Operators lean on healthier eating trends to manage inflation
New year resolutions aside, health-consciousness and a focus on sustainability were flagged as some of the sector’s mega trends by Lumina Intelligence’s Menu & Food Trends Report 2022.
Data from Lumina's Menu Tracker tool indicates that the total proportion of dishes containing meat fell by -3ppts between 2019 and 2022, with those seeking vegan dishes when eating out increasing by 11% quarter-on-quarter.
And while vegan diets don’t necessary imply calorie scrutiny, healthier eating is also trending, and the average calorie count of a dish has fallen by -2.4% from May to October 2022, which is also contributing to managing the impact of compulsory calorie labelling on consumers and encouraging eating out missions.
“The trend aligns with much-needed cost management in menus and focusing on lighter and more meat-free dishes is allowing operators to handle annual price increases more effectively, as these measures facilitate smaller portions and the utilisation of less expensive ingredients, hence reducing food waste, and strengthening margins,” says Lumina.
It comes as figures show that since spring/summer 2022, restaurant, pub and bar same-line dish price inflation has increased to +7.9% and +7.2% respectively.
Lumina notes that menu management, sustainability practices and digitalisation will be key to the recovery of the total eating out market, which is expected to add up to £101bn in 2025 following stability in inflation and recovery in consumer spending power.
As of now, investment in sustainability is being prioritised by 80% of eating out businesses and will be centred around more efficient practises and waste management, while innovations in creating sustainable alternatives to staple ingredients will continue in 2023, shielding operators from cost fluctuations and capitalising on flexitarian trends.
