British consumers spent £31 billion on eating out last year and it’s estimated that this will grow to £32 billion by the end of 2013 according to a recent report by MIntel.

British consumers spent £31 billion on eating out last year and it’s estimated that this will grow to £32 billion by the end of 2013 according to a recent report by MIntel. Shoppers want and expect a leisure destination, not just a pure retail offer, which is why we see catering as a vital part of the mix within our shopping centres.

Innovation is key and last year we introduced 25 new catering concepts, with many more in the pipeline. We now have over 400 catering outlets across 16 shopping centres and we are looking at improving the catering offer across the entire intu portfolio, with exciting plans for catering extensions at intu Lakeside, intu Victoria Centre and intu Eldon Square. This is good news for our retailers too as both spend and dwell time increased by two-thirds last year for those customers visiting a catering outlet. Our research shows that our shoppers expect to have a good range of eating out options and that it is a key part of their decision making process in choosing where to shop.

Our offer includes impulse and refuelling operators such as juice bars and coffee shops, to destination treats such as champagne bars and fine casual restaurants such as Carluccio’s and Jamie’s Italian. We have just created a bespoke bar at the heart of intu Lakeside for Circle 360 Champagne & Cocktails, its fourth within our portfolio. This is their largest yet and offers 120 seats, a bar magician and flaring bartenders. This type of offer has been a big hit with customers since they first opened at intu Trafford Centre in 2011, then at intu Metrocentre and intu Braehead last year.

We’ve always known that shopping is a hungry business and all developers and shopping centre owners have refocused efforts on this aspect of their business over recent years.

Operators are pushing new concepts and are recognising the benefits of being located within a shopping centre environment.  Demand is also coming from consumers too, who are more interested than ever in innovative food and brands. The Mintel report, ‘Eating Out: The Decision Making Process – UK’, showed that catering operators are pushing the boundaries on a mature marketplace, with the new round of food fashion designed to reignite consumers’ enthusiasm for spending on eating out.

Investing in and creating the right mix of restaurants, cafes and bars that excite the customer and encourages them to stay longer plays dividends for both for us as landlord and retailers trading in the centre.  There are some great new concepts that can add a real point of difference to a centre. The catering offer works best when you combine existing, much loved national names, with up and coming brands, regional specialists and new cuisines.   This is big business, with catering and leisure operators now accounting for 11 per cent of intu’s rent roll and an estimated £330 million of turnover.   This dynamic sector has seen phenomenal growth in the rise of street food and the growth of new burger operators such as Patty & Bun, MEAT Liquor and the American brands Five Guys and  Shake Shack.  We are talking to a number of exciting operators, new to the intu portfolio, such as Tortilla, Barburrito, Rhythm Kitchen, Wahaca, Thai Pad and Le Bistrot Pierre.  Watch this space

Helen Carr, Intu