Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

C-stores still largest channel in food-to-go but losing share to higher spend specialists

C-stores still largest channel in food-to-go but losing share to higher spend specialists
iStock image
Getty Images

Convenience store grab and go remains the largest channel in the food-to-go (FTG) market, though the channel is losing share to higher spend specialists, states a report today (15).

According to the new Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2022, convenience and supermarket grab and go is expected to exceed 2019 turnover this year, states a recent report, adding that the UK food-to-go (FTG) market is forecast to grow by +31.8 percent in 2022.


“Convenience store grab and go remains the largest channel in the food to go market, at a share of 28.3 percent, but the channel is losing share to higher spend food to go specialists as consumer quality expectations increase,” states the report.

Overall, the FTG market size will touch a value of £21.3 billion. The market will fully recover and exceed its 2019 pre-pandemic market value, following a growth of +38.2 percent in 2021.

Key FTG channels including convenience and supermarket grab and go, coffee shop/cafés as well as travel are expected to exceed 2019 turnover in 2022. Branded traditional fast food is expected to have a slower recovery, with delivery gaining large proportions of key operators including McDonald’s and KFC’s sales mix.

Travel, coffee shops/cafés and street food are expected to see the strongest growth in share from 2016-2022. Sandwich and bakery, coffee shop and travel to lead outlet growth.

In outlet terms, the UK food to go market is set to see a net increase of +1,517 sites in 2022, a percentage growth rate of +1.0 percent, led by sandwich and bakery, coffee shop and travel segments.

Operators across the food to go market including Greggs, Costa Coffee and Pret A Manger are diversifying outlet coverage in line with changes to consumer habits following the pandemic, with operators targeting more drive thru, travel led sites, as well as neighbourhood and suburban locations.

Top ten brands account for 34.5 percent share of total FTG market, states the report, adding that three-in-ten consumers purchase food to go every week.

Drink and lunch hold the biggest share of FTG occasions by day part – a combined 66 percent of occasions.

The drink occasion has seen a further boost to day part share of +2.4ppts with hot drink on the go purchases taking a greater share amid a raft of operator innovation around festive hot drinks.

Familiarity, good value for money and voucher/promotion/loyalty card have increased as drivers to choosing a specific establishment.

The report further adds that FTG is set to grow by +£1.7 billion from 2022-2025.

The UK food to go market is expected to total £23.0 billion in 2025, with robust growth of +2.5 percent per annum from 2022-2025.

Outlet growth in the market is expected to reach its highest figure in six years, at +1.2 percent in 2025, to a net value of 156,120 outlets.

Blonnie Whist, Insight Director at Lumina Intelligence said, “During the pandemic, the very nature of food to go was hampered by tight restrictions on movement. However, the channel has always been well placed to recover post-pandemic. This is apparent in our forecasts, which indicate a full recovery by the end of 2022. This growth is set to be driven by a number of factors. Firstly, the reopening of hospitality, as well as recovery in city centre footfall, will drive food to go occasions as more consumers return to offices at least some of the working week.

“Secondly, recovery in travel and tourism will boost food to go throughout key parts of 2022, including the summer months. Thirdly, food to go is a relatively low ticket and is well placed to capitalise on tighter budgets as consumers feel the impact of cost increases across food, fuel and utility bills as well as taxation.”

More for you

Raj Patel

Raj Patel

National Lottery retailers help raise landmark £50bn for good causes

Today, on The National Lottery’s 30th birthday, operator Allwyn is announcing that, through selling tickets, National Lottery retailers have helped players raise a landmark £50 billion for Good Causes since 1994 – funding an incredible 700,000 individual projects across the UK.

Allwyn is also announcing that National Lottery retailers have now earned over £8 billion in sales commission since the first draw on Saturday 19 November 1994.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacardi Cocktail

Brits ditch tea for G&T

Nearly half of Brits (44%) say they would prefer a G&T to a cup of tea when getting together with friends, according to a new survey by spirits major Bacardi Limited.

The UK consumer survey was conducted as part of the sixth annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report which anticipates the key trends redefining global cocktail culture and the spirits business in 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tractors take to the streets of Westminster as demonstrators attend a farmers rally on November 19, 2024 in London, England. Thousands of farmers descended on central London to protest against changes to inheritance tax announced in the budget last month. The farmers argue that the changes will destroy family farms and that the nation's food security is at risk, while the government says that the change will likely affect only around 500 larger estate farms. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Tractors descend on Westminster as farmers protest begins

Thousands of British farmers today (19) are set to march to Parliament Square to protest against the end of an inheritance tax exemption that has helped family farms pass down the generations, saying the move will threaten food production.

First unveiled in chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget, the plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m have sparked fury among rural communities, who have contested the government’s assertion that small family farms will not be impacted by the changes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bestway launches Christmas 'Profit Express' campaign

Bestway launches Christmas 'Profit Express' campaign

Retailers are invited to board Bestway’s Profit Express’ train as Bestway Wholesale launches its major Christmas campaign to its B2B customers across its nationwide depots, allowing retailers to access to its leading festive deals to drive shopper footfall against the backdrop of the theatre. The campaign will be live until Thursday 2 January 2025 giving customers the elevated, engaging and high impact theatre they have become famous for over the last three years.

In collaboration with key suppliers, the ‘Profit Express’ festive campaign delivers all the magic of theatre and festive fun, ensuring exceptional visibility and engagement for its expected 80,000 retailers shopping the Christmas campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
imperial brands

Pricing and Next Generation Products surge boost Imperial Brands revenue and profits

Imperial Brands has reported a robust performance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, helped by strong cigarette prices and rise in its Next Generation Products (NGP) segment.

The group, whose brands include Golden Virginia tobacco, Rizla rolling papers, Winston cigarettes and the vaping brand blu, delivered a 4.6 per cent increase in tobacco and NGP net revenue on a constant currency basis. This was driven by strong pricing in the tobacco segment, which offset a 4 per cent decline in volume, and a remarkable 26.4 per cent rise in NGP revenue.

Keep ReadingShow less