Chen said this increase reflects the changing lifestyles of urban dwellers, especially those in dual-income families.

“In most families, both parents are probably working, so there is more of a necessity for them to dine out more often,” he said during a panel discussion at the CGS International 17th Annual Malaysia Corporate Day 2025 at a hotel here.

Chen also said F&B outlets are increasingly used as hubs for people to socialise or host corporate events, which has also driven up demand.

Last year, the National Security Council said its research found that Malaysians spent an average of RM800 to RM1,200 dining out each month.

A total of 43% of respondents to a 2022 survey by pollster Rakuten Insight revealed they ate out several times a week. Another 19% said they dine out at least once a day.

The same survey also found that 73% of Malaysians usually ate out with members of their family, with the social aspect of dining out playing a significant role, particularly among white-collar workers.

Chen said while there is increased footfall at F&B outlets, the same cannot be said for merchandise retailers as the growing prevalence of e-commerce has negatively impacted physical retail sales.

“But that doesn’t mean the end of physical store sales. Retailers are evolving and they are creating more types of (shopping experiences for customers),” he said.

“If you come to Sunway Pyramid, for example, you will see that in (certain sports shops) you can try out sports shoes on a treadmill before you purchase it.”

Among Sunway REIT’s property portfolio of 28 assets are 13 retail properties such as Sunway Putra Mall in Kuala Lumpur, Sunway Pyramid Mall in Selangor, and Sunway Carnival Mall in Penang.