Growing consumer demand for calorie information on menus

Consumer demand for nutritional information on menus is growing, according to a survey of major restaurant and pub operators in the UK.

The survey of 35 restaurant and pub chains, representing more than 7,000 units, found that more than 60% had seen an increase in demand for nutritional information in the past year.

The study, conducted by Redpoint Research on behalf of software firm Fretwell-Downing Hospitality, showed that 81% believe the demand from customers will only increase.

The operators questioned believe that this thirst for knowledge is being driven by the consumer, rather than the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which recently made public plans to introduce voluntary menu labelling.

The survey also found operators were split as to how best to meet this growing demand between sending samples to a laboratory and purchasing nutritional analysis software to do it themselves.

Last month the UK's largest contract caterer Compass Group threw its weight behind the FSA's menu labelling scheme, despite the British Hospitality Association describing it as a potentially costly burden on restaurants.

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By Chris Druce

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