Going up
Tech-enhanced dining
One of the most exciting food trends is immersive dining experiences that incorporate gastronomy, art, technology, storytelling and music for a unique and entertaining multi-sensory experience.
No-alcohol and low-alcohol beverages
With event attendees increasingly conscious of their alcohol consumption, many clients are seeking a variety of non-alcoholic beverages such as tea-infused mocktails, bubble tea-inspired drinks, fresh juices and fun mocktails with interesting flavours.
Healthy food
Health and wellness remain top of mind with many clients. When curating an event menu, it’s now the norm to incorporate lighter and healthier options for all event attendees. Variety is key to accommodate special dietary needs and to deliver healthy food choices.
Coffee, always
Personally, I’m not a coffee drinker, however I recognise that barista coffee is still a must-have at daytime events. We’re seeing a rise in company-branded coffee stencils and bespoke coffee cups featuring designs with different questions to spark conversation with other event attendees.
Going down
Overly complicated dishes
Simplicity is best when it comes to food. We’ve seen a decrease in extravagant food and beverage options – such as champagne towers – at corporate events. There is also a shift from oversized portions, especially with sustainability and waste reduction front of mind.
Donut walls
The once-popular vertical donut wall seemed like a good idea at the time, but in reality, the colours run and any company branding positioned on the actual donut tends to slide off as the icing melts. What is intended to be a photo-worthy moment potentially ends up being a hot mess.
Last-minute dietaries
We have noticed that event attendees are no longer waiting until the last minute to share their dietary requirements with event organisers. It’s a more seamless process now as dietaries such as vegan, gluten-free and dairy free are mainstream, and the event industry is actively paying more attention to these needs of attendees.
Traditional events
Larger traditional events are on the decline, with more intimate and personalised gatherings now the focus for corporate clients. Event attendees want to network, make meaningful connections, and move around an event instead of staying seated the entire time. This means incorporating menus on the move.
