Spanish attendance to bars is changing. This article sheds light on the reasons that explain why the average purchase per person has increased during the current crisis in Spain, even though the sales figures of the restaurant industry have shown a decline.
According to NPD Group’s Consumer report on Eating Trends, the Spanish restaurant industry, as well as ready-to-eat foods/beverages retail establishments suffered a drop in its sales of 2% along 2010.
In fact, if compared with 2006, the study shows that the restaurant industry has lost around 40 visits per person and year. This represents roughly the loss of 1 visit per week. In spite of this, NPD stresses the fact that Spain is still amongst the European countries where people enjoy eating out more frequently.
The lost in sales is partially put down to a fall in the visits of clients, which showed a 3% decline across 2010. In the hospitality business, some believe that any explanation of the facts should consider a three-fold perspective:
- A change in the behaviour of Spaniards, who are now part of a more Europeanized society
- The local enforcement of the anti-smoking law, which banned smoking in restaurants and bars
- The economic crisis, which seems to have hit Spain more than Italy, the UK or Germany
However, what is most striking is that Spaniards increased the average expenditure by 1% during the same period. It is possible to infer that this behaviour is also a consequence of the economic crisis itself, as individuals go less frequently to the bar, but when they go, they tend to indulge themselves lavishly. Arguably, it doesn’t seem to be a bad way to face the crisis!
