Between 1999 and 2004, the market for organic, functional, slimming and ‘free from’ retail products grew by 115%, a rate five times faster than that of the eating out market. Mintel estimates that consumers who are on a diet or who have special dietary needs spend approximately £5 billion on eating out per year. With the rising awareness of dietary issues, companies willing to accommodate specific dietary needs will have a distinct advantage.

The number of people who are foregoing meat in favour of a vegetarian diet has risen to 6.1 million today from 3.7 million in 1990. Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Royal College of Physicians claimed that the UK has one of the highest allergy rates in the world, with 18 million people in the UK a year likely to be currently seeking treatment for their allergies. This number is poised to rise in the near future, and hence it is a segment restaurateurs can no longer ignore.

Using the latest consumer research, market size data and trend analysis, this report provides vital new insight into how trends in dieting, nutritional issues and concerns about allergies and food intolerances are all impacting on the UK eating out industry. Mintel’s findings offer you a unique way of what customers want from a restaurant and how view the related health and dietary issues. Use Mintel’s research to avoid market pitfalls, discover sector opportunities, identify growth potential and maximise your sales.