Stay ahead of the curve with Mintel’s UK Sustainability in Foodservice Market Report 2024. The full report is packed with consumer-led market intelligence, the latest trends and consumer behaviours affecting sustainability in UK foodservice.Â
This report looks at the following areas:
- Impact of the rising cost of living on sustainability in foodservice
- Importance of sustainability against other purchase drivers
- Which ingredients consumers most want foodservice operators to prioritise when it comes to sustainable and ethical sourcing
- Barriers to sustainability in foodservice
- The importance of transparency and the need to incentivise sustainable behaviour
- Spotlight on leading foodservice operators and environmental organisations
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Sustainability in UK Foodservice – Current Landscape
The cost-of-living crisis has undoubtedly impacted consumer habits, but sustainability seems to be holding strong. Almost half of diners now prioritise eco-friendly options when deciding where to eat/order from. Notably, younger generations are leading this charge, highlighting a significant opportunity for brands to cater to their eco-conscious values.
Sustainability in UK Foodservice – What do consumers want?
Even with the growing focus on sustainability in foodservice, a significant number of UK diners still prioritise other factors when making a decision about where to eat out. Habit plays a crucial role, with a 5% point rise in the number of people who stay loyal to familiar food places. Highlighting the benefits of sustainable practices, such as fresher local ingredients, can enhance offerings, attract eco-conscious customers, and strengthen bonds with regulars.
- UK foodservice consumer trend: Seven in ten UK foodservice consumers favour reward schemes for sustainable practices.
Purchase the full report for a complete overview of the Sustainability in the UK foodservice market, including market dynamics and comprehensive analysis from Mintel’s industry experts.
Report Scope
This report explores consumers’ attitudes and behaviours relating to sustainability within the foodservice market, which includes eating and drinking in pubs, restaurants/outlets, cafés and coffee shops, as well as ordering food for takeaway/home delivery. Market developments related to sustainability regarding food & drink packaging in the retail sector fall outside the scope of this report, and are discussed in Mintel’s UK Sustainability in Food Market Report.
Meet The Expert
This report is written by Trish Caddy. Trish currently writes a range of UK foodservice reports and has been called upon by some of UK’s leading media to comment on key insights and trends shaping the UK eating-out market. Prior to joining Mintel, Trish worked as a chef in London.
There is growing demand for sustainability in UK foodservice, but concerns over affordability and a lack of trust in environmental claims remain key issues.
Trish Caddy
Associate Director – Foodservice
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Executive Summary
- Opportunities for the sustainable foodservice market
- Capture growing interest in sustainable food
- Sustainable sourcing for all ingredients
- Nudging sustainable choices with rewards
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Sustainability is gaining significant traction among UK consumers
- Graph 1: consideration of sustainability when shopping across selected categories (top 5), 2023
- A united front against foodservice waste
- What consumers want and why
- Sustainability on the rise…
- Graph 2: annual changes in factors that consumers prioritise when deciding where to eat out/order a takeaway from, 2023-24
- …but trust remains a hurdle
- Graph 3: annual changes in barriers to sustainable behaviour, 2023-24
- Consumers prioritise sustainable animal products
- Graph 4: key ingredient categories that food outlets/restaurants should prioritise for sustainable ingredient selection, 2024
- Building trust and encouraging sustainable food choices
- Graph 5: attitudes towards sustainability in foodservice, 2024
- Innovation and marketing
- Innovative practices sprouting across UK hospitality
- Collaboration and leadership in sustainability
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Market Dynamics
- Market background
- Consumers consider sustainability the most in food & drink purchases…
- Graph 6: consideration of sustainability when shopping across selected categories, 2023
- …however, food & drink prices top the list of consumer concerns
- Graph 7: cost-of-living-related issues noticed in the last two months, 2024
- A quarter of Brits have become more environmentally friendly in the past year
- Graph 8: consumer perception of own environmentally friendly lifestyle compared to a year ago, 2023
- Social, environmental and legal factors
- UK’s ETS and its potential impact on foodservice
- The Courtauld 2030 Target
- Single-use plastic packaging ban in effect
- The EU’s single-use plastic ban
- Changes in foodservice participation
- Contract catering participation has jumped 5 percentage points
- Graph 9: annual changes in foodservice participation, 2023-24
- As a third of Britons place a premium on sustainability in their food & drink purchases…
- …the increase in counter service usage requires a move towards more sustainability measures
- Graph 10: annual changes in types of eat-in foodservice used, 2023-24
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What Consumers Want and Why
- Foodservice purchase drivers
- Food quality remains the top priority for diners
- Graph 11: annual changes in factors that consumers prioritise when deciding where to eat out/order a takeaway from, 2023-24
- Sustainable and ethical concerns rise
- Younger consumers are dining for the planet
- Graph 12: environmental and ethical factors that consumers prioritise when deciding where to eat out/order a takeaway from, by age, 2024
- Sustainability barriers
- Habit and trust remain hurdles
- Graph 13: annual changes in barriers to sustainable behaviour, 2023-24
- With a third of UK consumers favouring familiar foodservices…
- …there is a call for operators to bridge the sustainability gap
- Sustainable ingredient priorities
- Meat tops sustainability priorities
- Graph 14: key ingredient categories that food outlets/restaurants should prioritise for sustainable ingredient selection, 2024
- Most people value sustainable ingredient selection
- Pasture-raised and local produce take root
- Sustainability attitudes
- Transparency and rewards drive sustainable food choices
- Graph 15: attitudes towards sustainability in foodservice, 2024
- Clarity on carbon footprint and recycling
- Prioritising transparency and verification
- Diners embrace waste-reducing dishes
- Consumers choose with conscience
- As rewards promote sustainability…
- …use them to nudge foodservice consumers
- Growing appetite for green packaging
- Sustainability in foodservice: consumer segmentation
- Identifying key sustainable foodservice customer personas – cluster analysis
- Graph 16: cluster analysis of attitudes towards sustainability in foodservice, 2024
- Catering to the three types of sustainable foodservice customer personas
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Innovation And Marketing Trends
- Launch activity and innovation
- Addressing consumer willingness to pay more for eco-friendly packaging
- A third of consumers are drawn to emerging sustainable ingredients…
- …propelling lab-grown meat and crickets into the spotlight
- Innovation in upcycling and discounting
- With three out of five consumers struggling to grasp the carbon footprint of their food choices…
- …there is a clear need to demystify this index
- Water efficiencies in hospitality
- Certifications earn consumer trust
- Focus on specific actions
- The Zero Carbon Forum leads hospitality towards sustainability
- Greene King pioneers sustainable pub operations
- Greggs champions holistic sustainability in QSR
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Appendix
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Additional sustainability terms
- Carbon emissions
- Science-based targets (SBTs)
- RE100
- Methodology
- Consumer research methodology
- Cluster analysis group definitions
- Graph 17: cluster analysis of attitudes towards sustainability in foodservice, 2024
- Cluster analysis group definitions
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