The growth rate of the catering market accelerated in 2018 - mainly due to the development of fast food segment in the regions.

      The NPD Group analyzed the food service market in the eight largest cities in the country. At the end of 2017, the industry grew by 2%, and in 2018 the market grew by 5.1%.

      Cities in the regions are significantly ahead in growth: In Moscow, by the end of the year, the industry grew by 4%, in St. Petersburg - only by 0.6%, and in the regions it grew by 12%. The growth was mainly provided by the fast food segment - in 2018 it grew by 13%, coffee shops became the second fastest growing segment - 5%. The growth of the traditional restaurants segment, on the contrary, declined - by 6%, while the segment share in the market fell to 26% (- 3 percentage points).

      The fast food segment in Moscow and St. Petersburg grew by 10 and 13%, respectively, and in large cities, the cumulative increase was 26%. According to Marina Lapenkova, expert of the food service market at the NPD Russia, fast food is more affordable for residents of the regions.

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