Writing on the Technomic blog, Darren Tristano points out that 2013 saw healthy growth across the UK’s top restaurant chains, with the concepts that made Technomic’s 2014 list of the 100 largest U.K. chain restaurants (by U.K. systemwide sales) had sales rising by 6.4% last year, compared with a gain of 7.1% the previous year.
The three fastest-growing Limited Service Restaurant menu categories in the U.K. in 2013 were:
Asian/Noodle: up 17.9%
Patisserie: up 17.7%
Frozen Dessert: up 12.5%
Asian/Noodle: Itsu was the only limited-service Asian concept to make the U.K. Top 100, meaning it was solely responsible for the Asian/Noodle LSR subsegment’s 17.9% growth. Itsu has been buoyed by the success of the expanding fast-casual category, and its positioning as a fresh, contemporary, more-healthful option for lunch, dinner and snacks seems to be resonating with consumers. Sales in 2013 rose to an estimated £21.7 millionfrom 43 units—an increase of 10%. The Real China and Wasabi Sushi & Beneto, also posted impressive sales gains in 2013.
Patisserie: Four patisserie chains made the 2014 U.K. Top 100 list—Sayers the Better Bakers (estimated 2013 sales of £78 million), Patisserie Valerie (£53 million), PAUL (£30.4 million) and Muffin Break (£23.3 million). Among these, Patisserie Valerie has had perhaps the most remarkable performance of late: 2013 sales grew almost 25% and units grew 24%. Additionally worth noting in the patisserie segment: Sayers’ 2013 success—sales up nearly 22% while units were flat—illustrates that while emerging fast-casual concepts may grab the most buzz, traditional, family-friendly, quick-service concepts still have room to grow, too.
Frozen Dessert: Only one frozen-dessert concept, Ben & Jerry’s, made the U.K. Top 100 list (ranking No. 46 on that list with £72 million in trade). But Ben & Jerry’s sales rose 12.5% in 2013 while units climbed 7. Competitor Baskin-Robbins ranks as an emerging/regional chain, with U.K. sales an estimated £20.5 million in 2013 (up nearly 11%).
For the full blog click here