs of consumers, and supporting our customers with the ingredients, ideas and inspiration to do this. Our expert team of nutritionists and chefs, along with the sales team and our new services, will help us to provide even greater assistance to chefs across the country." [1] Source: BrainJuicer, Jan 2011, n= 3,500 global respondents who eat out at least once a week from seven countries: US, UK, China, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Turkey [2] Source: Association of Public Health Observatories, December 2010 [3] Source: Public Health Commission, July 2009
In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall  – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 10th February 2011

CHEFS HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE HEALTH OF THE NATION