Six thoughts from the past six days by Ann Elliott, chief executive of Elliotts

16th February 2018

Six thoughts from the past six days by Ann Elliott

Why did the Mail Online publish an article yesterday entitled “The great chain restaurant rip off”?

The subhead read: “Why the value-for-money chains aren’t what they seem.” It’s as though the writer doesn’t understand the basics of restaurant economics, has never read a profit and loss report from a hospitality business, and has never talked to a financial director in the sector. Or perhaps they have, and they just don’t care. It’s purely a sensational article designed to enrage readers and make them think twice about going out to casual dining chains. The best comment in response came from Wagamama, which said: “The suggestion of huge mark-ups is both factually incorrect and very misleading.” I couldn’t agree more.

Does anyone really pair drink and food nowadays?

Of course I see people drinking white wine with fish and red wine with beef but generally it seems to me people are becoming less concerned about what they drink with which dish. They have moved on, and the market has moved on. Consumers don’t seem to care what they drink with which dish these days – if they like a drink they will drink it whenever and with whatever. Yet many marketers continue to talk about food and drink pairing as if it’s the holy grail. I don’t think it is.