Sandwich shops, fast-food restaurants and cafés are feeling the pinch from what has been dubbed the “credit munch” – a renaissance of the packed lunch among cash-strapped consumers.

They are taking their cue from cookery programmes and celebrity chefs to create healthier lunches at home, such as exotic fruits, mixed salads and experimental pasta dishes.

Sandwich chain Pret a Manger, retailer Marks & Spencer and Uniq, the food and ready-meal supplier, have all been hit in the pocket by the credit munch. M&S has responded with new economy choices and plans to slash food prices following a 5% drop in sales while Pret A Manger has introduced an economy range “to reflect our sensitivity to people’s pockets”. The market for shop-bought lunches is worth £5 billion a year.

Conversely, sales of Thermos food and drinks flasks have risen by 30% year-on-year while retailer Robert Dyas has seen lunch box sales grown by 68% over the past year. Source: Caterer-online.com 10-11-2008