W hether you like a fiery vindaloo or a savoury American burger , the restaurant boom has meant that whatever cuisine you fancy it won ’ t be too difficult to find . In fact , in the UK alone , around 740 new food and beverage units have opened annually since 2012 and , in the past year , this figure has nearly doubled to 1,333 , according to the Local Data Company ( LDC ). This has offered more choice for consumers but it has also meant that restaurant owners have to be savvier than ever when jostling for sales . As the fight for profit heats up and restaurant owners scramble to gain more footfall , could the help needed by the food and beverage industry be at our very fingertips ?