Workers spending less on lunch

Lunchtime spending at work has dropped for the first time in 12 years, with more than half the workforce spending less than £2 and a quarter spending under £1.

The figures are in sharp contrast with the beginning of the Millennium when employees spent the most time and money on their midday meal in a decade.

The average lunch hour has dropped by nine minutes to a record low of 27 minutes and the high street has become a less popular place to dine as a busier, teetotalling and more cost-conscious workforce chooses not to eat out.

But there is good news for catering companies. People are twice as likely to use their company's catering facilities as they were in 2000.

Workers who buy their lunch are most likely to buy it from their staff restaurant (19%), a sandwich shop (15%) or a food retailer (5%).

Eurest, which commissioned the annual national survey of eating habits in the workplace, blamed the changes on job uncertainty and increased work pressures.

While workers are much more concerned this year with healthy eating, the majority will not pay more for an organic meal.

One in 100 employess has an alcoholic drink at lunch twice a week or more, compared with one in three in 1990.