Red Funnel customers are helping to shape the future of the ferry operator’s onboard menu as part of a new customer food forum.
Islanders and regular travellers joined Red Funnel’s hospitality team last week to sample a range of current menu favourites alongside potential new dishes, providing feedback that will help shape future food and drink choices across the fleet.
During the event, customers sampled popular onboard dishes including cod and chips, chicken tikka masala and beef lasagne, as well as potential new additions such as an Isle of Wight Steak & Ale Pie and Cottage Pie made using locally reared Island beef.
Hosted by Food and Beverage Manager Gordon Wright, the event gave customers a chance to share their views directly with the team responsible for developing Red Funnel’s onboard catering offer.
The tasting panel, which has been introduced following customer feedback, forms part of Red Funnel’s ongoing commitment to ensuring its food and drink offering reflects the needs and preferences of the wide range of people who travel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland each year.
Gordon Wright, Food and Beverage Manager at Red Funnel, said:
“We were delighted by the response from customers. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, not just about the food itself, but also about the service and overall experience onboard.
Article continues below this advertisement “It was particularly encouraging to hear many customers say they would now consider purchasing dishes such as our fish and chips and chicken tikka during future crossings after sampling them at the event. The Isle of Wight Steak & Ale Pie and Cottage Pie were also clear favourites on the night and received some fantastic feedback.
“Most importantly, the forum gave customers the opportunity to share their honest views and play a direct role in shaping future menu decisions, helping us ensure our onboard food offer reflects what matters most to the people who travel with us.”
The forum also highlighted Red Funnel’s commitment to working with local suppliers and showcasing Island produce onboard wherever possible.
The company already works with a range of Isle of Wight businesses, including Island Foods, Isle of Wight Tomatoes, Mermaid Gin, Wight Whisky, Woodaholics and Goddards Brewery, and continues to explore opportunities to feature more locally sourced products across its food and drink offer.
Feedback from the forum will help inform future menu development across Red Funnel’s fleet.
