Pancake sector on the rise again since the recession

Despite the recession, pancake restaurants continue to perform reasonably well. After slight declines in the number of pancake restaurants between 2008 and 2010, the number of pancake restaurants increased by 6.9% compared to 2010, the strongest growth in ten years. The pancake sector is therefore back at its normal level since the crisis. This is evident from research by Van Spronsen & Partners horeca – advies from Warmond.

Grow
The number of pancake restaurants has increased by over 17.5% over the past ten years, from 292 in 2002 to over 343 in 2012. Although the number of businesses decreased slightly between 2008 and 2010, the sector made a strong comeback in the years that followed, with growth of 6.9%. The substantial increase in the number of pancake restaurants occurred primarily near recreational and tourist areas. The fast-service sector, including the pancake sector, has attracted significantly more visitors since the 2008 crisis. The average spending per guest has also increased substantially compared to the restaurant sector.

Trends
The dichotomy in the types of pancake restaurants is clearly continuing. On the one hand, there are the traditional pancake restaurants, which do particularly well with seniors and families. On the other hand, there are the trendy, contemporary pancake restaurants that focus primarily on multicultural urbanites. An interesting development is that some pancake restaurants are moving from a niche market to a broader market. Where previously there was talk of a ‘single product’ restaurant concept, it is gradually shifting towards a ‘multifunctional’ hospitality concept. This is giving rise to unique combinations such as: event venues/party venues, leisure venues, theme venues, and takeaway concepts, where the offerings better align with the broad demand for leisure activities, convenience, variety, quality, individual consumption, etc. Although the fast-service crêperie has proven to be a success in other countries, we have not yet seen pancake chains emerge to date. However, it is expected that this will appear in and around busy shopping streets and train stations within a few years.

Future vision
The growth in the number of pancake restaurants will continue steadily, reaching approximately 360 restaurants in 2015. Also, in view of increasingly price-conscious consumers and changes in their spending patterns, the pancake sector will attract more visitors in the coming years, at the expense of the restaurant sector. Seniors and families remain the primary target groups for the time being. Particularly pancake restaurants in and around major cities will offer a more varied range of pancake varieties due to the growing ethnic population. Based on changing consumer and market needs, we also expect that more pancake restaurants will follow these trends by introducing innovative solutions within existing and new concepts. For many entrepreneurs, this is the solution to maintain a balanced revenue base and create new opportunities.

Source: Van Spronsen & Partners