As of 2016 the food service market within the UK was worth a value of £87.2 billion, being up 2.3% in comparison to the 2015 market value. When broken down in to sub-categories the food service industry is valued as follows:
Coffee Shops and Sandwich bars would be categorised under the retail section of the food service market and restaurants under the hotels, pubs and restaurants section. Over the past three to four years the participation upon eating-out activities has peaked at four separate stages. A common trend finds the market participation peaking at Q3 in 2013, 2014, 2015, and at 93.1% in Q3 of 2016.
As evidenced within the chart above, within the food services industry, the largest proportion of individual visits are linked to the purchasing of fast or snack based foods, with lunch coming in second. These are meals that are typically during an individual’s working day, so would therefore be seen as most in demand and usually most cost effective.