Branded chain success is not a given

Allegra Foodservice expects the total UK restaurant market to grow by 1.7% to reach £48bn by the end of 2014. While this rate might appear relatively modest, it reflects the point that the market is by no means firing on all cylinders – and that trading conditions, whilst improving, remain challenging for many. Steve Gotham, insight director at Allegra Foodservice, assesses the situation