Convenience stores have seen a very strong performance, with FTG up 18% in the latest 12 week period compared to the same period in 2021
The tracker also found that forecourts are rebounding well, with a 17% increase over the same period.
Tom Fender, development director at data consultancy TWC, said: “The market has slowed as the impact of economic shocks bites, with growth dipping under 2% over the last 4-weeks, but the wider recovery remains solid, with both occasions and value making strong gains over 12 and 52-weekly periods across both FTG and eating out.
“Encouragingly, for the moment at least, value growth remains ahead of occasions, indicating that spends are holding up and consumers are continuing to seek rewarding experiences rather than trying down on prices and functionality.
“That said, in FTG we are seeing the strongest growth in the multiple and convenience sectors, whilst coffee shops and GTG Specialists are flat and takeaways have fallen back.”
Fender added that there has been strong growth in meal deals, and above average growth in confectionery, cakes and pastries.
He said: “Interestingly (and unusually) growth is currently being driven by older consumers now returning to the market, especially 45 – 64’s, where growth is much stronger than for the younger age groups across both FTG and Eating Out (Millennials and Gen Z are generally the trailblazers).
“Over 65’s have yet to return to FTG whilst eating out, which had been recovering well in this age group, has dropped away over the latest 12-weeks, perhaps because this age group is more vulnerable to the impact of rising costs.”