UK restaurant, pub sales in October up 3% from pre-COVID levels despite mounting operational pressures
Rolling 12-month sales, however, was down 4.5% for managed pubs, bars and restaurants.
Nearly sixty of Britain’s leading restaurants, pub and bar groups achieved modest sales growth in October amidst mounting operational pressures.
The latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker revealed total sales were up by 3% on the pre-COVID levels of October 2019. Sales were 64% higher than in October 2020, when trading was subject to severe COVID restrictions.
The Tracker, produced by CGA in partnership with The Coffer Group and RSM, said October was a slightly better month for pub groups than restaurants, with total sales growth of 3% and 2% respectively. Bars performed best, seeing an increase of 13% as the recovery of the late-night market continued.
In contrast, trading in London, where a shortage of office workers and tourists saw sales down 4% on October 2019; but rose 6% beyond the M25.
October also delivered a third consecutive month of 2021-on-2019 increases, though the rate of growth dipped from 8% in September. The Tracker said this indicated the “resilience” of managed groups, who remain under severe pressure from challenges including rising food, drink and energy costs and distribution and recruitment problems.
Rolling 12-month sales to the end of October 2021 down by 4.5% compared to the previous 12 months.
“Hopes are pinned on a strong Christmas trading period, but the sector needs and deserves sustained support in many areas well into 2022 to help fuel its recovery,” said Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA.
A total of 59 companies provided data to the October edition of the Tracker.
