Tactics for Food Business Research
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Introduction
Before launching your takeaway, café, or restaurant, gathering real-world insights about your local market is key to finding your unique angle. Using smart, digital-first research tactics helps you understand what local customers are craving, what your competitors are doing, and where the biggest opportunities lie.
Tactics for Food Business Research
Ready to dive into your market research? Use these smart, practical tactics to understand your local food landscape and discover what your future customers really want:
Google It Like a Local
Type in something like “[Your town] + most popular takeaways” and see what pops up. Often, you’ll get an instant AI-generated overview of the area’s top-rated food spots, based on awards, reviews, and social buzz. Try swapping out “takeaways” for “restaurants,” “cafés,” or your specific cuisine to widen the net.
Check What’s Selling Out
Hop onto a delivery platform like Foodhub (or Uber Eats, Deliveroo, or Just Eat) during peak hours. Search for businesses similar to your idea – what’s sold out? What has long delivery waits? It’s a quick way to spot local favourites (and any gaps in the market).
Use Google Trends to Test Your Niche
Head over to Google Trends and search food terms related to your idea – for example, try “vegan pizza” vs “chicken wings” in your region. It shows what’s trending, when, and where. (Tip: This works best in towns and cities with decent search volume).
Tap Into Local Facebook Groups
Join your area’s foodie or community Facebook groups. Post a casual question like, “What food do you wish you could get delivered locally?” You’ll get real, unfiltered feedback fast – often more useful than a formal survey.
Lessons Learned
“We hand-stretch every dough and use a 72-hour fermentation process for better texture and flavour. Our wood-fired oven gives a signature smoky crust that customers can’t get anywhere else locally.” — Max, Owner, Rositos Pizzeria
Lurk on Instagram or TikTok
Have a scroll through Instagram or TikTok by searching your town’s name plus hashtags (e.g. #BurgersLondon or #LeedsFoodie). See what people are sharing – and which local restaurants get the most likes or comments on their posts about new launches or specials.
Snoop on Google Maps Reviews
Look up your competitors on Google Maps, then skim their customer reviews for words like “price,” “delivery,” “portion,” or “wait.” This snooping helps you spot common gripes or winning points you could learn from.
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