Francis Loughran

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Francis Loughran

Francis Loughran, specialising in Retail Food and Food Service Management, is the founding Director of Future Food and has been involved in the food service industry for 35 years. Francis has built a wealth of knowledge and experience in concept development, food service strategic planning, design, retailing and food service management. His work has taken him around the world and includes a diverse list of projects, involved in the planning and development of waterfront developments, restaurants, cafes, food courts and fresh food markets along with food service solutions for restaurant precincts, stadia, airports, mixed-use developments, leisure and entertainment precincts and corporate office towers.

Diversified food and hospitality precincts – a revenue powerhouse
Diversified food and hospitality precincts – a revenue powerhouse
The link between food and beverage and leisure and entertainment has never been stronger. And it looks like it’s a continuing trend. In his latest article (published in SCN’s CBD...
How to have a hospitality mindset? – let’s focus on sales
How to have a hospitality mindset? – let’s focus on sales
In part one of this series, Francis Loughran discussed the customer’s timeless desire and appreciation of quality food and service and how this is the platform from which to drive...
How to have a hospitality mindset? – it’s all about the customer
How to have a hospitality mindset? – it’s all about the customer
In part one of Future Food’s Future Series, Francis Loughran discusses the proposition that successful and profitable food and hospitality venues do not just happen, they are in fact the...
Food and hospitality’s new social contract in a 1.5-metre economy
Food and hospitality’s new social contract in a 1.5-metre economy
Francis Loughran says the ‘mall’ is changing. So much so, in fact, that in the future we might not even call it a ‘mall’ at all. At SCN, we can’t...
Resilience and optimism: A roadmap to Melbourne remaining the nation’s food capital
Resilience and optimism: A roadmap to Melbourne remaining the nation’s food capital
With the recent announcement from the Victorian government of a long and slow timeline to reopening, the states food and hospitality industry has been left with more questions than answers....
Reset, Re-Imagine, Reconnect & Recover
Reset, Re-Imagine, Reconnect & Recover
Australia’s hospitality industry is in a state of disaster. From the morning coffee to the late-night cocktail; our favourite Sunday brunch to the working weekday lunch; every business in the...
Future-focused food & beverage strategy – Part 2
Future-focused food & beverage strategy – Part 2
In part one of this series, Francis Loughran of Future Food discussed how flexibility must be the foundation from which to develop future-focused food and beverage (F&B) strategies. In part...
FUTURE-FOCUSED FLEXIBILITY: The next phase of F&B strategy
FUTURE-FOCUSED FLEXIBILITY: The next phase of F&B strategy
This week, as Melbourne heads into stage 4 lockdown, non-essential retail closes and supermarkets once again feel the brunt of panic-shoppers, Francis Loughran of Future Food examines how F&B has been...
Tomorrow’s lifestyle centre today: maximising the next normal for food and hospitality
Tomorrow’s lifestyle centre today: maximising the next normal for food and hospitality
Food courts are likely never to be the same again. What’s the future? The ‘street restaurants’ – those outside shopping centres – have adapted; they’ve embraced take-away, reconfigured their seating...
Food & Hospitality in Shopping Centres must collectively recalibrate
Food & Hospitality in Shopping Centres must collectively recalibrate
In his regular column for Shopping Centre News, Francis Loughran of Future Food discusses some of the current challenges facing our industry and how food operators should use this next-normal...
How food & hospitality can flourish in the next normal: Retail relationships rewarding foodies
How food & hospitality can flourish in the next normal: Retail relationships rewarding foodies
As we witness the gradual relaxing of restrictions placed on food operators state by state and an uncertain return to trading, one thing is certain – the food and hospitality...
Valued Partnerships will determine food retail recovery in shopping centres
Valued Partnerships will determine food retail recovery in shopping centres
A partnership approach to food and hospitality is vital – especially as we enter the recovery phase. Future Food’s close industry insights support an approach whereby landlords propel innovation with...
The next-normal for landlords: your importance as strategic leaders
The next-normal for landlords: your importance as strategic leaders
We need to think beyond the ‘now’. Presently, our focus is on ‘getting back to normal’; but that won’t happen because ‘normal’ has disappeared forever. When the COVID-19 episode is...
CULINARY CREATIVITY (Part 2) – Surviving and Thriving
CULINARY CREATIVITY (Part 2) – Surviving and Thriving
Food and hospitality operators across Australia and New Zealand have been catastrophically affected by the coronavirus. However, in the face of ongoing adversity – increased creativity, care and innovation is...
CULINARY CREATIVITY (Part 1) – Eating in is the new eating out
