Younger Australians are keeping the dining out scene alive, despite the cost-of-living crunch.
New research commissioned by FoodService Association Australia (FSAA) found while one in three Australians (30 percent) were eating out less and one in 10 had stopped altogether, younger consumers were keeping the habit alive.
FSAA CEO Minnie Constan said Millennials and older Gen Zs continued to dine out several times a week, or even daily, with 25 to 34-year-olds, in particular, 1.4 times more likely to visit cafés or restaurants than the population average (79 percent vs 57 percent).
Ms Constan said the research found, across all demographics, value for money remained the top priority, with most consumers (79 percent) spending under $60 per week on dining out and almost two-thirds (63 percent) preferring price discounts over loyalty schemes.
She said additional research highlights included:
- Fast, casual and convenient formats dominated: Quick-service restaurants (62 percent) were the most frequented venues, followed by casual eateries (47 percent) and cafés and coffee shops (33 percent). Delivery apps were especially popular among 25-34-year-olds who were twice as likely to order from an app compared to the overall population (53 percent vs 27 percent).
- Health and sustainability mattered: More than two in three (71 percent) of Australians were looking into healthier options at restaurants and just over two in five (42 percent) were considering sustainability when selecting meals and restaurants.
- Online reviews were the ultimate word of mouth: Almost one in three (29 percent) of diners would check and be swayed by the online reviews before heading to a new restaurant, with around one in five (21 percent) naming online reviews as their top influence when picking eateries.
