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Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Lightspeed Introduces Next-Generation Restaurant Tools to Streamline Operations and Improve Service Flow

Lightspeed Commerce Inc., the unified omnichannel platform powering ambitious retail, golf and hospitality businesses in over 100 countries, announces the beta launch of three new tools within the Lightspeed Restaurant platform: Lightspeed Tempo, Lightspeed Tasks and Lightspeed Reservations.

This new suite of tools is designed to empower restaurateurs to drive efficiency, optimise every guest experience with data-driven insights, and streamline front to back-of-house communication and alignment. 

These new launches will help operators maintain a set standard across locations by staying at the forefront of customer demands and anticipate expectations, manage service flow and maximise footfall.

Master service pacing with Lightspeed Tempo

With a fifth (~20%) of UK diners stating they have left a restaurant without eating due to slow service, and ~75% considering service pace as very important during a meal out, Lightspeed Tempo helps operators take the guesswork out of service timing. 

The tool delivers an intuitive dashboard of insights into key service moments, helping operators optimise pacing, increase table turnover, and deliver a more seamless dining experience.

Future updates will integrate Tempo with the POS and Kitchen Display System (KDS) to provide real-time table status updates and kitchen pacing, bridging the gap between front-and back-of-house.

Run consistent operations with Lightspeed Tasks

Lightspeed Tasks is a new digital checklist, helping operators and their teams know what to prioritise. Restaurateurs can create repeatable tasks, from opening and closing duties to cleaning protocols, across one or multiple locations. 

Reminders are sent directly to staff via SMS or email, and tasks can be completed on a mobile device through the Lightspeed Pulse app, giving management peace of mind with real-time completion logs and notifications for urgent items.

Integrate bookings and table management with Lightspeed Reservations

Only ~11% of Brits say they rarely or never book a table when eating out and ~46% prefer dining at restaurants that offer online booking. Lightspeed Reservations helps independent restaurants who find other platforms too costly or complex to capture bookings online or by phone without the need to juggle multiple systems. Restaurateurs can improve guest experience and reduce no-shows with built-in automated reminders and the option to take deposits, maximising every revenue opportunity.

Liam Crooks, MD of EMEA Hospitality at Lightspeed commented on the launches to That's Food and Drink: "We’re coming up to the busiest season in the hospitality industry, which continues to face challenges like staff shortages and elevated costs. 

With ~44% of UK diners reporting that a consistent experience is key when eating out, our latest innovations were built to help restaurateurs streamline operations and provide actionable insights. In turn, this allows them to focus on what matters most: delivering an exceptional guest experience and retaining footfall during the busy festive season and beyond.”

From a personal point of view having food brought to the table absolutely stone cold because it had been left plated up but not delivered to the diners by wait staff is obviously an issue that Lightspeed could address. As are the mysterious moments when the order is taken at the table and then falls into a black hole between wait staff and the kitchen. 

https://www.lightspeedhq.co.uk

Globaltic UK unveils the charcoal of the future — made from hazelnut shells! Smoke-free. Flame-free. Completely sustainable.

These innovative eco-friendly Hazelhex briquettes burn longer, cleaner, and hotter than ordinary charcoal, setting an entirely new standard in sustainable grilling.

Globaltic UK has introduced a groundbreaking product, amazing eco-briquettes made from hazelnut shells, designed for those who want a premium grilling experience that’s environmentally friendly and completely hypoallergenic, too.

Instead of traditional wood, these briquettes use recycled hazelnut shells, a natural resource that would otherwise go to waste. 

The result? Charcoal that burns longer, produces no smoke or flames, delivers exceptional heat, and is entirely hypoallergenic.

“We’ve proven that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand. This isn’t just charcoal — it’s the future of grilling, providing high-quality heat with minimal environmental impact,” Klim Artemov Director of Globaltic UK, told That's Food and Drink.

The briquettes are carbon-neutral, biodegradable, 100% hypoallergenic, and produced using renewable energy sources.

If you intend to grill outside for Christmas, check out this new product and their other products as they are currently offering Black Friday deals.

Learn to Cook at Lainston House

For the love of cooking! Learn to make world-class dishes at their award-winning Season cookery school in their state-of-the-art kitchens at Lainston House, Hampshire. 

Or head out into the great outdoors to their kitchen garden, where barbecuing and woodfired classes come to life. 

Whatever your skill level, their award-winning chefs are ready to take you on an adventure of gastronomic proportions.

For the explorers, the food lovers and the do it differently-ers, their Cook and Stay packages at Lainston House serve up the perfect recipe for adventure. 

Tuck into a refreshing escape with bed and breakfast at 25% off their flexible B&B rate, plus a hands-on cookery class at Season.

From fire-fuelled feasts to skill-sharpening sessions, choose from four mouth-watering options: Taster, Discover, Inspire, Signature or Masterclass. Reinvent the way you get away at our elegant yet experimental country house hotel. Ready to stir up something special?

Skills and passions: Souffles

Class Duration: 10am - 1pm

Date: 30th January 2026

About: Roll up your sleeves and put theory into practice as you learn how to select the finest ingredients and master the essential technique of making a souffle. 

