Consumers are eating out more often than they did in the first few months of 2009, although many are sharing dishes, ordering wine by the glass and skipping starters and desserts to keep costs down.
This is the key finding of the latest QuickBite survey from Horizons, which indicates that as the year has progressed consumers are beginning to recover the feel-good factor and are now more inclined to treat themselves to a meal out.
The survey, of over 1,000 consumers, reveals that the number of meals eaten out increased 8.1% between Q2 and Q3 of this year, taking the total number of meals sold to 3.03bn. Sales in the sector are now worth £32.73bn.
Paul Backman, development executive at Horizons said: “Sales are still 4.2% lower than they were last year, but the frequency of eating out rising 2.3% since June is good news for the hospitality industry and shows consumers are becoming more confident in the economy.
“Respondents to QuickBite’s September survey said they had eaten out an average of 3.16 times over the previous two weeks, compared with 3.09 times when they were asked in June. A remarkable 75% of respondents said they had had a meal out in the previous two weeks, a rise of 4% since June. Spend per head has also risen. Including drinks, average spend per head on a meal out is now £10.80, compared with £10.76 in June.”
The survey also revealed that consumers are shifting away from eating out in a pub with quick service restaurants becoming more popular. While pub restaurants remain the favourite destination for a sit-down meal, and have been for the past three years, there is a decline of 10.9% in the volume of visits they are receiving. Quick service restaurants are still the second most popular choice for consumers but have narrowed the gap, growing in popularity by 18.3%.
The percentage of respondents eating out in the past two weeks was highest amongst 16-24 year olds (87%), 25-34s (85%) and 35-44s (82%). But the QuickBite survey showed that while consumers are eating out more frequently, they are watching their spend very carefully. Some 40% are ordering starters less often in a bid to reduce their bill, 39% are ordering desserts less often and 27% are ordering sharing dishes more often. More than half, 54%, take price into consideration more often than they did six months ago, with women even more cost-conscious than men.
Over half of consumers are spending less on alcohol than they did six months ago (51%), with women more likely to cut down than men.
For further details please contact Linda Pettit at Tilburstow Media Partners on 01883 742955/07973 789853 or email press@horizonsforsuccess.
Contact Paul Backman on 07785 242809
Email: paul@horizonsforsuccess.com
Website: horizonsforsuccess.com
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EDITOR’S NOTE
About Horizons
Horizons is an analyst and specialist information consultancy for the foodservice and hospitality sector. Its manager director, Peter Backman, is an expert on the structure and dynamics of the foodservice sector, and its supply chain, in the UK and across Europe. He has been involved in foodservice, as an analyst, researcher and consultant, for almost 30 years.
Horizons helps its clients make better business decisions by providing accurate and detailed information about the foodservice market, its trends, and opportunities. The company provides consultancy services, workshops and statistical information based on its model of the sector and database of key accounts across Europe. The company recently acquired the QuickBite (consumer research) and Menurama (menu tracking) services, adding further depth to its statistical knowledge of the sector.
The company’s clients includes Compass and Whitbread, suppliers such as 3663, Brakes, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Electrolux, investors JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs and trade associations such as the British Hospitality Association and the Food and Drink Federation.
Horizons’ views have been sought by organisations such as the Bank of England, the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
