Episode 18: The role of food in coffee businesses

On the podcast today, we examine the interplay between food and coffee in hospitality businesses. The upside to adding food to a coffee proposition is clear but delivering excellent coffee and food simultaneously is never easy, and success often depends on the scale and scope of your business.

Exploring this week's theme, we speak with four leading operators, of all shapes and sizes, who share insights on how their businesses deliver a delicate balance of first-class food alongside great coffee.

Clare Clough, UK Managing Director, Pret A Manger discusses the latest trends in food-to-go and shares how a multi-site food franchise approaches their coffee offering.

Heather Perry, Vice President, Klatch Coffee explores how her business uses food to complement their core coffee offering, and the complexity it brings. 

We also speak with Miles Kirby, Co-owner and Head Chef, Caravan, who shares insights on how their restaurants shift focus on coffee and food fluidity throughout the day.

Henry Roberts, Co-founder, Two Hands, explains how his cafes have transitioned to a food-focused business and how he keeps its coffee programme as strong as its food.

Find out more about World Coffee Portal’s research on the food-to-go sector with our consumer-led report Cakes, Shakes & Tea Breaks UK 2021.

Credits music: Send Me by Bobbie Harvey, the winning song for the Coffee Music Project 2021.