Catering Scotland

Business confidence continues to grow in the UK’s foodservice sector , according to research undertaken by Horizons and JRA.

The latest Eating Out-Look* paper indicates that more than two-thirds of operator’s report an increase in food sales year-on-year, with 26% reporting a large increase and around half saying they are serving more meals at the weekend than they did this time last year.

Moreover, fewer operators are taking cost cutting actions in 2014 compared with 2013, and 28 percent of businesses have increased staff numbers, with fewer having to cut staff hours or freeze wages.

“,Emma Read, director of marketing & business development at Horizons, said: ‘This is a really encouraging result and one that reassures us that recovery in the hospitality sector is well under way.

‘Our last operator survey in May showed that businesses were much more optimistic about future trading, with a third expecting increases in food sales.

‘Six months on,the majority of respondents reporting an actual rise in food and drink sales and confidence in the sector has been even higher. than predicted.’

The report, which surveys 300 businesses across the market, including hotel, restaurant, pub and quick service operators, also reveals that fewer customers are trading down to lower priced meals, while operators report that the number of customers purchasing food using meal deals or promotions has dropped to 34%, compared with 41% a year ago.

Of the operators that took part in the survey, nearly 90% expect food sales to increase further over the next 12 months, with a quarter of those expecting large increases, significantly higher than in 2013.

You can view the full report here: Horizons-Eating Out-Look.

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