Реферат: United Kingdom of Great Britain

• almost all ‘traditional’ cafes, snack bars and

tearooms are single-outlet businesses

• chains are more prominent in the ‘modern’ fast

food (especially burgers and pizzas) and midpriced

‘family’ restaurant sectors.

Competition takes place in local markets and is strong - major chains are expanding their operations and new entrants continue to be attracted to the market.

The number of VAT-registered restaurant and takeaway businesses has continued to rise over the last five years (at a higher rate than the total number of VAT-registered enterprises which, indeed, fell slightly in 2002) and problems of overcapacity exist in some areas.

Expansion of capacity has been greatest in the low to mid-priced segments of the market, most notably amongst fast food operators and ‘niche’ operators such as coffee bar chains. For example, one estimate suggests that the number of coffee bar outlets has increased by more than 55% over the last four years. Moreover, expansion has been most rapid amongst the leading five coffee bar operators which, collectively, have more than doubled their number of outlets since the end of the 1990s. The two largest coffee bar chains are estimated to account for about 45% of the market.

Expansion has been greatest in London and the south. However, with the capital, in particular, showing signs of market saturation, the leading chains are increasingly seeking to expand in other geographical areas.

The continued expansion in the number of restaurants and takeaways in recent years has been encouraged by a long-term trend towards consumers eating-out more frequently. At the same time, the increasing willingness of consumers to try a broader range of cuisine has encouraged the development of new eating-out concepts (with London remaining a ‘testing ground’ for many).

However, catering’s share of total consumers’ expenditure has declined over the last decade as eating-out has had to compete with other goods and services for a share of consumers’ leisure spending. In 2001, catering accounted for 7.8% of total real consumers’ expenditure compared with 8.1% in 2000 and 10% in 1990.

Certainly, over the last five years, spending on eating-out has risen less rapidly than total consumers’ expenditure, with demand for catering services being particularly weak in 2001. Having increased by 3% in real terms in 2000, spending on eating-out rose by only 0.5% in 2001. Within this trend, demand deteriorated during the course of the year, spending levels being 0.4% lower in the second half of 2001 than in the corresponding period of 2000.

The foot-and-mouth crisis played a role in the deterioration in the industry’s performance in 2001, impacting adversely on independent businesses operating in rural locations, as well as on those dependent on overseas visitors.

In addition to the adverse impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis, some catering businesses dependent on overseas visitors reported a further downturn in trade following the 11th September US terrorist attacks. For example, in October 2001, the Restaurant Association of Great Britain reported that some restaurants had suffered a 20% fall in business since 11th September.

Restaurants located in London have been most adversely affected by the fall in overseas visitor numbers (especially from the United States and Japan).

Real consumer spending on eating-out has shown signs of improving in 2002: in the second quarter of the year, spending levels were 1.2% higher than a year earlier - this compares with a year-on-year increase of only 0.1% in the first quarter of 2002.

Nevertheless, spending on eating-out continues to rise at a slower rate than total consumers’ expenditure: total real consumer spending rose by 3.5% in the first quarter of 2002 and by 4.1% in the second quarter of the year.

Given that the number of restaurants and takeaways has continued to rise but that consumer spending on eating-out has weakened over the last two years, competitive pressures have increased as problems of overcapacity have been exacerbated. In the light of recent trading conditions, some chains have been re-assessing their operations (e.g. concentrating on developing the most successful areas of their businesses, ‘refreshing’ brands and disposing of underperforming areas).

However, a number of chains are continuing to pursue aggressive expansion programmes.

Consequently, there is no prospect of an easing of competitive pressures in the foreseeable future.

Public houses

There are about 60,000 public houses in the United Kingdom. Collectively, their turnover amounted to £19.1 billion in 2001.

In 2002, 93% of VAT-registered firms had a urnover of less than £500,000; only 2% had sales of £1 million or more.

The ownership structure of the pub trade has changed significantly over the last decade: the 1989 Beer Orders forced the national brewers to reduce the size of their tied estates, providing opportunities for the ‘free trade’ to more than double in size since that time. In particular, ‘newer’ large independent pub chains have been gaining market share at the expense of smaller ‘traditional’ freehouses.

In contrast, the number of brewery-owned pubs fell from about 44,000 in 1989 to just over 10,000 in 2001. However, the major brewers’ share of pub turnover has fallen less rapidly than their share of outlets since 1989: with a limit on the number of tied outlets which they may own, the major brewers have been developing estates of larger outlets.

Following a review of the 1989 Beer Orders, it was announced in December 2000 that the cap on the size of brewers’ tied estates was to be removed.

The removal of the cap could make it easier for the major brewers and larger regional brewers to expand their pubs portfolios. However, those not wishing to incur acquisition costs will still be able to secure outlets for their beer through supply agreements. Indeed, some brewing groups are seeking to dispose of - rather than acquire – pub outlets.

Alcoholic Drink Total Consumer Spending Total consumer spending on alcoholic drink has been weak for much of the last decade.

In 2001, the foot-and-mouth crisis exacerbated problems for some independent pubs in rural locations, as well as those dependent on overseas visitors. In addition, some businesses dependent on overseas visitors reported a downturn in trade following the 11th September US terrorist attacks.

Some improvement in trading conditions was seen in the first half of 2002 with sales being boosted by the World Cup and the Golden Jubilee. However, trading conditions have been mixed subsequently with, for example, poor weather being blamed for a weakening in demand in July.