The eating out sector is set to grow further in 2015 with bakeries among a clutch of sectors earmarked for growth.

Research from foodservice consultancy Horizons noted that the UK’s restaurants, hotels, quick-service dining outlets, cafés and takeaway sites saw sales improve around 2% on last year, with a similar increase forecast for 2015.

Managing director Peter Backman said: “It won’t be a meteoric rise” and will still fall far short of the peak of 2008, but sales will undergo steady growth as long as consumer confidence continues to improve. However, confidence remains fragile as global uncertainties such as ebola, the threat from Islamic extremists and the outcome of the general election in May continue to impact upon the nation.

Backman picked out a group of business types that are set to prosper this year including bakeries and coffee outlets as well as juice bars and Mexican street food outlets. Each of his targeted businesses have the benefit of occupying small outlets in high-footfall areas meaning they are most likely to benefit from impulse buys.

“We envisage this trend continuing as entrepreneurial operators come up with novel ideas for brands,” said Backman. “It is these operators that will bring new food trends to the market by renting small, cost-effective spaces that larger brands cannot.”

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