This week Wendy chats to Michelle Dalley from Umami Design For Food.
Umami is the fifth taste and Michelle and her team run a creative design agency specialising in helping businesses with their marketing and design.
Michelle has always worked in the food industry. From her first job working for a catering butchers through to sales, account manager for a chain of pubs and finally being able to share her passion and expertise working with her husband in their current business Umami Design For Food.
They discuss how the CV-19 and lockdown has affected her customers. Some have adapted, and some have paused and this has affected Umami directly, but also given them time to refocus and regroup. They have helped some of their clients’ pivot, from creating pop up shops to selling online. Michelle has created a great free resource if you are looking to try and change your supply channel – click here
She passionately believes that the industry will survive, but there will be many changes and consumers need to feel safe going forward. She believes the key is communicating the message effectively to customers and listening to their worries and concerns.
Part of her job is to understand food trends and translate that for her clients. Michelle clearly has a passion for food. Her prediction is for amazing food halls including Wendy’s idea of heaven a cheese conveyor belt! Lots of opportunity to experiment including Korean, Japanese and Umami. Fast casual dining that will be experimental and tastes that will be exciting and new.
They discuss the challenges with larger restaurants in being more innovative and discuss those that they think work. How she helps her clients translate that into a great dining experience.
She is passionate about sustainability and was instrumental in the move from cod to more sustainable white fish. And would love to get us eating more great fish. Wendy refers to her interview with Marine Biologist Emily Cunningham Episode 12
Social distancing is going to have a huge impact on the industry. Not only will capacity need to be reduced but she predicts that menus will also change. There will be some that survive, and some that won’t, but she is confident that in the long term it will all be well.
Another episode where we advise you to eat before listening! Michelle and Wendy clearly share a passion for food and are clearly both looking forward to meeting up with friends and eating out again.
You can find Michelle at