Sarah Humphreys, lead partner for casual dining, comments

Sarah Humphreys, lead partner for casual dining at Deloitte comments:

“There appears to be an oversupply of restaurants in comparison to consumer demand. However, many groups have now slowed their expansion plans and this, in conjunction with some well-publicised closures, should help with a rebalancing.

“Stepping back, casual dining operators have been hit by several pressures all at the same time. These would have been difficult to plan in any environment, but these pressures have all had a relatively short lead time, especially when you consider that a restaurant is locked into a lease that could last up to twenty years. The weakening pound has increased the cost of food sourced abroad while there have been increases in business rates and labour costs. This is on top of the market oversupply.

“However, a desire for healthier eating, informal and experiential dining experiences, as well as interest in food provenance can be harnessed in future. Technology can be used in delivery and pre-ordering services, or offering customisable menus and dynamic pricing. It's about making it an experience, something with drama and pizzazz. If we fast forward ten years, we will likely be eating out more often than we are now.”

End

Notes to editors

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