Eating Out and the Consumer 2007

Key findings include:

• Wetherspoons challenges McDonalds as most popular eating-out destination
• Wagamama tops the rankings for 'quality of experience'
• Subway emerges as a major brand, with younger audience
• Starbucks the most visited coffee chain
• Health is a growing issue when eating out
• Women pivotal to eating-out decisions
• Eating out in the UK has improved in the last 5 years but'
• More improvements required from increasingly demanding consumers

What consumers want when eating out....and what they really think of branded chains

Exclusive research from the Peach Factory market consultancy sheds new light on the factors driving consumer decision-making in the growing UK eating out-of-home market ' from healthy eating and the pivotal role of women in decision making to which restaurant and pub chains provide the best customer experience.

The new findings come in a survey of 2,044 consumers commissioned by Peach Factory and conducted in March by international market research and consulting specialist, Harris Interactive.

They are set out in a new 'Eating-out and the Consumer' Report, published by Peach Factory and edited by leading market commentator and Peach Factory founder, Peter Martin.

So what are consumers saying?

• Health is a growing issue. The availability of healthy items on the menus was rated as 'important' for the majority of eaters out and for a significant minority a 'must have'.
• Women are the main drivers in this area, and are also more likely than men to make the choice of where to eat-out.
• Consumers acknowledge substantial improvement in the eating out sector but still demand higher standards, particularly when it comes to service.
• Casual dining restaurants are beginning to rival the pub as the favourite place for the British to eat out, with younger people driving their popularity.

For more details, read the article 'What customers really want', click here

What the public thinks of branded chains

How do you rate your eating-out experience?
Top ten concepts rated 'good' or 'excellent' by consumers who had eaten there in the last year
1. Wagamama (83%)
2. Pizza Express (78%)
3. La Tasca (76%)
4. Frankie & Benny's (73%)
5. Nandos (73%)
6. Toby (73%)
7. Beefeater (70%)
8. Vintage Inn (69%)
9. Brewer's Fayre (68%)
10. Harvester (65%)
Source: Peach Factory 'Eating out and the Consumer' survey March 2007 (sample 2,044 adults)

For more details read the article 'Wetherspoons chasing McDonalds as most popular place to eat out', click here

Regional and age variations

The Report provides detailed comparisons by region and age group, as well as gender and household income. For example:

• Wales, the North West and North East of England have enjoyed the greatest improvement in the eating-out experience over the past five years.
• Women eat out more frequently than men, especially in casual dining restaurants and coffee shops. This is also predominately driven by the 16-24 year old sector who eat out more than their older counterparts.
• Regional variations play a big role with chains such as Pret a Manger, Nandos and Wagamama all having a significantly higher profile in London.
• Pret, Nandos and Wagamama have all been used by around a third of Londoners in the last year, putting them on the same, or even higher, popularity level in the capital as bigger national brands such as Costa, Starbucks and Pizza Hut.

Who should buy the Report?

The Report provides a valuable and detailed insight for operators, investors and market suppliers into changing consumer needs and perceptions within the fast-moving eating out-of-home market.

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. More information log on to www.harrisinteractive.com.

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the Great Britain by Harris Interactive on behalf of Peach Factory between February 28 and March 6, 2007 among 2,044 adults (aged 16 and over). Figures for age, sex, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.