Convenience takes bigger bite of food-to-go market

Convenience stores and supermarkets have increased their share of the eating out market by 0.2% in 2018.

This equates to millions more in the tills of convenience stores, based on a total out-of-home food market value of £87.9bn.

The research by MCA shows that approximately £1 in every £7 spent in the category now goes to shops rather than cafés, restaurants or pubs. When considering the market for out-of-home snacking alone, the share claimed by stores rises to £1 in every £4 spent.

MCA consumer insight director Gareth Nash said convenience stores were benefitting from being quicker, cheaper and better located than their competitors. He advised store owners to make sure their food-to-go range is suited to their audience and added: “Ensure your range is well-stocked with variety and located in clear view of the front of the store to maximise the opportunities available.”

There is strong anecdotal evidence supporting that a highly demographic tailored ranging is a recipe for food-to-go success.

Mar and Paul Mannion from Carlton Village Shop in Bedfordshire attract tradespeople to their rural store from miles around based on their range of hot pasties and pies. Oppositely, Pav Sahota’s Raw Store in trendy Shoreditch in London is winning in a hyper-competitive market on the strength of his in-store coffee concession and healthy to-go lines.