Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is one of the world’s top zoos, and the UK’s number one wildlife attraction, covering 125 acres of award winning gardens. Visitor numbers are in the region of 1.9 million per annum.

The visitor catering at Chester Zoo is significant and includes a number of fixed site restaurants as well as kiosks, coffee shops, a pub and an external BBQ area.

We undertook a detailed operational review of the visitor catering, along with providing recommendations for their development to optimise the visitor experience as well as the financial return to the Zoo.

Advice & support has included:

• Organisational objectives determined
• Research – national & local, along with implications
• Catering & food trends – general
• Leisure & retail food & beverage trends
• Competition analysis
• Detailed operational review of visitor catering
• Detailed benchmarking & financial review
• Staffing structure assessment
• Detailed recommendations – quick wins & mid term/ strategic