Disposable incomes are being squeezed hard right now. Consumers are considering how they spend their money more closely, with 37% eating out less often because this. As a result, the out-of-home dining market is polarising between less frequent, occasion-led meals on which people are prepared to splurge and quick, grab-and-go occasions when convenience and value are king.
Convenience retailers are cashing in. Food-to-go missions have seen the greatest growth across the convenience channel with 14.9% of all store visits in 2022 being for this reason, up from 13% in the previous year. Retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s are looking to lure increasingly cash-strapped consumers out of foodservice with meal deals offering a wider range of mains, snacks and soft drinks.
So how can foodservice fight back? In this five-point plan for operators looking to grow their share of Britain’s fast-moving food-to-go market, we explore the importance of offering both value and excitement, the trends shaping consumer behaviour and the pivotal role that soft drinks can play in perfecting food to go.