Australia’s food and beverage operators have been striving to return their businesses to some degree of normality in order to drive sales, stabilise costs and prepare themselves for the imminent financial obstacle of Job keeper payments ceasing in three weeks’ time. It is clear from the ABS that the future is bright for food and beverage operations, however, operators need to be creative, flexible and innovative in order to comply with the remaining Covdid-19 restrictions around social distancing and the control in patron numbers in any one enclosed space.

In the course of our work, we have noticed that there are some venues that just say ‘Sydney’. We also know that over the years, Sydney restaurateurs haven’t lit up the world in Melbourne (and vice versa, we might add). All of which got us thinking about why this is so: What is it about the market that creates a ‘Sydney’ venue?

Here we highlight a few of the differences between the Melbourne and Sydney food scene.

Although 2020 will be remembered in Australians (and the world) for all the wrong reasons, hospitality operators continued to push the boundaries, open new concepts providing a welcome haven for Australia’s at large with new experiences that raised our spirits and reminded us that life, food and hospitality will not only survive but thrive.

There are stand out restaurants and bars that have opened across Australia with new and enticing food and beverage as well those who have traded through the ups and downs continuing to deliver excellent food and service.

Here we highlight a few of the many new ones (and can’t wait to try) and share a recent food experience at Ish in Melbourne.

The craft beverage movement has been building significant momentum over the past 10 years and has subsequently reshaped the liquor industry as we know it. With craft brewing, small scale local distilleries and small batch wine production capturing greater market share year on year, we are seeing a shift in the market towards quality over quantity and experiential over mainstream.

Staying connected with customers, day & night delivering relevant and exciting experiences for all.

Australia’s Local Markets are leading the way when it comes to Remaining Relevant and Delivering Unique Food Experiences.  Where other precincts are trying to figure out how to evolve and expand their F&B offer, the best of Australia’s markets have been doing just that for over a century.  Their experience is well worth studying in order to understand how to deliver the best of Food and Hospitality – authenticity, sociability, repeat visitation, enjoyment and fun – to your project. 

Francis Loughran, founder and managing director of Future Food, foresees more beautiful cafes and restaurants in our malls and high streets as operators move beyond just food and focus on design-driven spaces and genuine customer service. Read Future Food's ten predictions for food, beverage and hospitality trends that will surface in 2018.