In terms of value, the growth of foodservice surpasses that of food sales in stores

Europeans are gradually abandoning their kitchens in favor of the experience and speed of "ready-to-eat" meals. Analysis of performance indicators reveals that the foodservice sector still outperforms traditional food distribution.

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The new State of Grocery Retail Europe 2026 report, signed by McKinsey and Eurocommerce, highlights that after a period of high inflation, European consumers are beginning to prioritize convenience and time savings over strict cost savings.

Alongside the decline of "cook from scratch" combined with the rise of "food-to-go", less price sensitivity and greater attention to flavor, the analysis of market performance indicators reveals very positive prospects for the foodservice sector in Europe.

Growth exceeding that of grocery retail

The first major observation is that foodservice surpasses in-store food sales in terms of value growth. In 2025, foodservice is projected to grow by an average of 4.3% compared to 2024, versus only 3.4% for overall food retail.

This seems to indicate that European consumers are more favourable to immediate consumption and prepared meals (outside the home) compared to buying ingredients to cook at home.

Market boom in Eastern Europe

The foodservice sector is experiencing remarkable growth in value across Central and Eastern Europe. Poland stands out as the most dynamic market, with growth projected at 11.9% in 2025 and an increase of 106.7% since 2019. The Czech Republic is also showing strong growth of 6.2% (vs. 2024) and 47.9% (vs. 2019). By comparison, Belgium is recording growth of 3.3% and 52.3%, respectively.

Eastern regions therefore represent investment areas for restaurant chains and takeaway operators, driven by an increase in purchasing power and a change in consumption habits.

Innovation vs. tradition

The UK (+7.2%) and the Netherlands (+4.9%) remain strong markets for the restaurant sector. France (+4.4%) is exactly in line with the European average, showing stable and robust growth. Germany (+1.8%) and Italy (+1.8%) are the two markets where foodservice growth is projected to be weakest by 2025.

There, foodservice players will need to be more competitive or innovative to capture rarer growth, perhaps due to a stronger tradition of home cooking or increased price sensitivity.

Resilience and post-pandemic recovery

The figures compared to 2019 show that the sector has not only overcome past crises, but has also expanded. On average, the European market has grown by 34.5% in value since 2019.

Food service outside the home is a structural pillar of the European food economy, and not a mere adjustment variable.

The "value" vs. "volume" effect

If we compare the growth of foodservice to the growth of the deflated value of retail (-0.5% on average in Europe), we understand that the consumer is willing to pay a premium for convenience (service, preparation, time saving).

While supermarket purchase volumes are stagnating or declining in real terms (adjusted for inflation), spending in restaurants and takeaway outlets continues to increase in real value.

🟠 Why this is important

For all market players, the challenge is now twofold: to invest in emerging markets in Eastern Europe (Poland in particular) and/or to rethink their offerings in Western Europe to justify a premium on convenience. Whoever controls the time savings will control the market.

Beyond the percentages, these figures tell a story of a transformation in our lifestyles. Europe is gradually abandoning the chore of preparation in favor of experience and immediacy.

This "foodservicization" shows that success is no longer measured by the volume of products sold on shelves, but by the ability of brands to nimbly integrate themselves into the daily, often nomadic, lives of consumers.