United Kingdom Foodservice Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

United Kingdom Foodservice Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The United Kingdom foodservice market is projected to register a CAGR of 3.02% during the upcoming five years.

In United Kingdom, chain outlets are very popular, acquiring the highest portion of the foodservice market. Stand-alone establishments are the most common and are well-liked by consumers. People have very fast lives these days; therefore, they require their food to be easy to handle and quick to eat. Digital platforms play a vital role in driving everyday sales of fast-serving restaurants, reducing delivery time, and providing contactless food service for consumers. The foodservice operators benefit from a dynamic and expanding corporate sector in areas like full-service dining.

The increasing frequency of restaurants offering various ethnic foods, such as Asian, American, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisines, is the major factor driving the growth of the market in independent outlets among consumers. The increasing number of quick-service restaurants such as KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Domino’s are capturing maximum attention from consumers looking for convenience in their daily meal requirements.​ Also, an increase in several coffee shops and takeouts in the region is driving the growth of the market as people have been eating outside the home much more often.

United Kingdom’s strong café culture has resulted in an increasing number of cafe and bar establishments every year. The increasing number of cafes and bars includes a blend of non-specialists, independents, and major chains, such as Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Caffe Nero, meeting the consumers’ demand for different coffee blends.​ According to the Allegra World Coffee Portal survey of 2021, Costa Coffee has 2,792 coffee shops in United Kingdom. The country’s strong coffee culture has contributed significantly to the growth of coffee shops/cafes. ​Supermarket store's grab-and-go stayed as the largest food supply sub-channel till the pandemic phase, but its presence in market growth is expected to fall due to the rising pressure to compete with steadfast food-to-go experts.

The demand for multi-cuisine or ethnic cuisine in European countries, including United Kingdom, is increasing as more consumers, especially millennials and baby boomers, are willing to experiment with new and global cuisines. The consumption of healthy and nutritious food is rising, along with the increasing capital investment in making healthy and traditional food, boosting the foodservice market in United Kingdom. The manufacturers of ethnic food are concentrating more on food quality, convenience factors, different types of cuisine, and food packaging. Moreover, the high rate of immigration, tourist population, and increasing sporting events have supported the ethnic food demand. To cater to the personalized taste of consumers, cuisine-specific caterers or restaurants are setting up their kiosks in villages, stadiums, and near the venues where sporting events are held to increase their popularity. Some of the most popular ethnic cuisines consumed include Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Greek, French, Thai, Spanish, and Indian, which are increasingly served to consumers via hotels, restaurants, food halls, fast-food holdings, etc.

United Kingdom's foodservice market is highly competitive, owing to the number of small and giant players dominating the market. In United Kingdom, cafés and bar services are projected to be the largest sectors in this industry. According to the Allegra World Coffee Portal survey of 2021, Greggs coffee has 2,176 coffee shops in United Kingdom. Owing to their diversified product portfolios, the food processing companies are competing with each other in terms of offering ethnic and multi-cuisine foods at affordable prices based on consumer demand. Some of the key players in the market include McDonald’s, Starbucks Coffee Company, Domino's, Whitbread PLC, and Yum! Brands. Major players are embarking on market expansions and innovations in terms of online delivery to achieve consolidation while optimizing their offerings and increasing their market shares.

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