We are eating out more than ever before.

Despite no significant pay increase for most people in Australia over the last few years, we are spending a lot more of our money in eating out more than we ever have.

According to a recent article by business broking professional Faye Ferris, research is showing that we are now eating out on average  two to three times a week, which means that at least 50 million meals are being eaten away from home every week.

This obviously a huge potential market for cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and all the quick service businesses. Takeaway is not necessarily included as this food is usually eaten in the home.

Ms Ferris is suggesting that there are specific trends in this increase in the food service market;

1. People are looking for healthy food

The important thing here is that the food cannot just say it is healthy, it must be healthy. There are always new fads in this area and the trick for food businesses is in predicting those and having foods which meet them.

1. If your business is not online, you are missing business

More and more people are not just checking out a food business’s website and the comments from others on it, they are booking online as well. So all food service businesses must have a good and easy to use website and also need to think seriously about having a suitable app as well. Many cafes / restaurants  now use mobile technology  for customer orders in store as well.

1. Drones are just one of the ways that food is being delivered

Delivery was once not very common, it is now usual for food to be delivered. If your food business does not have some form of guaranteed delivery, you are missing business.

1. Let’s have Chinese for dinner, no let’s do something else.

There was a time when the only restaurant in a town was a Chinese or an Italian. Now these are struggling to some extent as there are now restaurants and cafes everywhere with food from all over the world. You can try foods from different cultures and styles  every week and not get bored. This means that these old favourites have really got to work hard to keep things fresh and interesting.

1. New healthy choices

Recently I found a new takeaway in a shopping centre which specialises only in toasted sandwiches. They are quick and generally healthy and great comfort food, but who would have thought a few years ago that such a chain would be set up? There are now quite a few quick service chains which are about salads and freshly made sandwiches and this will only increase with the demand for healthier food.