Speaker Q&A: Dominic Allport, The NPD Group
Dominic Allport, insights director – foodservice at The NPD Group, will be taking part in a joint presentation with Sprinboard’s Diane Wehrle (10.15am, 20 Sept). In this unique insights session, they’ll provide a holistic view of events within the eating out and retail market and set out how operators can maximise their opportunities in response to ever increasing customer expectations.
Which food-to-go operators / retailers do you particularly admire and why?
As a consumer I admire any operator that strives to offer a better experience for its customers. When I am eating out I look for convenience, value, great customer service and a fab in-store environment.
What do you think is the key for operators to successfully compete against their competitors?
Everything I mentioned above!
What do you see as the key food-to-go trends to watch?
There is so much interest in healthier choices and expanding the menu to incorporate vegetarian and vegan options. While it adds to costs and complexity, meat-free eating is a clear trend not a fad. Also adding complexity in the market is the need to be truly multi-channel and always available to the 24/7 consumer.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Through its online consumer panels, The NPD Group receives ongoing feedback directly from consumers as they eat and drink away from home. And it is helping to highlight key aspects of consumer behaviour and attitudes to both operators and manufacturers — and working through the implications — that I find most rewarding.
And the most challenging?
Ongoing political and economic uncertainty can make forecasting quite a challenge!
Describe the lunch! show in 3 words:
Informative, innovative, inspiring!
Can you tell us a bit about your much-anticipated session at lunch! 2019?
We are in the middle of great political and economic uncertainty, and consumer demand is weak. This is leading to low/no growth in the eating out market. To succeed in these difficult times there is a need to be nimble and innovative by anticipating future growth drivers, understanding changes in market needs, and identifying new pockets of customer demand. I hope that NPD and Springboard’s joint presentation provides some thought starters for operators and manufacturers alike.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Keep calm and carry on!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know:
I am a huge fun of retro sweets!
See Dominic at lunch! 2019
Retail Destinations: Times are tough but opportunities exist: 10.15am on Friday 20 September in Keynote Theatre 1
The session also features:
- Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director, Springboard
