The UK food to go market is forecast to grow by 31.8% in 2022, to a value of £21.3bn, according to the new Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2022.
This will see the market fully recover to and exceed its 2019 pre-pandemic market value and follows growth of 38.2% in 2021 (a value of £16.2bn).
Read more: UK foodservice delivery market value to exceed £13bn this year
Travel, coffee shops/cafés and street food are expected to see the strongest growth in share from 2016-2022. Convenience store grab and go remains the largest channel in the food to go market, at a share of 28.3%, but the channel is losing share to higher spend food to go specialists as consumer quality expectations increase.
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%, led by sandwich & bakery, coffee shop and travel segments.
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.”
Find out more about Lumina Intelligence’s UK Food To Go Market Report 2022 here.
