More brands plan rollout as confidence increases

Confidence among foodservice brands has increased with 54% planning to open more than five outlets in the next year compared to 35% at the same point last year. A survey by Horizons shows that shopping centres top the target locations for expansion followed by out-of-town retail parks and then transport hubs. Even more operators are targeting London – 92% compared to 82% last year, while 89% are targeting other town centres and high streets. Horizons’ One to Watch survey found Pret A Manger was the most admired brand by Nando’s and Itsu. Five Guys has the highest number of new outlets in the survey, opening 23 new sites since it first entered the UK market in summer 2013. Horizons’ foodservice analyst Nicola Knight said: “The fact that these small brands have stepped up their expansion plans is great news for the UK’s hospitality sector – it shakes up the market by bringing new concepts to the public and challenges existing operators. But we have to ask whether the UK market can take such high levels of expansion in the long term.”

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