INDIA. An innovative and hands-on approach to sustainability by one Travel Food Services (TFS) senior executive has saved the company millions of rupees across its network of more than 280 food & beverage outlets at airports and train stations.
TFS COO Gaurav Dewan was recently delayed for a flight at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Wearing rubber gloves, he personally examined the contents of a rubbish bin in the GVK Lounge and observed that it was full of half-eaten desserts.
Dewan said: “Each guest would pick a few [desserts] to see how it tasted. They would eat a spoonful and throw away the rest.”
After this “dustbin analysis”, in the company’s phrase, a survey bore out Dewan’s observations. Customers liked the taste of the desserts but felt the portion sizes could be smaller.
The company responded by offering a wider range of bite-size desserts. Following a successful pilot, TFS has rolled out the scheme across its quick-service restaurants, bars, food courts and lounges around India.
The smaller desserts alone are expected to save the company more than 10 million rupees (around US$140,000) this financial year.
At its food courts, TFS has recently abandoned excessive packaging and replaced it with greaseproof paper. This, too, has saved the company hundreds of thousands of rupees in costs.
Dewan said: “We are committed to make our business as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible. The idea is to keep the planet healthy.”
NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes The Foodie Report, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The Foodie Report e-Newsletter is published every two weeks and The Foodie Report e-Zine every month.
Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.
The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. This year’s FAB took place on 20-21 June in Helsinki. FAB 2019 will be held in Dallas, Texas, on 26-27 June.