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Responding to a growing demand for healthier, more purposeful workplace dining, Restaurant Associates has launched Performance Nutrition, a science led culinary concept designed to help guests fuel their day, optimise focus and support recovery through every stage of the working week.
Developed in response to new consumer insights revealing a significant shift in workplace eating habits, the innovative new offer spans breakfast, grab and go, lunch and hospitality menus. Blending evidence-based nutrition with exceptional culinary expertise, Performance Nutrition has been created to support modern lifestyles, daily performance and long-term wellbeing.
At the core of the concept is a carefully curated menu framework featuring more than 150 nutritionally balanced recipes, with ongoing innovation and development already underway. Every dish has been intentionally designed to deliver functional nutritional benefits without compromising on flavour, quality or accessibility. Whether guests are preparing for a high-pressure presentation, navigating a demanding day at work, or supporting their fitness and training goals, Performance Nutrition provides targeted options that align with how they want to feel and perform.
The concept is structured around three intuitive pillars:
- Fuel – prepare and sustain
- Perform – power and focus
- Recover – repair and restore
Together, these pillars create a simple but impactful way for guests to make informed food choices based on their individual routines, energy needs and wellbeing goals.
A key part of the initiative is making nutritional choices easier to navigate in the workplace environment. Enhanced signposting and menu labelling across Restaurant Associates locations will help guests quickly identify dishes that are higher in protein, fibre and other key nutrients linked to energy, focus and recovery. The concept has been designed to combine nutritional science with clear, accessible guidance, empowering guests to make more informed choices throughout the day.
Performance Nutrition will also come to life beyond the plate through a series of engaging activations, including pop up experiences within restaurants and interactive Lunch and Learn sessions led by Daisy Henderson and the wider nutrition team. These sessions will provide practical advice, nutritional insights and everyday wellbeing guidance tailored to modern workplace lifestyles.
The launch follows findings from the UK Eating at Work Survey 2025, conducted in partnership with Compass Group UK & Ireland, which highlights a major evolution in employee attitudes towards nutrition and wellbeing in the workplace. The research revealed that 70% of workers believe they consume the vitamins and minerals they need during working days, compared with just 53% on non-working days. More than half of respondents also reported better portion control while at work, reflecting a growing awareness around balanced eating habits.
The data further underscores rising consumer interest in functional nutrition, with ingredients such as protein, fibre and collagen becoming increasingly prioritised as part of everyday diets. Younger generations are driving this movement, with 82% of Gen Z and 85% of Millennials actively changing what they eat and drink to support their long-term health and performance.
Daisy Henderson, Nutrition Manager at Restaurant Associates, who spearheaded the concept alongside Culinary Director Adam Thomason and his culinary team, said: “Performance Nutrition has traditionally been associated with elite athletes, but what makes this concept particularly exciting is our ability to translate that expertise into an accessible workplace dining experience. Through our work within elite motorsport, we have been able to apply these learnings to everyday food experiences.
“The findings from the UK Eating at Work 2025 survey show that employee expectations around food and wellbeing are evolving rapidly. People are increasingly looking for meals that not only taste great, but also help them feel energised, focused and supported throughout the day.
“With Performance Nutrition, we are creating a dining experience that makes high quality, nutritionally balanced choices both easy and enjoyable. Through clearer nutritional signposting, educational experiences and ongoing engagement with our guests, we want to empower people to make choices that genuinely support their lifestyles, wellbeing and ambitions. This is just the beginning of how the concept will continue to evolve.”