<p> More and more, it appears as though the foodservice industry is concerning itself with sustainability and social responsibility, but what do these markers mean to the individual consumer? According to a recent Technomic study, 63% of consumers are more likely to visit a foodservice operation they see as “socially conscious,” which includes a number of different elements such as humane treatment of animals to conservation to local community involvement.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Incorporating sustainability and social responsibility elements into a foodservice operators’ business is no longer a ‘nice to have’,” said Wade Hanson, Technomic Principal and Director of the study. Hanson notes that consumers expect the foodservice venues they visit to uphold the same level of social consciousness and sustainability points they undertake in their own lives. In this sense, consumers actually reward operations that meet their requirements.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The study also shows that foodservice operators expressed strong commitment to these initiatives, while over 53% say that having an actionable social responsibility strategy will be required to remain competitive in the next two years. Operators believe that having a positive impact on the environment, improved reputation, and better food and beverage quality are the primary reasons behind incorporating sustainability and social responsibility elements to their business.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" https://www.technomic.com/Pressroom/Releases/dynRelease_Detail.php?rUID=277" target="_new"> Technomic</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
