Some 78% of Spanish consumers have either maintained or increased their out-of-home food spend, a new study by AECOC has found.
According to the AECOC Barometer report, some two thirds (66%) of Spaniards say that they visit bars or restaurants either ‘the same’ or ‘more’ in 2026, compared to the previous year, with 37% saying that they have increased their spend, year-on-year.
Some 44% of respondents said that despite an increase in prices, they go out for social interaction and to ‘disconnect from the daily routine’, while more than a third (35%) said that they enjoy visiting places that are ‘special’ to them. Close to a quarter (23%) said that they are going out more for enjoyment.
Breakfast consumption
As the study also found, consumption patterns are no longer concentrated around lunch and dinner, with 81% of respondents saying that they have breakfast in bars or cafés at least once a week. Almost all (96%) said that they have breakfast as soon as they get up, while 72% said that they have a second mid-morning breakfast on weekdays.
Some 78% of respondents said that they eat in the workplace at some point during the week, with 50% of this cohort relying on lunchboxes and 12% opting for ready meals from the supermarket. At the same time, 80% of workers still find time to go to a restaurant to dine during working hours at least once a week.
In terms of coffee consumption, meanwhile, some 56% of consumers drink coffee outside the home at least once a week, while 43% are willing to pay more for a higher quality product or specialty coffee, if and when the context permits it.
‘A mature phase’
‘Overall, the sector is entering a more mature phase, with growth moderating as operators develop a deeper understanding of consumers and their varied consumption moments,’ AECOC noted. ‘Identifying new occasions, tailoring offerings accordingly, and focusing on the experience are emerging as the key levers for creating value in the HoReCa channel in the years ahead.’
The data was presented during the 15th anniversary of the HoReCa Benchmarking Conference organised by AECOC. Read more here.
