Catering Market - Market Review

Catering Market - Market Review: "In 2003, the UK catering market, as defined by this Key Note Market Review, was worth ?27.66bn at retail selling prices (rsp), a rise of 3.1% on 2002. However, in 2003, real growth in the catering market was lower as a result of increases in the catering retail price index (RPI). Over the past 5 years (1999 to 2003), household consumption expenditure on catering increased at a faster rate than expenditure on virtually all other goods and services.
The UK catering market, as defined by this report, comprises restaurants; fast food and takeaways; contract catering and foodservice management; public houses; hotels; and other catering markets, which cover licensed clubs, and holiday camps and villages, and caravan sites. Restaurants represent the largest market sector and comprise roadside restaurants, pub restaurants (which were the best-performing sector in 2003) and other restaurants, including mainly independent operations. In 2003, all catering markets experienced growth, but the strongest performing sectors were public houses, licensed clubs and restaurants.
In 2003, the fast-food and takeaway market recorded a rise of 3%, which is the lowest annual growth the sector has registered for many years. However, the pizza and chicken sectors maintained healthy growth, although even the strongest-performing sector in recent years - sandwiches - experienced a slower increase in 2003.
In the contract catering and foodservice management market, growth of just 2.3% in 2003 was the lowest recorded since 1999. Sales in the mature business and industry sector were static and market growth came from newer sectors, such as healthcare and catering for the public, and through multiservice contracts.
Although the number of "