HCM City (VNA) - Convenience stores were the most successful foodand drink service channels in the past year, according to results of a surveyreleased at a seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 30.

The seminar, with the theme “TheFood-service Industry; It’s Time to Welcome Generation Z”, discussed the latestmarket updates, including a Food-service Monitor set up by Decision Lab thatsupplies data on consumer eating-out purchases and visits in Vietnam.

Based on daily monitoring of dining-outbehaviours, the monitor gives key insights on important developments in themarket and solutions for operators, manufacturers and investors.

It includes purchases and visits made byVietnamese consumers aged 15 and over when eating out, and adults’ reports onwhat children under the age of 15 are eating outside the home.

Based on over 22,300 consumer interviews,the Decision Lab’s Food-service Monitor Reports found that consumers in both Hanoiand HCM City showed increased out-of-home visits, with the food-service marketenjoying positive traffic growth.

Nghiem Vu Huong Linh, senior consultant atDecision Lab, said the results showed changes in the restaurant market over thepast years, and the effects on business, manufacturing and investment in thefood-service sector.

“Convenience stores (CVS) are disruptingthe food service market in a fundamental way,” she said.

CVS not only appeals to the generalconsumer but also succeeds in luring Generation Z, who were born between 1994and 2002.

In the third quarter of this year, the CVSchannel reached 14 percent of market share in visits against 12 percentyear-on-year, despite market fluctuations, she said.

Linh said that Vietnamese eat out more,though selectively, and the number of happy customers had increased over thepast year.

The seminar was organised by the EuropeanChamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) in collaboration with the marketresearch company Decision Lab.

It attracted many representatives fromrestaurant chains, manufacturers, advertising companies, marketing researchersand media involved in the food and beverage sector.-VNA