Spotlight on Mercers Hall: Paul Wright shares industry insights at Houston & Hawkes event
On Thursday 15 May, our owner and Managing Director Paul Wright, was delighted to attend and speak at an exclusive event hosted by workplace catering specialists Houston & Hawkes at the historic Mercers Hall in the City of London.
The gathering brought together professionals from the workplace consultancy sector – many of them with catering backgrounds – for an engaging evening of insight-sharing, conversation and connection.
Paul was invited to give an overview of how Quenelles is helping shape the future of workplace catering through data-driven decision-making.
As an independent benchmarking and insights business, we at Quenelles can help can both sides of a catering contract. For caterers, benchmarking provides valuable context that informs pricing decisions and competitive positioning. For clients, it helps ensure value for money and a clear understanding of market norms.
“It’s about using the data constructively and giving everyone the tools and knowledge to make confident, informed choices,” Paul explained.
Inflation, purchasing trends and looking ahead
With inflation and cost volatility still top of mind across the sector, Paul shared some of the latest market data Quenelles has gathered – highlighting key trends in food and beverage pricing, shifts in workplace expectations, and the continued importance of cost transparency.
He also discussed how some operators are adapting purchasing strategies and menu design to manage inflationary pressures while still meeting client expectations around quality, sustainability and innovation.
Paul said: “While workplace dining continues to evolve, there’s a clear appetite for evidence-based decision-making and smarter collaboration between clients and caterers. The workplace experience is having a growing role in attracting and retaining talent, and catering teams are increasingly being asked to demonstrate both commercial value and employee impact.
“The event was a chance for peers across the workplace consultancy and catering sectors to meet, share experiences and explore opportunities to work more effectively together.
“It was fantastic to connect with people who care about the future of workplace catering and it was invaluable to bring caterers, consultants and clients together. As the workplace catering landscape continues to shift, it’s clear that open dialogue and shared expertise will remain vital to long-term success. Thank you to Houston & Hawkes for hosting us all.”
The Quenelles team