A recent report has suggested that 90% of customers may look to spend less when eating out next year due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

According to IGD's Eating In Vs. Eating Out report, 89% of British consumers will change their habits to save money when dining out, such as using discount vouchers (47%), choosing cheaper main dishes (44%), cutting back on eating starters or desserts (43-45%), drinking tap water (28%), and giving little or no tips (21%). 11% of people surveyed said that they would continue to eat out as normal without making any changes to their spending.

Other highlights from the report include:

• This year, eating in (retail) will account for 71% of the market with eating out (foodservice) at 29%
• This is a recovery for eating out from the 21% share in 2020, but still some way below its pre-pandemic share of 37%
• Retail channels will start to steal share from foodservice in 2023
• However, retail wins from foodservice will be mostly offset by down-trading by shoppers – cheaper products, buying less and switching to own label
• Growth will be driven by inflation. Real market value is set to decline in 2022 vs 2021

Nicola Knight, insight manager and eating out sector expert at IGD, said: 

“In 2020, lockdowns forced a strong switch from eating out to eating in, with 2021 showing a gradual return as venues opened and consumer confidence and appetite for going out increased. However, from Q4 2022 and into 2023 there will be a halt to this trend as retail channels start to steal share of stomach from foodservice, reflecting the challenging economic landscape.”