Global foodservice markets, with the exception of Russia, saw flat or increased first quarter traffic and increased consumer spending.
Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and Spain all posted foodservice traffic gains in the first quarter of 2016 while visits in France, Italy, and the United States remained flat. Germany showed a 1 percent foodservice traffic increase in the first quarter on the heels of three consecutive quarters of growth. The average food check at German foodservice outlets grew by 3 percent, which led to consumer spending growth of 4 percent.
Russia experienced a 2 percent decline in foodservice visits in the first three months of 2016, reports NPD Group, who attributed the decline to a weakened oil market and currency as well as embargoes.
Quick-service restaurant traffic was up or flat in every global market tracked by NPD Group, and was the driving engine behind the broad health of the industry. Japan was the exception, with flat QSR traffic but growth in the country’s dominant retail (e.g. convenience stores) foodservice segment. The European markets were also supported by visit gains in the full-service restaurant segment, which is a major shift from recent years.