aem
Here, have a look at the whole article. Fish and chips is apparently number 7. Since you often get hamburgers from the same shop, any attempt to dstinguish it from hamburgers on the grounds of one being fast food and the other being takeaway doesn't make sense. Personally I'm surprised that meat pies are so far down the list.
This is the online version of the article. The bit about the rich eating Thai food is a spearate piece, but the print version amalgamates them.
Humble sanga still top takeaway
Brining a ChickenFYI: Some tips on brining: There is a brine for chicken that includes strong coffee (never tried it but the result is not supposed to taste like coffee). When brining with...
More Australians are chowing down on dim sims, rice and noodle dishes as Chinese cuisine captures an increasing share of the $9 billion a year fast food market.
But the humble sandwich remains Australia's most popular takeaway meal, according to research released today.
The research shows health conscious consumers are biting off a greater share of the fast food market, with takeaway staple potato chips plateauing in popularity.
An analysis of the nation's fast food habits by industry analyst and forecaster BIS Shrapnel found Australians consumed 20 takeaway sandwiches per head of population last year.
Hot potato chips came in second at 18, while hamburgers were the nation's third favourite at 12.
The report - Fast Food in Australia, 2006 to 2008 - was based on a survey of 1,700 consumers.
And while Chinese food ranked fifth in the popularity stakes, it represented the greatest growth market, increasing from six takeaway serves per head in 2002 to nine in 2005.
Chinese was a big hit with older consumers, while sushi was the most popular Asian choice for 18-24 year-olds and Thai for 25-35-year-olds.
Cakes and pastries ranked fourth overall, followed by pizza, fish, ice cream, meat pies and filled rolls.
The report's author Dr Sandro Mangosi said flavour, variety and price all influenced consumer choice, with health playing an increasingly pivotal role.
Fifty per cent of respondents said they looked for "diet" products, while low-fat, additive-free and low-salt foods gained popularity as consumers relied more on fast food alternatives to cooking at home.
Sales of salads, yogurt and bottled water increased, while hamburgers and fizzy drinks decreased.
"We are now living in a society of time-starved consumers looking for convenience food prepared in food service outlets and eaten either on food service premises or in the home," Dr Mangosi said.
"Cooking has become more of a hobby than a necessity for many consumers."
Australia's fast food market has swelled by 3 per cent in the last five years, with 1.4 billion meals bought over the counter.
The popularity of sandwiches led to an explosion of Subway stores, eclipsing McDonald's as the most prolific food outlet with 851 stores nationwide.
Major chains represented 60 per cent of the takeaway market and most experienced growth, with Pizza Hut, Pinky's Pizza, Pizza Haven and Chicken Treat the exceptions.
Independent operators, including sandwich bars, reduced in number.
*Australia's top 10 takeaway foods*
1. Sandwiches
2. Hot potato chips
3. Hamburgers
4. Cakes-pastries
5. Chinese food
6. Pizza
7. Fish fried-grilled
8. Icecream
9. Meat pies
10. Filled rolls.
Source: BIS Shrapnel.
- AAP
How do you mean? The four on the list consbreastute the most common types of ethnic restaurants. We have every other kind as well, but there aren't enough Nepalese or Ethiopian to count statistically. I haven't seen the original survey, so I don't know if they just asked about the four, or whether respondents were asked to nominate any type they liked.
Christine
