The foodservice market is bouncing back from the slump it suffered during the recession, according to industry analysts Horizons. Some 72 per cent of adults now eat out on a regular basis, spending on average £13.80 per occasion.

Casual dining, where spend is between £10 and £20, is the biggest growth area, Horizons managing director Peter Backman said. Currently worth some £1.9 billion, casual dining is expected to grow by three per cent this year. “This sector offers what the customer wants, at a price they can afford, and continues to adapt and change its offer to keep customers interested.” Coffee shops and food-led pubs are also in growth.

While the total foodservice market grew in 2011 to £42.8bn, the effects of inflation meant the market actually shrunk. However Backman, who was speaking at a Horizons’ Breakfast Briefing on 19 April at London’s Armourers’ Hall, said the market was buoyant. “There is now some excitement in the market and sales are likely to grow by at least per cent over the next 18 months. By the end of this year they will return to 2006 levels, and by 2013 they will get back to 2008 levels,” he said.

“The signs are that things are beginning to level out - the population is growing, particularly among the restaurant-using over-40s, and employment is starting to rise. This is all good news for a sector that has performed better than the retail sector and emerged fairly unscathed from the downturn.”

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