The UK's foodservice sector can expect to return to long-term growth within three years, fuelled by a rise in the snacking and breakfast markets, according to research firm Horizons.
Sales of food and drink in the foodservice sector are currently worth £44 billion, despite a 0.4 per cent decline in growth last year, and Horizons' MD Peter Backman says he expects growth to return to pre-recession levels by 2016.
“Many operators have responded to trading challenges by looking at new opportunities and serving food throughout the day, and I think the real winners have been snacking and the breakfast market; we think the two will grow considerably over the next few years,' said Bacman.
Horizons says that sales of snacks and breakfasts will both rise by over four per cent in 2013 and also anticipate sales of food through the eating out market, which is currently valued at £32.8bn, to continue to rise providing a big opportunity for fresh produce suppliers.
Backman, who was speaking at Horizons' annual conference, said that the four biggest issues for foodservice operators this year would be: winning and retaining business, meeting customer expectations, protecting margins and coping with strong comparatives from the Queen’s Jubilee and the London Olympics.
