One year since launching Taste of the Nation and following the success of the first and second editions, Deloitte, together with BDRC Continental, are pleased to present the third edition.

In this edition we have the first opportunity to compare year-on-year results. This has allowed us to build a picture of evolving consumer eating and drinking habits on a regional level and by a range of demographics and sub-sectors, whilst providing an insight into the size of the market and its opportunities.

The special feature in this edition focuses on social media and its increasing use in the going out industry.

Key findings

• The food-led sector is growing faster than drink-led sector;
• Generation Y is still going out the most, 62% more than the national average;
• Going out to eat and drink is considered a lifestyle not a luxury for Generation Y, with this group now going out a third more often than 12 months ago;
• Men of all generations go out 60% more often than women;
• 24% of consumers use social media in search of discount vouchers;
• 33% of consumers are using review sites when deciding where to go out for food and drink;
• 37% of consumers are using social media when deciding on their eating or drinking destination.