Providing customers with heavier, higher quality cutlery can clearly have a very positive effect on their perceptions of the food...
It goes without saying that those who work within the hospitality industry know just how important good presentation is to a customer’s perception of the overall dining experience. But a recently published piece of research in the journal ‘Flavour’ from a team at Oxford University has gone one step further. Their research suggests that when customers are given heavier cutlery to eat with it increases both their enjoyment of the food and their perceived value of the meal.
The Study
The Oxford University team carried out a study with over 130 diners at a hotel restaurant in Edinburgh which involved serving them with an identical meal of trout with mashed potatoes, spinach and capers and brown shrimp butter. Half the diners used heavy cutlery normally reserved for expensive banquets while the other half ate with cheap economy cutlery that was a third of the weight.
The results indicated that the customers who used the heavier cutlery thought that the food was more artistically plated and tasted better and were willing to pay up to 15 percent more for the meal.
Sensation Transference
The team put the change in the perceptions of the food down to a well-known phenomenon called 'Sensation Transference’. According to Charles Michel, who is chef in residence at Oxford University’s Crossmodal Research Laboratory, a link between weight and our perception of quality in objects has been clear for some time, but this was the first time it had been linked to the enjoyment of food.
The "Twentyeight" collection
So providing customers with heavier, higher quality cutlery can clearly have a very positive effect on their perceptions of the food they are being served. But does this mean having to spend a fortune on very expensive new cutlery? Well here at Bunzl Lockhart we think we have the perfect solution in the shape of our new Twentyeight cutlery collection. 'Twentyeight’ offers a stunning range of designs in beautifully finished 18/10 stainless steel with an unmistakable feel of weight and quality. But while this is cutlery that feels reassuringly heavy in the hand you’ll also find it remarkably light on your pocket.
Featured Products in this article
Have a look at the full article on our free online copy of Trend Set Magazine, and use the links below to shop online for any of our stunning ranges within the twentyeight collection.
The Twentyeight ranges:
Omega Collection: Shop Now
Theta Collection: Shop Now
Epsilon Collection: Shop Now
Delta Collection: Shop Now
Gamma Collection:
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The Gamma range:
1. Table Fork: AB9272. Table Knife: AB926
3. Table Spoon: AB928
4. Tea Spoon: AB929
5. Dessert Fork: AB931
6. Dessert Knife: AB930
7. Dessert Spoon: AB932
8. Steak Knife: AB933
9. Fish Fork: AB935
10. Fish Knife: AB934
11. Soup Spoon: AB936
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