THE POPULARITY OF POP-UP FOOD

28th September 2018 Comments (0) Food & Drink Like

HIS & HERS TAKES A LOOK AT THE RISE IN POPULARITY OF POP-UP FOOD…

Food and beverage events are on the rise, according to Eventbrite. In particular, pop-up dining experiences are growing in popularity, with an 82% growth. But what’s the appeal of pop-up restaurants compared to static buildings? Gas cylinder supplier Flogas investigates…

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Why go for a pop-up experience?

Eventbrite ran a survey with 2,000 participants who had attended a pop-up restaurant, in order to figure out what was so appealing. 75% of pop-up event attendees are of the belief that it’s worth paying more money in order to witness a unique dining experience. Around half of respondents also said that they would be happy to pay more for a meal from the exact same menu at a pop-up event where chef interaction is involved as opposed to one served in a regular restaurant.

What are people looking for in a pop-up event? For 84% of survey respondents, it was a unique menu or theme. This was followed by events held at memorable location (76%) and occasions that promised to be a one-of-a-kind experience (74%).

The creator of the pop-up Co+Lab, Chef Melissa King, reckons the appeal of pop-up food lies in its unique event creation. She explained: “There are so many chefs out there — they have their restaurants, their day jobs, but they’re looking for something more. That’s what the pop-up culture offers them. They are able to take over someone’s space for only a few hours and convert it into their own identity. It’s not just about the food, it’s about creating a memorable experience for the guests.”

Street food

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Alongside pop-up food experiences, street food is also enjoying a surge of popularity. UN-FAO statistics claim that street food is now eaten by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide and StreetFood.org.uk had some 2,800 members with over 7,000 units serving food across the UK as of 2015. A fledgling artisan industry in the UK, street food has proven popular as the produce available is usually inexpensive, provides a nutritional source that is based on traditional knowledge and often follows the seasonality of farm production.

Setting up isn’t a pricey venture either, with The Hub showing a small second-hand catering trailer or market stall would set a person back less than £5,000. A report by the Nationwide Caterers Association acknowledges that a fully equipped market stall can be bought for around £3,000 and a food truck for an estimated £10,000.

Street food vendor Charlie Morse commented to Product Business UK: “Street food as a trend is certainly growing, although it’s still not at the same level as in New York. I think it will die off a little as a trend and then become a normal, everyday offer. A lot of office workers go to street food stalls to buy their lunch and eat something healthy, cheap and different. There are so many trends within food but it works when you consider that people are money conscious and like variety.”

We’re very proud to bring you this post in association with Flogas. For more culinary inspiration, please pay a visit to our food & drink page.

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