Eat-in trend impacts Valentine strategies

F&B professionals say home-cooking trend creates new opportunities for Valentine’s Day business

The region’s romantic restaurants could be in for a lonely night this Valentine’s Day, as cautious economy-hit consumers forgo pre-recession extravagances in favour of home cooking.

According to industry professionals, the answer is to adapt to the trend and cater to the customers’ demands this February 14 — traditionally one of the most competitive nights of the hospitality calendar.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek director of F&B Ali Fatehnezhad noted: “There is a growing trend for home-cooking at the moment. We have actually seen a growth in our catering and special take-away areas for some time now, and have already had requests for Valentine’s Day.

“In answer to this demand, we have specially created Valentine’s [take-away] packages — such as the ‘Lobster Platter for Two’, which is proving extremely popular at the moment.

“We see this as an additional business opportunity, as opposed to it having a negative impact on business on the actual day,” he explained.

Sebastien Duvocelle, assistant director of food and beverage The Palace, The Old Town, agreed this interest in home-cooking could be turned into a business opportunity: “We have noticed that our pop-up cooking classes are busier than ever,” he said.

Initiatives such as gourmet take-aways and cooking schools were proving a great way to increase profits without adding to cover figures or putting additional pressure on front-of-house staff, Radisson’s Fatehnezhad added.

“I think this trend creates great opportunities for F&B operators, especially when the kitchen operation is fit to cater to such requests,” he said.

“It simply creates another way to maximise revenue and exposure for the outlets.”