Top Crepe Restaurant Trends of 2021

Crepe restaurants are some of the most popular restaurants in the UK food industry. The speed, convenience and flexibility of these recipes make them an ideal choice for ambitious individuals looking to make a start in the restaurant sector. But, what are the new ways of working making this such an innovative sector to be a part of? Read on to find out more.

Before the pandemic, crepe franchises were one of the emerging trends in an already-busy food sector. And, as an exciting and innovative sub-sector, crepe restaurants are still a growing and profitable business opportunity. 

But like many other restaurants, crepe franchises have had to get used to new ways of working and many of these new methods are here to stay. If you’ve been wondering whether running a crepe franchise is the right thing for you, or are simply curious, here are some of the top crepe restaurant trends of 2021.

What is a crepe restaurant?

Crepe restaurants offer a wide variety of sweet and savoury crepe recipes. Don’t be deceived though. Many establishments offer a huge amount beyond just crepes, making these restaurants varied and innovative environments for customers and business owners alike. 

And when it comes to diversity, there are plenty of big franchises working within the industry, each offering something slightly different to the last. You could consider:

• Crepeaffaire: Producing sweet and savoury crepes sourced from organic flour and natural ingredients, Crepeaffaire is a global franchise bringing delicious and tasty crepes to customers in a variety of different ways, including through high street stores, mall kiosks and semi-permanent kiosks and carts.
• Crepe Delicious: Inspired by global tastes, Crepe Delicious is one of the world’s leading crepe franchises. Drawing on American consumers’ tastes for street food, the franchise offers not just crepes, but an array of gelatos and other foods as well.
  

The crepe restaurant sector post-covid

Before the pandemic, so-called ‘desert parlours’ were a fast-growing trend. As a part of this emerging sector, niche establishments such as crepe restaurants have been growing in popularity for some time. Not only are they exciting opportunities in and of themselves, but they also reflect changing consumer tastes, pointing to a broader shift in public appetites.

Dessert parlours have become part of the UK’s night-time economy. Many outlets have opening times extending past midnight, serve mocktails, and host happy hours – reminiscent of pubs and bars but with an audience that tends to be younger, more female, and often family-orientated.
- AHDB

Like all other customer-facing industries, crepe restaurants have struggled between the lockdowns. Despite this, many food establishments are already bouncing back as we all get back to doing the things we love. So if you’re looking for a profitable and exciting industry to get started in, a crepe restaurant could be the right opportunity for you.

Top 4 crepe restaurant trends in 2021

1. Late opening times

As touched on briefly above, not only are crepe restaurants a growing part of the food industry as a whole, they are also increasingly becoming a part of the night-time economy. Crepe restaurants stay open later than some other restaurants, meaning that they are able to serve later-night varieties.

On top of the existing crepes already on offer, some establishments are offering cocktails, mocktails, happy hour drinks and other options better suited to adult customers. 

2. Van-based and remote restaurants

In an already challenging environment, more restaurants are deciding that having a fixed premises - and with all the attached rent and maintenance costs that go with it - isn’t worth the price anymore. For that reason, more and more restaurants are deciding to turn into van-based franchises. 

Van-based and mobile businesses are able to avoid the heavy costs of running fixed location businesses and are far more equipped to go to wherever the business is most needed. These kinds of franchises allow business owners to operate with fewer staff and greater autonomy.

Some franchises, such as Crepeaffaire, are already operating from smaller and semi-permanent locations, so if you’re looking to work with a mobile franchise, this could be an ideal opportunity for you.

3. Automated processes

Businesses have had to adapt to new ways of working and one of these is through automated business processes. Where once members of staff had to manually fill in and complete documents and booking, today, these processes can now be fully automated.

Not only this, but restaurant inventories and bookings can also now automatically carry out actions when so needed. For example, should a crepe establishment become fully booked, it can automatically show as being fully booked across a whole range of platforms automatically. Or in another example, when inventories run low in certain supplies, automatic resupplies can be ordered.

4. Mobile kitchens

Thanks to direct delivery platforms such as Deliveroo and Just Eat, many new and start-up restaurants can avoid running fixed premises at all. By processing orders through delivery platforms, crepe businesses are able to deliver their dishes directly to their customers. Ghost and virtual kitchens are emerging trends across the food industry as a whole and this is no exception when it comes to crepes. 

Crepe businesses can now operate without fixed locations or kitchens, avoiding the maintenance and running charges associated with them. This means that ambitious franchisees may be able to make the most of this trend as they look to open their own businesses.

Become a crepe restaurant franchisee and reap the rewards of this profitable industry

Some franchises may be more comfortable incorporating some of these trends in their business model, while others are less comfortable. But as you look to run your own crepe franchise, these are just some of the trends making crepe restaurants an exciting investment opportunity.

If crepes aren’t quite right for you, you can see a full range of other investment opportunities on the UK franchise directory.