Press Releases
- Eating out reserved for special occasions as cautious consumers make spending cutbacks - QuickBite, January 2012
- Hospitality sector must continue to innovate as trading set to toughen in year of austerity - Comment, January 2012
- Growth of new eating out brands evidence of demand for something healthy and different - Ones to Watch, November 2011
- Trading in the UK’s foodservice sector remains tough but new start-ups are making the most of opportunities - Breakfast Briefing, September 2011
- Eating out beats home cooking for sheer convenience - QuickBite, July 2011
- Horizons urges food manufacturers to take NPD for the catering sector more seriously - Comment, March 2010
- Sterling weakness could help hospitality UK see modest signs of recovery - Comment, March 2010
- Eating out expected to rise over Christmas, but it could be a grim January ahead as consumers rein-in spending further - QuickBite, December 2009
- Foodservice operators hike price of starters and desserts while cost of main courses remains flat - Menurama, November 2009
- Pubs lead the way at maintaining margins through menu engineering - Menurama, October 2009
- Cost-conscious consumer here to stay for the long-term - QuickBite, September 2009
- The downturn could be levelling, but keep costs under control urges Horizons - Comment, August 2009
- Canny diners find ways to eat out for less - QuickBite, July 2009
- Innovative promotions keep American consumers eating out as economy hits rock-bottom - Comment
- The changing face of British menus: has sirloin steak lost its appeal for good? - Menurama, April 2009
- Eating out under more pressure as supermarket sector steps up 'meal deal' offers - QuickBite, April 2009
- A recession puts your business acumen to the test - Comment, March 2009
- Can we predict who will survive the crunch? - Comment, February 2009
- Save it for something special mentality means going out less but spending more - QuickBite, January 2009
Horizons News
Foodservice sector must continue to innovate as trading is set to toughen in 2012
The UK foodservice sector faces its biggest challenge yet as 2012 brings a fourth year of retrenchment, with consumer confidence worsening and unemployment set to rise. With a year of austerity in prospect, the country’s 260,000 eating out establishments, which generate around £42bn-worth of sales per year, will have to work even harder than last year to tempt people to spend their money on eating out.
Growth of new eating out brands evidence of demand for something healthy and different
Despite the UK’s depressed economy the eating out market continues to see a steady rollout of new restaurant and food takeaway brands, particularly those offering good quality, healthy, food-to-go and those based on Mexican and Japanese cuisines.
Foodservice trading remains tough, though opportunities exist
While sales in the UK’s foodservice sector have plateaued, restaurant, bar and café operators are keeping customers eating out by introducing new brands, changing their menus and broadening their food and drink offering. This was the conclusion reached by Peter Backman, Horizons’ MD, at a breakfast briefing organised by the company on Friday 23 September at London’s Barber-Surgeon’s Hall.
Latest QuickBite results: Eating out beats home cooking for sheer convenience
• Not wanting to cook is one of the key reasons for eating out
• Average spend on dining out (including drinks) rises to £12.69
• Money-off vouchers not a big influence on choice of venue
• Pub restaurants prove the most popular place to dine out
Consumers have cut back on the number of times they dine out, but despite the on-going economic gloom the British still love eating out and do so at least once every couple of weeks.
New to foodservice? Interested in seeing foodservice in action?
Horizons’ latest Key Club event will be on Tuesday 5th July. This training session for those new to foodservice or looking to keep their knowledge right uptodate now includes a study tour of various casual dining, restaurant and quick service outlets in Spitalfields.
A new bird joins the Twitter flock
Paul Backman, Services Director at Horizons, is now tweeting about foodservice and technology.