Sprung Collective’s Mission: To support the development of great destinations which sit at the heart of the arts, cultural and sporting venues

The aftermath of the pandemic will set many challenges for the arts, cultural and sporting venues all across the world. Venues will be seeking to win back lost audiences, rebuild profits and ensure that their operation does sit at the heart of communities to a whole new level.

Venues will be seeking to ensure that food & beverage outlets act as destinations which engage audiences on a daily basis. However, it is not as easy as it may sound and requires genuine expertise. It is estimated that the cost of a food service provision in a venue may well increase by over 20% just to stand still by 2019 levels. What price increases will the public accept? Indicators are that the public expects only a 10% increase, so how can new solutions be found to solve this issue?

All recent research has indicated that consumers are now seeking greater experiences. During the last few months, travel into London on weekends has once again regained strength but with a focus on visiting, arts & culture shows, sporting events, and for hospitality. It is a natural evolution to see venues being together great hospitality to sit alongside great shows and events. Both leading cultural destinations as well as sports stadia are working to ensure that their hospitality is a match for the best in the cities and towns in which they are located.

At the same time, all venues have a desire to engage and build audiences across a multi-cultural society. They walk hand in hand and together and what better way of engaging audiences on a consistent basis than through food destination operations which reflect the breadth of their audiences? This is important as research across many societies have shown a greater pride and belief in localism, and social sustainability.

It means that all venues need to possess strategies which have sustainability at its heart – social, environmental, economic and cultural. It also means there needs to be the same for working with local producers & suppliers, entrepreneurs and talent plus build strong propositions.

Sprung Collective was founded to bring a positive focus in food service; one which focuses on enhancing offers, creating destinations, supporting business growth rather than a focus on cost reduction and trying to marry this with asking more of operators. It has for too long failed to deliver excellence.

Excellence comes through strong partnerships where all work towards creating those experiences which the consumer is seeking. It also comes from understanding what engages the consumer albeit from design to service styles to food styles to great people to economic, social and environmental sustainability. To achieve excellence requires understanding and knowledge.

There is so much potential for venues to improve their offers and build back better. The new landscape, whatever it turns out to be, will offer real opportunity and our goal is to enable our clients to maximise their potential.