Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
- The UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market was worth £12.6 billion in 2019
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- Figure 1: UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market, value sales, 2014-24
- The eat-in segment is predicted to have declined by 0.7% in 2019
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- Figure 2: UK ethnic eat-in restaurants market, value sales, 2014-24
- Growth of the takeaway segment has moderated from 7.6% in 2015 to 3.4% in 2019
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- Figure 3: UK ethnic takeaway/home delivery market, value sales, 2014-24
- Companies and brands
- Struggling branded chains turn to CVAs
- MW Eat: slow but steady wins the race
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- Figure 4: Outlet numbers of selected ethnic restaurants and takeaways, 2016-19
- Vegan menu trends
- The rise of virtual brands
- Lunchbox schemes
- The consumer
- Over two thirds of Britons use ethnic restaurants/takeaways
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- Figure 5: Overall usage, by dietary preferences, November 2019
- Chinese and Indian cuisines losing their grip
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- Figure 6: Annual changes in venues visited/ordered from, November 2018 and November 2019
- Under-35s most likely to try all types of ingredients
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- Figure 7: Impact of ingredients on order likelihood, November 2019
- Price is not the most important factor for all
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- Figure 8: Attitudes towards ethnic restaurants and takeaways, November 2019
- The importance of sensory experiences
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- Figure 9: Motivations to visit an ethnic food restaurant or takeaway, November 2019
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Grappling with sustainability issues
- The facts
- The implications
- Sensory and experience: the theatre of food
- The facts
- The implications
- Pushing the boundaries of what authenticity means
- The facts
- The implications
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- The UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market was worth £12.6 billion in 2019
- The eat-in segment is predicted to have declined by 0.7% in 2019
- Growth of the takeaway segment has moderated from 7.6% in 2015 to 3.4% in 2019
Market Size, Segmentation and Forecast
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- Ethnic restaurants and takeaways market driven by convenience
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- Figure 10: UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market, value sales, 2014-24
- Opportunities for meat-free ethnic cuisines
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- Figure 11: UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market, value sales, 2014-24
- Eat-in expected to stumble in 2019
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- Figure 12: UK ethnic eat-in restaurants market, value sales, 2014-24
- Eat-in restaurants that do not innovate will struggle
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- Figure 13: UK ethnic eat-in restaurants market, value sales, 2014-24
- The takeaway segment challenged by non-specialists
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- Figure 14: UK ethnic takeaway/home delivery market, value sales, 2014-24
- The takeaway segment will become saturated
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- Figure 15: UK ethnic takeaway/home delivery market, value sales, 2014-24
- Forecast methodology
Market Drivers
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- Most people don’t follow any diets…
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- Figure 16: Types of dietary preferences, November 2019
- …but those who do are adventurous…
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- Figure 17: Experiences trend drivers, by dietary preferences, November 2019
- …and thoughtful eaters
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- Figure 18: Wellbeing trend drivers, by dietary preferences, November 2019
Companies and Brands – What You Need to Know
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- Struggling branded chains turn to CVAs
- Vegan menu trends
- The rise of virtual brands
- Lunchbox schemes
Market Share
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- Delivery spices up ethnic market
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- Figure 19: Number of Indian vs Chinese restaurants and takeaway outlets, 2014-19
- Small but mighty Wagamama
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- Figure 20: outlet numbers of selected ethnic restaurants and takeaways, 2016-19
- Slowing down Turtle Bay
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- Figure 21: Key financial data for Turtle Bay Restaurants Limited, 2016-19
- MW Eat eyes more openings
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- Figure 22: Key financial data for MW Eat Limited, 2017-19
Competitive Strategies
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- The rise of the CVA
- Dishoom invests in restaurant design
- Capturing the captive audience
- Barburrito targets airport diners
- Chopstix’s targets lunchtime and delivery
- Yo! drops the “Sushi”
Launch Activity and Innovation
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- Menu trends
- Low-calorie meals
- Vegan
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- Figure 23: Vegan ‘suika’ tuna featuring dehydrated watermelon
- Ethnic retail concepts
- Ethnic spin on pubs
- Pop-ups and collaborations
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- Figure 24: a pop-up collaboration with Lap-fai Lee, Guan Chua and Sambal Shiok (Holloway Road, London)
- “Grocerant”
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- Figure 25: Examples of in-store supermarkets
- Virtual brands
- Lunchbox schemes
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- Figure 26: Example of zero waste tiffin service, by Fooska (London)
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- 71% of Britons have eaten in/ordered takeaway from ethnic restaurants or takeaways
- Chinese and Indian cuisines losing their grip
- Under-35s most likely to try all types of ingredients
- Price is not the most important factor for all
- Sensory and experience
Overall Usage
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- Over two-thirds of Britons eat ethnic cuisines out of home
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- Figure 27: Overall usage, November 2019
- More Britons order takeaways than dine in at ethnic restaurants
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- Figure 28: overall usage of ethnic eateries, November 2019
- The rise of plant-based dining
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- Figure 29: Overall usage, by dietary preferences, November 2019
Popularity of Cuisine Types
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- Chinese and Indian cuisines losing their grip
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- Figure 30: Annual changes in venues visited/ordered from, November 2018-19
- More are likely to order Chinese takeaways
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- Figure 31: Venues visited/ordered from, November 2019
- The rise of lesser-known cuisines
- Growing number of people eating in at various types of ethnic restaurants...
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- Figure 32: Annual changes in repertoire of types of ethnic venues visited to eat in, November 2019
- ...and ordering from various types of ethnic takeaways
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- Figure 33: Annual changes in repertoire of types of ethnic venues visited to order takeaway, November 2019
Impact of Ingredients
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- Under-35s are making thoughtful food choices
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- Figure 34: Impact of ingredients on order likelihood, November 2019
- Under-45s like it hot
Eating Out Attitudes
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- Diversity and inclusivity
- Celebrate cultures through food experiences
- More should offer halal options
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- Figure 35: Attitudes towards ethnic restaurants and takeaways, November 2019
- Rewards and punishments that motivate food choices
- Charge more for overseas produce
- Offer discounts for good deeds
- Price is not the most important factor for all
- Hygiene first
- Support British produce
- Value-based pricing
- Health considerations
- Consider ethnic food and drink when crafting gut health narratives – CHAID Analysis
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- Figure 36: Ethnic restaurants and takeaways – CHAID – Tree output, November 2019
Motivations to Visit
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- A home away from home experience
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- Figure 37: Motivations to visit an ethnic food restaurant or takeaway, November 2019
- Open kitchen showmanship
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- Figure 38: Examples of open kitchens
- Play like a chef
- Sharing food versus…
- …set menus
- The battle between authenticity and familiarity
- Buffets versus…
- …traditional ethnic dishes
- Fermentation takes a long time
- Increase accessibility of services
- One-stop shop “grocerant” experience
- From breakfast on through all the day
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- Figure 39: Examples of ethnic-inspired breakfast and dessert
- Food and drink pairings matter
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- Figure 40: An example of food and drink pairing, by Wagamama
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
- CHAID methodology
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- Figure 41: Ethnic restaurants and takeaways – CHAID – table output, November 2019
Appendix – Market Size and Forecast
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- Forecast methodology
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- Figure 42: Best- and worst-case forecasts for UK ethnic restaurants and takeaways market, 2019-24
- Figure 43: Best- and worst-case forecasts for ethnic eat-in market, 2019-24
- Figure 44: Best- and worst-case forecasts for ethnic takeaway/home delivery market, 2019-24
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