The Pub sector has changed but is still very important
Data from the NPD Group has revealed how pubs stand for over 10% of all out of home traffic in Great Britain. In real terms, this represents 1.3 billion visits in the year ending June 2016. Fiscally, the importance of pubs is even greater as £10.3 billion is spent in pubs every year. This means that almost 1 in every £5 spent out of home are spent in Pubs.
Indeed, with an average spend per eater of £8.12 each occasion is 73% more valuable in pubs than in the overall out of home market.
The pub sector has drastically changed since the 2008 recession. Independent pubs were strongly hit whilst chains managed to thrive. This means that a sector that was largely led by independents is now largely led by chains.
The chains success could be partly attributable to the fact that they significantly improved the atmosphere and ambiance of their outlets.
The improvement in the atmosphere in pubs is probably the root of its appeal to families; now 1 in 5 out of home pub occasions are populated by families - 23% more than in the food service market overall.
Muriel Illig, Senior Account Manager at the NPD group commented: “Pub chains have done a great job in adapting to changes in habit and expectations since the recession; they managed to attract all types of consumers for meals and have worked at including families. However, the level of expectations for service, food and beverage quality, value and ambiance is getting higher and the market is increasingly competitive. To compete particularly in cities, whether the pub is a chain or an independent, they will need to constantly step up their game and be on the look-out for all the new trends in the market to remain relevant and exciting. This will include finding inspiration from the street food market scene, innovative concepts adopted by restaurants both locally and abroad."
She concluded that “Stagnation will not be an option”.
