The value of the travel hub foodservice market increased 11% for the year ending June 2019 from £2.47 billion to £2.75 billion. The NPD is predicting an ‘explosive growth’ in the travel hub market, which they believe could reach £3.44 billion by 2022 (a 25% increase).
The travel hub foodservice market is now a distinct foodservice category and is currently the same size as the delivery sector was in 2015.
Guy Fielding, business development director for The NPD Group, said: “Family holidays are front of mind this time of year and it is peak time for planes, trains and automobiles. Many of those that set off on their summer break by road will buy snacks and beverages from petrol forecourts and in motorway service stations.
“People travelling further afield on trains and planes will find high quality foodservice operators offering a huge range of foods and beverages in railway stations and airports to suit all budgets and appetites.
“A dynamic part of Britain’s £57 billion eat-out foodservice market, these travel hubs are seeing attractive growth and we predict more success. This is in stark contrast to the British high street, where the performance in terms of visits is flat.”
Over the last three years airports have seen the fastest growth in foodservice visits (31%) followed by motorway service stations (16%). In contrast UK high streets have seen a marginal decrease of -0.2% during this period.
The NPD Group believe families and young people are responsible for ‘driving the growth’ in the travel hub foodservice. There are over 11,000 travel hubs in the UK currently with this number set to grow.