Do food scares such as foot and mouth disease change out-of-home eating habits?

What is now the most popular type of eating out venue?

Between 1996-2000 the eating out market has increased by 32% to reach the value of £23.3 billion - what are the key drivers for future growth within the market?

This Eating Out Review updates Mintel's last review of the whole eating out market which was published in June 1999. Since the last report, eating out has continued to command a greater proportion of total leisure spend. As consumers increasingly substitute home-prepared meals for a meal out, convenience, casual dining and experimentation have become driving forces within this market. While particular areas of growth continue to be fast food and pub catering, independent and chain restaurants are among the areas which have also benefited from a higher level of consumer expenditure.

Structural changes point to a more discerning consumer, and a number of mid-market operators have re-evaluated their brands in the light of changing demands. The sophisticated out-of-home eater looks for quality and good value, but will not come back again for inferior and ill-prepared offerings.

Almost nine out of ten adults eat out, and while 35% are prepared to pay more for good quality food, relatively few claim to have changed their eating out habits because of BSE and/or scares about foot-and-mouth disease. The publicity concerning foot-and-mouth disease and restrictions imposed on the use of the countryside in the first quarter of 2001 impacted seriously on the tourism trade - particularly incoming tourists. However, the fact that less than 10% of UK adults are moved to alter their eating out habits augurs well for continued future growth in this market.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Onboard Catering, Leisure Intelligence, May 2001

- Crisps and Snacks, Market Intelligence, May 2001

- Coffee Shops/Bars, Leisure Intelligence, February 2001

- In-store Catering, Leisure Intelligence, November 2000

- Roadside Catering, Leisure Intelligence, May 2000

- Railway Catering, Leisure Intelligence, February 2000

- Lunch Foods, Leisure Intelligence, January 2000

- Airport Catering, Leisure Intelligence, December 1999

- Cafes, Leisure Intelligence, July 1999

- Lunchtime Eating Habits, Leisure Intelligence, August 2001

- Sports Venue Catering, Leisure Intelligence, September 2001

- Internet Cafés, Leisure Intelligence, October 2001

- Hotel Catering, Leisure Intelligence, October 2001

- The Role of Branding in Catering, Leisure Intelligence, November 2001.