Even in these hard times – when most of us are strapped financially and businesses are closing their doors – there are indeed those who are profiting from the economic downturn. The rising cost of food and the cost of living has meant that people are now staying at home more often to eat and are taking advantage of low-cost fast food outlets instead of splashing their precious cash at expensive restaurants.

One chef at a Domino's Pizza outlet in southwest London said, "I can't remember us ever being this busy. We used to envy the restaurant over the road because it was always packed with people spending lots of money. But now everybody seems to want to order in pizzas or have takeaway because they can't afford to eat out."

Stay away from the stove
Quite diplomatically, Domino's chief executive, Chris Moore, says that instead of rustling up 'recession recipes', people are grabbing the phone to order a quick and easy take-out : "A lot of people are staying at home instead of going out. But they have not developed an immediate desire to cook, so they are ordering in."

However, if the newspapers are anything to go by, 'credit-crunch cuisine' is fast becoming hot news and the ability to make multiple dishes from minimal ingredients has given the lifestyle press an awful lot of material. A new cookbook to emerge this month is The Credit Crunch Cookbook which declares itself a " vital tool that shows you how to creatively use cheaper ingredients and leftovers to produce wonderful meals for any occasion."

Whether people will be willing to return to the kitchen stove and whip up gourmet meals from leftovers, however, remains to be seen. For now it appears that burgers and pizzas are the first thing on the consumer's mind.

McDonald's reports that sales are currently up by 10% and they are planning to crack on with expansion plans throughout Europe in the coming year, creating thousands of new jobs in an industry where other businesses are flailing.

On your bike!
Other recession winners include bicycle and car accessory retailers. Due to the rise of fuel prices and the general cost of living, people are hopping on their bikes or holding onto their cars for longer to reduce unnecessary bills. UK retailer, Halfords – who deal in both bikes and car parts – report pre-tax profit rise of 11% on 2007.