The food-to-go sector is witnessing an unexpected influx of investments from diverse retailers.
- Historically dominated by sandwich chains and supermarkets, the market is now attracting luxury and health-oriented brands.
- Fortnum & Mason, a luxury department store, has introduced a café counter to expand its food-to-go offerings.
- Holland & Barrett is enhancing its customer experience with a unique range of health-infused beverages.
- Hotel Chocolat is diversifying with sweet and savoury food options, expanding its footprint in the food-to-go space.
The food-to-go market, once the stronghold of sandwich chains and supermarkets, is now drawing interest from a wider variety of retailers. According to IGD projections, this market is anticipated to be worth £23.4 billion by 2027, prompting unexpected players to invest. Luxury and health brands are now entering this space, broadening the range and diversity of offerings available to consumers.
Fortnum & Mason, renowned for its luxury goods, has made its debut in the food-to-go market by launching a café counter at its Piccadilly flagship store. This counter features a selection of both hot and cold drinks, as well as pastries and soft serve ice cream. Zoe Norman, Fortnum & Mason fresh buyer, emphasised their intention to expand the lunchtime offering, acknowledging the growing demand for convenient and quality takeaway options.
Holland & Barrett, a name synonymous with health and wellness, has also branched into the food-to-go sector. Its H&Bean takeaway service, initially introduced in Birmingham, has now extended to its London Victoria Street store. This concept integrates health-focused drinks, including signature teas and coffees, enhanced with vitamins to boost wellness.
Hotel Chocolat is venturing beyond its confectionery roots by establishing bakery and hot food concessions. The brand now offers an array of sweet and savoury dishes across its stores in Yorkshire. Their new offerings, inspired by dishes from their restaurant menu, include innovative products like the Chocolatier’s Carrot Cake and Caribbean Chicken Curry.
WHSmith is another retailer reshaping the food-to-go landscape by opening a café under the Smith’s Kitchen brand in Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. This move follows the successful launch of its Smith’s Family Kitchen range, which achieved unprecedented food sales. WHSmith is actively collaborating with various brands to enhance its offerings in fresh, ambient, and drink categories.
An intriguing development in this sphere is Ralph Lauren’s Ralph’s Coffee. Originating as a temporary pop-up, it has become a permanent staple next to their London store. This concept merges high fashion with gourmet coffee, illustrating the brand’s commitment to diversifying its consumer engagement strategies.
The growing interest from diverse retailers highlights the evolving and lucrative nature of the food-to-go market.
