This report continues on from Mintel’s Menu Trends series but is the first to look at menu flavours and changing developments in eating out preferences in the UK specifically. Its aim is to explore the existing trends in menu developments and look forward to what is on the horizon.

The world of eating out is a large and diverse industry meeting the ever changing and increasingly diverse tastes of the UK public. For many years the UK has embraced ethnic cuisine and this continues to be the case. However, in recent months, many operators have witnessed a distinct departure back to traditional meals, comfort food and hearty dishes. Consumers are less willing today to risk a meal they don’t enjoy and so opt for something they are familiar with, albeit with an added twist to give it some interest. Provenance, fresh ingredients, local sourcing and using artisan ingredients can all offer this nuance.

The report covers a wide spectrum of eating out establishments from fine dining, pub catering, fast food and in-store cafés. It looks at how operators are coping with the economic downturn and consumer needs. The report includes primary consumer research conducted by GfK NOP among adults about their eating out preferences. The hypothesis this report is based on is ‘Coping with rising food costs from both the consumer and operator point of view’.

Main report themes:

How consumers are changing their eating out habits in the current economy

What attracts consumers to a dish and what puts them off

What operators are doing in response to keep value for money and customer loyalty

What are the most common menu developments and the new ideas coming through: are they fads or ones to look out for in future

What ingredients are being dropped

The importance of ethical issues such as organic, ethical sourcing, and will the consumer priorities change when money is tight

Compare the recession of the 1990s to the current downturn to predict similar conditions.