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Many people don't want to hear the mention of the word 'Christmas' until at least October. But, if you work in the hospitality industry, it's never too early to start making plans for the festive period. One of those 'plans' will involve creating a seasonal menu to entice diners. And in light of new research, this year caterers have been urged to ensure their meal offerings include plenty of tasty, meat-free options. A survey commissioned by Vegetarian Express has found that more than half (54%) of UK diners believe there aren't enough vegetarian choices on Christmas menus; and this figure rises to 65% among women. When respondents were asked how many meat-free dishes they'd like to see when eating out during the festive period, nearly two-thirds (62%) answered at least two or three vegetarian options, reports Hospitality and Catering News . A total of 27% respondents said they'd like to see at least four vegetarian dishes on festive menus. Fuelling the demand for more meat-free options are diners aged 18-34 - a significant demographic for eating-out spending - with 34% saying that there should be at least four vegetarian dishes on menus. Will Matier, Managing Director at Vegetarian Express, commented that Christmas is a "vitally important" time for caterers as it is the busiest time of year and therefore is when businesses generate the most revenue. "[With] gross profit margins typically greater on vegetarian dishes than on meat options, giving a little more thought to vegetarian menus will make for an even more profitable Christmas," he said. "Our research proves that caterers must focus on offering a greater choice of vegetarian options to attract more diners, especially in light of the increasing demand from one of the largest spending demographics."
