IN FOCUS // Solo dining
Table for one New research has revealed a growing number of diners are going it alone. WORDS Annabelle Cloros SOLO DINING WAS once the
with a 70 per cent contribution
association for male solo dining
the least popular mealtime, with
domain of business travellers
to growth (CTG). New South
(61 per cent) due to the workforce
21 per cent of Australians eating
and those on the go, but a new
Wales and Victoria comprise
make up,” says Gimantha
alone in the evening. “Years
report has revealed Australians
the largest solo dining markets
Jayasinghe, deputy managing
ago, eating alone was pretty
are fast shedding the stigma of
at 35 per cent and 31 per cent
director, APAC, at The NPD
uncommon,” says Jayasinghe. “If
eating alone.
respectively. In addition, they are
Group. “36 per cent of solo diners
you were a solo diner, you were
the top two growth states, sitting
are white collar, with 57 per cent
looked at strangely or people
released by research company
A CREST trends report
at 42 per cent CTG each over a
between the ages of 25 to 49.”
assumed you were a food critic.”
The NPD Group found solo
three-year period.
dining now accounts for 40 per
The research also revealed
A staggering 77 per cent of
The statistics indicate
solo dining experiences occur
the market is changing, and
cent of traffic share within the
some interesting facts about
on weekdays, with breakfast the
operators should consider how
foodservice sector.
the demographic of solo
most popular meal (60 per cent)
they can cater to solo diners
diners. “Middle-aged working
for Australians to eat alone. A
from seating arrangements and
currently account for 41 per
consumers are the core solo
‘morning snack’ came in second
providing reading materials to
cent traffic share of the sector
diners in Australia, with a stronger
place at 50 per cent. Dinner was
offering half portions. ■
On-premises operations
6 | Hospitality
