Research from expert foodservice analysts, The NPD Group, reveals that since their arrival in the UK in 2001, fast casual restaurants – that combine the ambiance of a full service restaurant with the speed and delivery of a fast food/quick service restaurant (QSR) – have built a 3.0% share of the £49.2bn foodservice market in the UK.
For the 12 months ending March 2012, the fast casual sector posted a 3.6% increase in consumer visits and sales growth of 2.5%. This compares to a 0.9% increase in consumer visits and 1.6% sales growth for QSR, a channel considered by many to be the bright spot in foodservice over the last few years.
Over the last three years, fast casual restaurants have shown an annual growth rate of 3.5% in consumer visits and 5.1% in sales – a figure NPD Group analysts regard as a strong performance during a period of severe economic challenges.
They also believe that creating a casual bridge between fast food value (with an average amount spent per trip of £3.47) and full service dining (with an average spend per trip of £9.46) is a successful strategy, quickly gaining market share in the UK.
Fast casual restaurants are also on track to deliver what their target consumers – the ‘Millennials’, born between 1980 and 2000 – are looking for in a restaurant.
Source: The NPD Group
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