Speaker Q&A (2018): Hannah McKay, Caffè Nero
For Hannah McKay, head of food and beverage at Caffè Nero, lunch! is a “key date in the diary for the food-to-go and the coffee shop sector”. She’ll be speaking at the show on Friday 21 September, discussing the importance of keeping your core offering at the very top of its game.
What do you feel is the key for operators to successfully compete against their competitors?
Know your brand identity and create a distinctive range to support this. Never take your eye off the ball.
What do you see as key trends for food-to-go in the coming year?
- The health agenda and the growth around vegan and free from – so many consumers are incorporating this into their everyday eating habits
- Differentiation – the high street is a challenging place at the moment, brands need to give a reason to visit that is different to other but maintain an accessible core offer
- Sustainability from packaging materials to food sourcing
What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Receiving customer feedback and watching consumers in store enjoying a new product range. Plus, seeing the sales numbers follow through.
And the most challenging?
Keeping on top of your game. Ensuring the last customer experience was amazing and when you have over 600 stores that’s a challenge!
How important is lunch! to the food to go sector?
It’s a key event in the food-to-go calendar. It brings like-minded industry professionals together under one roof to share, learn and inspire each other to create a great experience on the high-street for (in my opinion) the best food sector ‘food-to-go’.
Describe the lunch! trade show in 3 words:
Informative, Exciting, Celebration.
Who or what inspires you to be even better?
It may be a bit cheesy but…my dad is one of my biggest inspirations (although now I am sure he exaggerates his story!). He came from a tiny fishing village in Scotland, lost his dad at a young age, and realised he didn’t want the hard life at sea. He got himself down to London, put himself through education, took risks, pushed himself and built a fantastic business from nothing. He then sold it and is enjoying his retirement to the max.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Live life to the full – you only have one chance. Never be scared of the unknown – challenge yourself. Have fun and laugh along the way.
See Hannah at lunch! 2018
Caffè Nero: Keeping Your Core Exceptional: 11.45am in Keynote Theatre 1 on Friday 21 September.
