Drinks-focused occasions drive pub market as consumers look for a drink and a small snack
08 July 2025Landscape shifts towards branded, managed venues as tenanted sites are expected to continue to decline.
Social drinks-led occasions are on the rise, as consumers head out for drinks and small snacks, according to the latest insights from IGD’s new Away From Home (AFH) service. While this may mean reduced spend per visit, wet-led pubs can use the opportunity to attract customers away from food-led venues. Insights also show that younger consumers continue to drink less, alternating between alcohol and soft drinks.
Meanwhile, tenanted pubs are expected to continue to decline in number, as the landscape shifts towards managed venues with larger capacities and a wider variety of options.
IGD’s insights suggest key opportunities for operators include creating experiences that consumers can’t have at home, as well as capitalising on trends towards relaxed socialising. Suppliers should look to help pubs make the most of different day parts as well as pair food and drinks.
These insights are part of IGD’s new AFH proposition, which kicked off with the launch of the AFH five-year market forecast for 2025-2030. The new service has been developed in recognition of the need for a whole-market viewpoint of the AFH sector and marks a significant milestone for IGD as its first new insight product for 15 years.
To find out more visit www.IGD.com
To view the sector report, click here
Want to know more?
New market forecast: Sign up to our Away From Home & Food-to-Go newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out.
For media enquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Notes to editors:
All content is owned by IGD. If you use or refer to any content in this press release, please credit IGD.
Follow us on LinkedIn
IGD brings together stakeholders from across the food system, fostering action across on critical challenges across a broad cross section of forums. Through evidence-based insights, credible research, and thought leadership, IGD guides businesses to make informed decisions that not only benefit their operations but also contribute to the collective good of society. As a charity with a long-standing commitment to the food and grocery industry, IGD does not advocate for any single commercial interest but works towards fostering alignment on shared goals that can have a positive, lasting impact on both the industry and the communities it serves. Its neutrality and impartiality are key to its role in facilitating collaboration, whether through policy development or addressing emerging risks and opportunities. By staying connected to the changing dynamics of the world, IGD ensures that the food system remains robust and sustainable, creating tangible benefits for businesses, consumers and society.