Why is Aesthetic Value Important in the Food Industry Today
Admit it, we love restaurants that catch our attention. It is innate for us to align our preference according to what is in -- particularly in the food industry, a place where we can feast both our eyes and tummy!
Given our human nature, restaurants use ambiance as a strategy to attract customers.
According to Chef Kai O, Unilever's resident chef, a delightful ambiance purveys a sense of satisfaction.
“One of the reasons why people go out and eat is because of the ambiance. It's another escape for our consumers.
"I mean, I, for one, would also always cook at home but there are days na I just want to go out and try something new,” she told GMANetwork.com.
The search for a unique restaurant is a never-ending pursuit because there will always be something new.
However, with restaurants sprouting like mushrooms, the competition in the food industry leaned into creativity. Concept is an ancient, essential factor in starting a business in the food industry.
But nowadays, devising a concept developed a large scope which includes design, color scheme, theme of the cuisine, and experience. In a word: ambiance.
The proliferation of food bloggers ushered in a new style of food marketing. Through social media, they contribute a lot in this rave for finding the Instagram-worthy restaurants.
Chef Kai noted that Filipinos are in for it because the experience can bring them to a whole new world.
“It's a good experience for people who's really not getting so much experience, not getting out so much, not being able to travel.
"One of the perks for Filipinos is to dine out, satisfy their indulgences,” she said.
Customers can now find the restaurant they want to try in their next food crawl, thanks to our local food bloggers. To be featured in famous food blogs can give a great boost on a restaurant's internet presence.
Word is a powerful form of marketing, and social media indeed has a great effect in this phenomenon.
According to a study by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, many restaurateurs use public acclaim as their benchmark of excellence. It concluded that the internet helps gain a strong presence among customers.
However, the ambiance should always parallel with the service and presentation of the food. Each attribute respectively contributes to the success of a restaurant, and thus must be regarded with equal importance instead of superseding each other.
“As a chef, I would always side with the consumer. For something new and different, people would always try and go but if they're not overall satisfied siguro, they won't come back anymore,” Chef Kai concluded.
Remember, customer experience has the power to influence the reputation of a business and thus, profitability.
