The NPD Group says momentum is well underway following the 0.9% growth in out-of-home (OOH) foodservice visits in Britain 2014, the first rise in many years.
The group also reports that consumers will continue to seek value across the board. Pubs are set to overtake the FSR channel and will be driven by the top chain brands. Pubs will notch up 1.29 billion visits by the end of 2016 against 1.18 billion visits for FSR.
Cyril Lavenant, NPD’s Director of foodservice for the UK and France, said: “Ranked on spend growth to the end of 2016, we are predicting six ‘star’ players – casual dining, quick-service operators serving chicken, pizza/Italian, burgers and coffee, and the hotel channel. But the forecasts are only half the story.“
NPD says three key important consumer trends are impacting the foodservice industry. First, thanks to a brighter economy, consumers are looking to treat themselves and their kids. Second, they want more choice and diversity and are much more willing to try something new. Third, when consumers go out to eat, they want a ‘full experience’ and the sense of a ‘social or family occasion’.
The research is formed as part of a detailed complete forecast of the British out-of-home foodservice trends for 2015 and 2016, analysing the sectors economic performance and prospects and consumer trends affecting foodservice.
The NPD Group provides market tracking, consumer understanding and profit driving expertise to sectors including food and foodservice, entertainment and technology.