EatingOut
20 | Hospitality Today | Christmas 2016 / January 2017
Trends & News
Eating out grows- averaging twice a week
A new study by OpenTable shows British diners are eating out more than ever- on average twice a week, with almost a third( 29 %) saying that dining out is better value than making meals from scratch at home.
54 % say the amount they dine out has increased over the past five years, with 37 % admitting they did so more in 2016 than 2015. Reasons include 35 % saying it’ s easier than cooking at home and 30 % saying it’ s for variety.
Almost 90 % of Brits admit they will always opt for the set menu if provided by a restaurant, while 69 % use discount vouchers / promotional offers when eating out, and 27 % will only dine out at restaurants that offer promotions.
Diners‘ want to see hygiene ratings’
98 % of consumers want the law changed to make all restaurants in England publicly display their Food Standards Agency( FSA) Food Hygiene Ratings, according to new research by food safety company Checkit. Currently, ratings must be displayed in Wales and Northern Ireland, but in England it is not compulsory.
92 % of diners say displaying these‘ scores on the doors’ will make eating out safer by encouraging restaurants and other businesses to improve their standards. The evidence would seem to support this: since it has been mandatory for restaurants in Wales to display their food hygiene score, the percentage of food businesses with a top rating of 5 has increased from 45 % to 63 %.
The research also found that consumers take the food hygiene rating into account when choosing where to eat. 91 % said they’ d always or often choose to eat somewhere with the highest ratings of 4 or 5. Previous research by Chekit found that 61 % of consumers won’ t eat anywhere with rating of 2 or below.