Avanti on board catering

[Grumpy Git]

On the 08:18 Liverpool - Euston service, (the first train to London today). At 08:45 attempted to order a bacon roll with the at seat service, but it wouldn't let me pay at checkout.

The steward was delivering to an adjacent seat so I asked why, she told me they only allocated 20 bacon rolls to the train and they sold out immediately!

I think thats a pretty crappy show from Avanti, its a good job they don't run a pub.

 

[Ianno87]

On the 08:18 Liverpool - Euston service, (the first train to London today). At 08:45 attempted to order a bacon roll with the at seat service, but it wouldn't let me pay at checkout.

The steward was delivering to an adjacent seat so I asked why, she told me they only allocated 20 bacon rolls to the train and they sold out immediately!

I think thats a pretty crappy show from Avanti, its a good job they don't run a pub.

I mean, 20 seems like a pretty generous allowance, especially given they won't have all that much storage space on board.

I think you may have just been unlucky that they were so in demand this morning.

On a side note, it shows that the at-seat ordering is a hit.

 

[superjohn]

Was the train unusually busy? The allocation will be based on previous sales.

 

[williamn]

On the 05.30 from Euston a few weeks back 30 mins into the journey there was 1 bacon roll left and no other breakfast items.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Train is not particularly busy, but currently 10 late at Bletchley, so fingers crossed we lose another 5 before Euston!

 

[Darandio]

I mean, 20 seems like a pretty generous allowance, especially given they won't have all that much storage space on board.

Although the pre-2020 world does seem so far away now and I may be dreaming it but i'm fairly certain that there was a much more substantial offering available back then. Did the storage space simply disappear?

 

[Grumpy Git]

Although the pre-2020 world does seem so far away now and I may be dreaming it but i'm fairly certain that there was a much more substantial offering available back then. Did the storage space simply disappear?

I could fit 20 bacon rolls into my laptop bag and still have room for the computer.

 

[Ianno87]

I could fit 20 bacon rolls into my laptop bag and still have room for the computer.

That's a fancy laptop bag, if it's refrigerated. Must be bloody heavy to cart around!

 

[AlterEgo]

Suspect there might be a fair few hangovers this morning which requires medicating with a bacon roll!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Good to know that the onboard food supply on Avanti is (1) generally available and (2) selling out and not going to waste.

Always a fine balance for food providers between the stock being turned over and selling out and having loads left over and going out of date.

 

[route101]

Are the Avanti Bacon Rolls any good?
My usual go to is a Greggs Bacon and Omelette, though the bacon can be underdone.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Are the Avanti Bacon Rolls any good?

Bloody good question!

 

[Ianno87]

Are the Avanti Bacon Rolls any good?

They're passable. Microwaved obviously, but not bad considering.

 

[Fyldeboy]

Back in the day....

Microwaved obviously, but not bad considering.

Intercity On Board Services ensured that every item could be prepared 2 ways in case of equipment failure. On the quieter Western HSTs we would often grill the bun and bacon - turning it with a pair of ice tongues!

 

[Ianno87]

Back in the day....

Intercity On Board Services ensured that every item could be prepared 2 ways in case of equipment failure. On the quieter Western HSTs we would often grill the bun and bacon - turning it with a pair of ice tongues!

The better solution is to not have unreliable equipment in the first place.

 

[Lancs]

Given the at-seat app, pre-order shouldn't be an issue?

These Euston-X running out after 20 minutes, surely restock at Reading etc?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

These Euston-X running out after 20 minutes, surely restock at Reading etc?

Do any Avanti services call at Reading?

 

[Vespa]

I assume this is standard class, what about first class ?

 

[Lancs]

Do any Avanti services call at Reading?

Jeez. Stocking up en-route should not be onerous. It could be a Euston-Preston non-stop, and then just 20 bacon baps seems a little ridiculous. No?

 

[Merseysider]

All it takes is 4-5 groups/families who want one each and they’re gone! I’m surprised they don’t carry more ready for the return journey (is there space, though?)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2021 ==

Given the at-seat app, pre-order shouldn't be an issue?

These Euston-X running out after 20 minutes, surely restock at Reading etc?

Perhaps you meant Crewe

 

[Lancs]

Perhaps you meant Crewe

Maybe! I grew up in Lancashire, went to uni in Durham and now live in Bristol. You'll excuse me for forgetting the first stop on each of those mainlines coming out of London? My point about replenishment remains!!

 

[voyagerdude220]

I wonder whether (particularly at weekends when the current First Class offer isn't extensive imo) the fridge storage areas within the Pendolino Kitchen area could be used to supplement the Shop fridge space, in the event of the stock in the Shop selling out?

Of course it would require a member of Staff to walk the long distance from coach C to K and back.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Of course it would require a member of Staff to walk the long distance from coach C to K and back.

Doubt they would escape from the social club in Coach K if they did

But in all seriousness that seems a decent idea. Avanti should be aiming not to sell out, as if a customer can't buy what they want that's both a lost sale and someone who had a negative experience and may not return.

Another thing to look at would be to increase the amount of "ready meal" style product on offer which could be kept in stock frozen at strategic stations e.g. Preston for restocking if sales are good that day.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Another thing to look at would be to increase the amount of "ready meal" style product on offer which could be kept in stock frozen at strategic stations e.g. Preston for restocking if sales are good that day.

Or, of course, Reading.

 

[Ianno87]

Doubt they would escape from the social club in Coach K if they did

But in all seriousness that seems a decent idea. Avanti should be aiming not to sell out, as if a customer can't buy what they want that's both a lost sale and someone who had a negative experience and may not return.

Another thing to look at would be to increase the amount of "ready meal" style product on offer which could be kept in stock frozen at strategic stations e.g. Preston for restocking if sales are good that day.

Avanti should also not be looking to over-stock trains and having to regularly throw food away, "just in case" trains occasionally sell out.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Avanti should also not be looking to over-stock trains and having to regularly throw food away, "just in case" trains occasionally sell out.

In reality to ensure customer expectations are always met, they should overstock slightly, as most food businesses do. This provides a further opportunity to donate any "wastage" to homeless charities for distribution at the end of the day, as for example Pret a Manger are well known for doing.

 

[Ianno87]

In reality to ensure customer expectations are always met, they should overstock slightly, as most food businesses do. This provides a further opportunity to donate any "wastage" to homeless charities for distribution at the end of the day, as for example Pret a Manger are well known for doing.

The only way to "ensure" (i.e. make certain) that is to carry 500-odd Bacon Sandwiches on every train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The only way to "ensure" (i.e. make certain) that is to carry 500-odd Bacon Sandwiches on every train.

What you'll have, even if you don't publish it, is an SLA of maybe 95% (or whatever) of customer desires met. ("Always" was a bit extreme).

If trains are regularly selling out of particular products, you've probably not got anywhere near that.

Of course, what you can also do is to keep careful track of what sells on what train and adapt stock accordingly rather than just loading say 10 bacon butties per train and wondering why they go in the bin on the 2330 ex Euston but sell out on the breakfast trains. You can also (and I don't think they do, and perhaps they should) have staff record when customer desires were not met.

To get a bit of thread crossover in, another thing you can do is have a means of encouraging people to order food as part of their reservation if booking in advance. Then you know what you need for them. That won't work for everyone, but plenty of people will book a breakfast time train and know they'll want breakfast on it.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Fortunately on the return leg just mow, Avanti seem to have plenty of G&T!