According to NPD's latest findings, fast food outlets are also showing the fastest comparable market growth, meaning they could soon dominate the market share.

Burgers, fried chicken, pizzas, kebabs and take out curry now account for 50.4 per cent of meals bought outside the home, up from 47.3 per cent in 2008.

This is a total of 5.54 billion fast food meals a year, (with the Doner kebab sector accounting for £2.2 billion) a total of 11 billion meals eaten outside the home – be it at a work canteen, restaurant, pub or sandwich shop.