Canny diners find ways to eat out for less

23rd July 2009, 9:53am

QuickBite has found encouraging signs that consumers are prepared to spend again, with 68% of respondents to the survey saying they intended to eat out as often in the coming 12 months as they had in the past.

But the survey demonstrates how consumers are increasingly price-conscious when it comes to eating out.

More than half of respondents (54%) take price into consideration more often than they did six months ago as they seek better value dishes and look to reduce their overall meal spend.

Females are particularly cost conscious (57%) compared with men (50%) when choosing their meal.

Spending on alcohol is an early casualty of this more frugal era, with 51% saying they now spend less on alcohol when eating out, with women (54%) more likely than men (49%) to reduce their spending in this way.

Some 28% of respondents say they are ordering wine by the glass rather than the bottle to reduce costs, with women (32%) reporting this at a much higher level than males (24%).

"The results of the latest QuickBite survey show the changing nature of consumer spending. While it seems people are continuing to eat out, they are looking for ways to reduce the cost, taking advantage of money-off vouchers and the heavy discounting going on amongst restaurant operators. They have also changed the things they are ordering in restaurants – sharing more, drinking wine by the glass and cutting out starters and desserts," commented Paul Backman, Horizons' development executive.

The survey results also show that 39% of consumers are ordering fewer starters and desserts and more are sharing dishes. "It is difficult to attribute this shift to healthier eating habits and is more likely a result of consumers trying to reduce their meal spend," added Backman.

Sharing dishes is an increasingly popular way to save money, with 29% opting for this more often. Women (31%) lead the way compared with men (27%), while Northerners (33%) report a higher incidence of dish-sharing than those living in the South (26%).

Related Articles:

• 01 Nov 2010 - Price of eating out rises 5% year-on-year despite recession, finds Horizons survey
• 07 Sep 2010 - Are restaurants wasting their time with discount vouchers?
• 10 Nov 2009 - Over 520 restaurant operators will finish 2009 in financial difficulty
• 16 Sep 2009 - Diners are still eating out but have reduced average spend
• 29 Jul 2009 - US tourists waste money when eating out in the UK
• 15 Jul 2009 - Eating out in the UK
• 15 Jul 2009 - Spending on eating out falls for first time in 40 years
• 06 Jul 2009 - Posh nosh falls victim to voucher discounts
• 26 Jun 2009 - Almost half of Brits eat seafood in the summer, says Seafish
• 10 Jun 2009 - Eating out is falling after hitting new high

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