What’s holding back the UK’s restaurant industry?
New research reveals the key enablers of growth and persistent operational challenges.
Gaps in real-time visibility and data accuracy are holding back UK restaurant operators, limiting their ability to make informed decisions as they pursue growth.
Despite these operational blind spots, expansion remains a priority. According to the UK Restaurant Growth Insights Report by Crunchtime Information Systems, Inc. in partnership with Technomic, UK operators plan to open 20% more new locations on average in the next two years than in the previous two, even as 78% express concern about ongoing economic uncertainty.
Yet, the ability to support this expansion with reliable data remains limited. Whilst most operators recognise the importance of visibility, 85% say timely and accurate data is critical to shaping their growth strategies and 83% rely on real-time analytics, only a small share report actually achieving it.
Just 28% said their current tech systems enhance decision-making, and more than a quarter identified access to real-time data and analytics as a key challenge during expansion.
UK operators continue to navigate changing consumer habits, with UK dining and takeaway activity dropping 15% in September, according to Boston Consulting Group. Adding to this pressure is the increase in National Insurance Contributions in April, which has forced some operators to raise prices to keep up.
However, there is a clear gap between those who say that visibility is extremely or somewhat important to those who have complete visibility. For example, the report revealed that for daily operational task completion, only 31% have real visibility, whilst 89% say visibility in this area is important.
The report surveyed 100 multi-site restaurant operators with decision-making authority in the quick-service, fast-casual, casual-dining, pubs, and fine-dining sectors during the spring of 2025.
