76% of Brits buy lunch out for an everyday occasion in 2017
41% of them said they eat more on-the-go than sit-down meals.
According to new research from Mintel, the number of consumers buying lunch to eat out of the home for an everyday occasion has risen to 76% in 2017, up from 64% in 2016. Additionally, the percentage buying lunch out of home for a leisure occasion has grown to 75%, up from 68% in 2016.
Of those who buy lunch out of home for an everyday occasion, two in five (41%) say they are influenced by their state of mind when deciding whether to buy lunch out of the home, for instance if they are tired or happy. What’s more, as many as four in five (79%) Brits agree that ‘food can improve your mood’, rising to 83% among women.
Mintel’s senior leisure analyst Helen Fricker said, “The rise in the number of consumers choosing to eat out at lunch is due to a variety of reasons. The range of options for lunch on the high street has grown, which means those with dietary needs are far better catered to than in previous years. State of mind is also a key driver behind lunchtime food choice and the increased availability of healthy, mood-boosting and functional foods is tapping into this need.”
While it may seem that Brits have been encouraged to reclaim their lunch break, many are still resorting to lunch on the run. Two in five (41%) Brits who have bought lunch to eat out of home in the last month say they eat more on-the-go than sit-down meals, rising to half (50%) of those who are employed full-time. Indeed, a long lunch may now be a historic concept, as over half (54%) of employed Brits say that workday lunches are more functional than enjoyment based.
“The importance of taking regular breaks at work and making time for a proper lunch break is widely known to improve health and make workers more productive. Those that are simply grabbing something without thinking about what they are eating may be missing out on the positive effects food can have on mood, which in turn could mean reduced competency.” Fricker added.
Also, Mintel research reveals that Brits aren’t scrimping on price when it comes to their mid-day meal. Of those who buy lunch to eat out of the home, under a third (32%) look for the cheapest priced lunch item for a Monday-Wednesday lunch option, while 31% do so Thursday-Friday.
