Ireland is a nation that loves to dine out, according to new research from wholesale foodservice supplier Musgrave MarketPlace. The survey into Irish dining habits reveals that 36% of Irish people dine out at least once a week with dinner being the most popular meal to for eating out (79%).
The research was carried out as part of Musgrave MarketPlace’s Discover Musgrave MarketPlace event which took place at Medley Restaurant on Tuesday, May 1. The event saw key Musgrave MarketPlace suppliers and customers come together for a daylong celebration of food, drink and culinary innovation.
Let’s do lunch
While dinner is the most popular meal to for dining out, one in four say they go out for lunch once a week. While many restaurants currently have bespoke brunch menus, only 13% say they go out for brunch on a weekly basis. This number increases slightly to 15% among those aged 18-29.
The Musgrave MarketPlace dining research reveals that half of the survey's respondents spend an average of €50-€100 when dining out, while 11% spend in excess of €100 each time they eat out. Weekends are the most popular time to go out for something to eat, with 44% saying they like to dine out at the weekend.
Going Dutch
When it comes to splitting the bill, 42% say they simply take it in turns to pay with their dining companion. 30% say they ‘go Dutch’ and split the bill equally. However, a key bugbear for those questioned is when dining in a large group and instead of splitting the bill equally, their dining companions prefer to only pay for what they ordered. A third of people describe this behaviour as irritating.
Healthy and causal
38% of people questioned say they would like to see more casual dining options in Ireland and one in five would like to see more healthy eateries popping up. The demand for healthy options aligns with what Musgrave MarketPlace is seeing from its customers in the food service industry who are increasingly seeking out healthy options from our extensive product range.
Tipping culture
60% of people polled always leave a tip, while 36% say it depends on the level of service they receive on the day. 10% of the bill is the average tip (71%) and one in five leave an average of 15% based on their bill.
Meanwhile, 26% of those surveyed said they take pictures of their food when dining out.
Commenting on the research Noel Keeley, managing director at Musgrave Wholesale Partners, said, “It’s clear from our research that as a nation we love to dine out. The restaurant scene in Ireland is always evolving so it’s important that we stay ahead of the curve, innovate within our own business and continue to anticipate the needs of our customers. Our ‘Discover Musgrave MarketPlace’ event is a celebration of that innovation and a showcase of the quality of suppliers and customers we work with.”
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
