Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Greggs pips McDonald’s to claim top spot in food to go market

Greggs has overtaken McDonald’s to become the dominant player in the food to go sector, a new report by Lumina Intelligence has revealed.

According to the latest update to the market researcher’s UK Food To Go Market Report 2021, Greggs is the dominating brand with a 10.7 per cent share of occasions, after increasing its share by 1.3ppts in the 12 weeks to 28 November 2021.


The growth experienced by Greggs is reflected in sausage rolls, holding a 5 per cent share of total food to go food items purchased. However, burgers still had the highest share with 19.2 per cent, followed by sandwiches with 11.3 per cent.

The return of people to work and schools in September helped to boost overall food to go sales, with 27 per cent of visits to foodservice operators for food to go missions over the 12-week period. Travelling or commuting increased as a reason for a FTG occasion by +2ppts in the same period.

Coffee shops and cafes maintained largest share of FTG occasions, followed by retail. This increased towards the end of October and November with consumers more likely to be out and about, looking for a convenient solution, with proximity (37 per cent) increasing as a reason for choosing a venue (+1ppt).

Coffee and hot drinks also increased their share of drinks purchases. Coffee dominated drinks occasions, accounting for over two-in-five purchases (+3ppts).The report noted that the increase in share can be attributed to consumers returning to offices and working lifestyles, as well as the cooling weather fostering consumer appetite for hot drinks. Hot chocolate and tea have also benefited from the move towards hot drinks, increasing by +2ppts and+1ppt.

“Throughout September, October and November, we have seen an uptick in the proportion of consumers purchasing food to go due to commuting or travelling. Consumers have been returning to the workplace, resulting in a buoyant period for operators, as FTG accounts for more than one-in-four out of home occasions,” Blonnie Whist, insight director at Lumina Intelligence said.

“With the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus gathering pace, restrictions are starting to get tighter, with the government recommending people work from home where possible. This is likely to cause a fall in FTG occasions, however, operators and retailers in more suburban, residential areas remain well placed to capitalise on the “food to go home” trend and continue to drive footfall despite a less transient workforce.”

More for you

Nick’s experience will drive growth for our Manchester depot and Northwest customers

Nick Edwards

New manager for Hancocks in Manchester

Confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has a new manager at its Manchester store.

Nick Edwards has taken over at the helm of the store in Gorton, overseeingten staff and working closely with existing and new customers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves delivers Spring Statement 2025 as retail costs rise with no relief
Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Spring Statement fails to address independent retailers' concern

Costs are set to continue rising amid a difficult economic outlook following the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, which brought no significant change to major tax plans announced in the October budget despite urgent calls for support.

The Spring Statement released today (26) made no specific provisions for the independent retail sector, which is facing unprecedented challenges including rising business rates, an increase in employer national insurance contributions to 15 per cent above £5,000 per annum and an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage to £12.21.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dubai style chocolate bar with pistachio and knafeh, popular in UK supermarkets

Dubai style chocolate bar featuring a blend of pistachio and knafeh

iStock image

Dubai style chocolate takes UK by storm

Dubai style chocolate has taken the UK by storm with many shops stocking dupes of the popular flavour while some supermarkets are forced to impose limits on how much a shopper can buy at once.

Shoppers have been clearing the shelves of the chocolate bar which is filled with pistachio and the Arab dessert Knafeh - a shredded crispy pastry.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government tax increases on retailers impacting local businesses

Chancellor Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver her spring statement to Parliament on March 26, 2025 in London.

Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

Spring Statement: Reeves severely criticised for ignoring retail

Representatives of UK's convenience sector as well as those of independent retailers have heavily criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for ignoring the pleas of retail in her Spring Statement, thus pushing some local store operators towards closure.

Delivering the Spring Statement today (26), Reeves did not budge in reduction in business rate relief, National Insurance hike and in minimum wages.

Keep ReadingShow less
VApril 2025 UKVIA campaign poster promoting vaping as a quit-smoking tool
Photo: iStock

Vape awareness campaign to begin amid record-high misperceptions

VApril, the largest and most successful vape awareness campaign in the world, is returning for its eighth year amid record-high misperceptions around vaping and stop smoking tool.

Created by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the initiative comes at a critical time for the UK vaping sector, with half of smokers wrongly believing vaping is as harmful - or worse - than smoking.

Keep ReadingShow less