CULINARY CREATIVITY (Part 1) – Eating in is the new eating out
Throughout the centuries, the basic principles of food and hospitality have remained the same. However, as we have all experienced over the past few weeks, the way these principles are...
Experience the difference ‘Big Gun’ centres are offering
Experience the difference ‘Big Gun’ centres are offering
Food and Hospitality is capable of creating a real and sustainable point of difference (POD) for a centre. In this article, Francis Loughran shares with you how larger malls nationally...
The future of food, hospitality &  entertainment in malls –  2020 and beyond
The future of food, hospitality & entertainment in malls – 2020 and beyond
As 2019 draws to an end, Francis Loughran and Ashley Cooke share the newest trends and sustainable concepts in food, hospitality and entertainment in malls and retail centres globally –...
Maximising food and hospitality – is your centre revenue ready?
Maximising food and hospitality – is your centre revenue ready?
Francis Loughran looks at F&B in Mini Gun centres. He finds that overall they could do better and so increase income, achieve a higher asset value and improve customer satisfaction....
Prepared food is driving traffic in malls, mixed use and… supermarkets
Prepared food is driving traffic in malls, mixed use and… supermarkets
We all know F&B has and continues to undergo enormous change. It’s not just happening in food courts, in cafés and restaurants, but supermarkets are now also entering the field....
The business of food – Part 2
The business of food – Part 2
Sales is the key driver to success in any business. Therefore, if the cash register is ringing, sales are growing, rent is maximised, percentage rent is achievable, MAT is growing...
Hospitality is more than just a word…
Hospitality is more than just a word…
In this two-part article Francis Loughran shares what he’s learnt about the importance of thinking ‘big’ when it comes to the business of food. Hospitality, he says, is more than...
People-centric food and hospitality
People-centric food and hospitality
It’s a changing world and the consumer is leading the way. The change in our industry is not just confined to the larger centres; smaller centres must adapt to respond...
How food and beverage can reposition your Mini Gun centre
How food and beverage can reposition your Mini Gun centre
There’s a whole new strategy for developing the food and beverage offer in Mini Gun centres. Francis Loughran takes us inside the Mini Gun food and beverage world. Typically, the...
Positioning your project’s food and hospitality for the future
Positioning your project’s food and hospitality for the future
This is the second of a two-part article in which Francis Loughran explores the trends in food and beverage precincts in major shopping destinations around the world. In part one...
Don’t call me a Mall
Don’t call me a Mall
In this two-part article, Francis Loughran looks at what the modern retail centre stands for from a food and hospitality perspective. Is it possible that the modern lifestyle destination will...
Food & hospitality – defining a mall’s future
Food & hospitality – defining a mall’s future
Looking back at the year that was, there are many factors that have shaped, and will continue to shape, the future direction of food and hospitality (F&H) in our shopping centres, large and not so large retail centres, mixed-use developments, airports and other user-centred precincts...
Food and hospitality: driving sales across all retail categories
Food and hospitality: driving sales across all retail categories
There’s a lot about food and hospitality in this issue; it’s forefront in our minds. Francis Loughran in this second of a two-part article looks at the global scene...
Food and hospitality: one retail category that’s internet proof?
Food and hospitality: one retail category that’s internet proof?
Globally, the field of food and hospitality continues to grow in GLA and MAT terms, and we predict there is no finishing line in sight.
Key to delivering a lasting ‘e’xperience
Key to delivering a lasting ‘e’xperience
Future Food is currently working on projects in 11 countries with each country having its own culture, traditions, cuisines, social structures and business nuances. But one thing...
Future-proofing your food and beverage assets
Future-proofing your food and beverage assets
In this first of a two-part article, Francis Loughran identifies ‘image’ as a key factor in the success of a food court. But more importantly, he states emphatically that ‘image’ can’t be achieved or maintained without a major and ongoing input from centre management. It doesn’t matter how good your...
Retail’s next big thing: the F&B mix in Mini and Little Guns
Retail’s next big thing: the F&B mix in Mini and Little Guns
We all know how our food courts as well as other food and beverage components in centres has, and is undergoing dramatic change as consumer habits change. The Big Gun centres have seen large scale redesigns over the last few years when it comes to F&B...
Understanding how ‘local’ dictates the business of food
Understanding how ‘local’ dictates the business of food
With food no longer being a functional offer, shopping centres and retail precincts alike...

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