Premier Foods has been delving into the minds of diners to find out their spending plans to help hospitality businesses and wholesalers to prepare for the festive season.
Three quarters of consumers (75.8%) said they are planning to reduce their outgoing costs this Christmas but 72.7% said they will still eat out at least once over the Christmas period.
The five most popular occasions to eat out include Christmas lunch with family (34%), work Christmas party (25.1%), Christmas night out with family (24%), Christmas Day lunch (16.5%) and a Christmas lunch out with friends (16.2%).
Other takeaways from the research include:
• 44.4% said the use of British suppliers was important to them when choosing where to dine out at Christmas
• Value for money has never been more important as 28.3% said it will be their top consideration when choosing where to eat out
• 49.1% admit they prefer to eat lighter options when dining for a Christmas work night out
• 74.9% agreed that they are mindful of food waste when eating out of home
• 63.8% revealed that they choose festive foods that remind them of their childhood Christmases
• 45.4% said that they are more likely to choose a restaurant or pub that caters well for special diets
• 55.2% agreed that eating out is one of the highlights of the festive period
Sarah Robb, foodservice marketing manager at Premier Foods, said, “Our chefs spend a huge amount of time supporting hospitality businesses with new recipes, products, advice and ideas so it’s vital we understand how consumers are thinking in these uncertain times.
“Whilst consumers have admitted they will be more cautious with spending, there’s still a huge appetite for eating out and the impact that food has on the festive celebrations. We hope chefs find this information valuable, along with our festive recipes and easy to use and convenient products that are designed to save chefs time and reduce waste.”