Fluffy, light and delicate, soufflés might look gentle enough, but this showstopping dish is the mark of a true culinary technician. In this class, we give you all the skills and techniques to add both a sweet and savoury spin on the soufflé to your repertoire.   

World cuisine: Indian Street Food

Class Duration: 10am - 4pm

Date: 31st January 2026

About: Always wanted to learn how to whip up a satisfyingly spicy snack or authentic Indian dish? Join them on a culinary odyssey through India’s incredible street food and learn how to make traditional, flavourful dishes to impress your friends.

World cuisine: Thai Lunch Cook Along

Class Duration: 10am - 1pm

Date: 07th February 2026

About: Forget takeaways – learn how to make delicious, fragrant Thai food from the comfort of your own home! 

Their talented chef will lead a cookalong, sharing tips and tricks to help you learn how to strike the perfect balance of flavours. You’ll cook your very own Thai green curry and tiger prawn pad Thai, then, you’ll leave with detailed notes and all the skills you to recreate these flavoursome dishes back home.

Skills and passions: Dinner for two

Class Duration: 10am - 4pm

Date: 14th February 2026

About: Change up the usual chocolate and flowers this Valentines day and treat your significant other to a date day at Season cookery school. Paired up on a workstation, spend the day enjoying demonstrations from their expert chefs before venturing off to whip up a three-course dinner after which, you will enjoy eating in The Wellhouse restaurant.

To learn more or to sign up please visit https://www.exclusive.co.uk/cookery-school/

That's Food and Drink believe the above courses would make excellent Christmas gifts for the foodie who wants to learn more about cooking or who wants to hone their own cookery skills.

Pandemics, wars, and recessions shape our food choices differently

Different economic shocks, whether through pandemics, wars, or financial crises, have different influences on how we eat and buy food, finds new research from Corvinus University of Budapest.

The researchers analysed 112 research papers across almost 70 countries to explore the impact of economic shocks (disease-related, financial, geopolitical and price) on food consumption behaviour. 

They found common features - panic buying, cheaper substitutes, and preference for local sources and online purchasing, but exact response patterns varied:

Disease-related shocks (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) initially trigger emotional reactions such as stockpiling, followed by sustainable adaptations such as increased online shopping and more careful use of food resources.

Financial crises (e.g., recessions) cause slower, more persistent changes. Households switch to cheaper brands and compromise on the quality of food.

Geopolitical conflicts (e.g., the Russia–Ukraine war) trigger inflation and impact supply chains, which then boosts demand for local substitutes.

Price shocks in the food sector arise from global and domestic economic pressures, supply chain disruptions, and policy changes, forcing especially low-income households to reduce food purchases, switch to cheaper substitutes, or self-produce, increasing poverty and welfare losses. 

This underlines an urgent need for resilient and equitable food policies to mitigate the impact of future crises.

“Targeted support, such as food aid, cash transfers, or free school meals, can help protect vulnerable groups in the short term. In the long term, investments in domestic agriculture, support for local producers, and diversifying supply chains are more effective, as these steps improve the resilience of the food system,” Zalán Márk Maró, lead researcher and Assistant Professor from Corvinus University told That's Food and Drink.

These findings were first published in the journal Trends in Food Science & Technology.

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Monday, 24 November 2025

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Angus & Oink Unveil Two New Salts: Cajun Salt and Vegan Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt

Angus & Oink, the bold Scottish brand famed for its strong line-up of seasonings and sauces, has expanded its seasoning range with two new flavoured salts: Cajun Salt and Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt. 

Cajun Salt is crafted as a finishing or cooking salt rather than a traditional seasoning. It can be used just like regular salt and pepper, but it's full of additional flavours - it's perfect for fries, meat and seafood. 

Cajun Salt is inspired by time spent deep in the heart of Louisiana, where co-founders Scott and Malissa Fraser explored everything from the smoky backroads of Lafayette to the bustling kitchens of New Orleans. 

“We travelled from Houston down through Louisiana, stopping at local eateries and roadside smokehouses,” Scott told That's Food and Drink. 

“We fell in love with the gumbos, crawfish, boudin sausage and that magical blend of bell pepper, onion and celery that's the base of so much Cajun cooking. Cajun Salt captures that authenticity – it's bold, versatile, and packed with the spirit of the South.”

Angus & Oink Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt. 100% Vegan - £8.99 / 250g

The second new arrival, Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt, is a nod to Australia's cult-favourite chip shop seasoning, a staple that Angus & Oink has reimagined. Bursting with umami notes, garlic, and onion, this vegan-friendly salt promises next-level chips and adds magic to chicken, roast potatoes, burgers, and popcorn alike.

“Chicken Salt, mate… straight outta the land of BBQ dreams,” says Scott. “We've pimped up humble sea salt with a riot of spices and our signature A&O flavour magic. One taste and you'll be cluckin' hooked!”

Founded by Scott and Malissa Fraser after more than a decade of barbecuing and travelling the world, Angus & Oink has built a reputation for authenticity, creativity, and flavour. Each product in the range tells a story, from their travels across America's Deep South to the food stalls of Asia and beyond. With these new salts, Angus & Oink continue to celebrate the global barbecue and street food loving community and bring adventurous flavours to everyday cooking.

Both Cajun Salt and Cluckin' Good Chicken Salt are available now at www.angusandoink.com.

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