A study by Indian management consulting firm Technopak Advisors suggests that food outlets located in shopping malls are intrinsic to driving up footfall.
Nearly a quarter of people engage in shopping at the same time as eating out, found the study. And while buying another bag becomes a "luxury" during a recession, eating out is considered a "comfort" worth indulging in. Harder economic times didn’t stop people eating out, say researchers: they just started eating out less frequently.
"An average consumer eats out seven times in a month," says Saloni Nangi, Vice President, Technopak Advisors. "Half the instances of eating out are standalone events. At other times, eating out is clubbed with shopping, watching a movie, or simply catching up with friends and relatives."
(Source: The Financial Express)