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Flickr: USDA

Sales of food and drink through the UK’s foodservice sector were worth £10.8 billion in the first quarter of 2016, up 2.3 per cent on the same quarter last year.

That's according to foodservice consultancy Horizons, which added that trading in Q2 is expected to see a 2.1 per cent rise on the previous year, with sales worth £12.4bn.

Speaking as the company launched a new report on the foodservice market, called The Foodservice Market, Horizons’ managing director Peter Backman said that 2016 was likely to finish showing slightly lower growth than 2015 at around 1.8 per cent.

“Our consumer research shows that frequency of eating out is now at 2.04 times in a two-week period, although average spend is down to £14.07,' Backman said. 'Brexit and the National Living Wage are both causing uncertainty but UK operators have already proved how versatile and adaptable they can be by embracing new food trends and keeping consumers dining out. The fact there was growth in Q1 demonstrates this resilience.”

The Foodservice Market offers an overview of the sector looking at the size, growth and key market drivers.

The report is aimed at suppliers to the sector, new operators coming into the market or anyone wanting to update their knowledge of this fast-moving industry.

It is available by contactinginfo@hrzns.com