• Overall market like-for-likes down 1.4% on May 2015
• London sales hold up better than rest of Britain
Britain’s pub and restaurant groups saw same-store sales slip in May, with collective like-for-like trading down 1.4% on the same month last year according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.
“The later school half-term break, which this year fell in June against May last year, appears to have been a major factor – demonstrating how important the family market still is to the sector,” said Peter Martin, vice president of CGA Peach, the business insight consultancy that produces the Tracker, in partnership with Coffer Group, RSM and UBS.
“Overall, casual dining chains suffered most, with collective like-for-likes down a hefty 5.6% on last May, while pub groups actually saw a 1.0% increase in same store sales for the month, driven mainly by drink-led outlets which were up 4.5%,” added Martin. “It was definitely a tale of two markets last month.”
London also had a better month than the rest of the country, with like-for-likes up 0.9%, and London pubs and bars up 3.8%, against a 2.2% drop in same-store sales outside the M25.
“The distortion caused by the school holiday shift will work its way out next month, and operators will be encouraged by early indications of bumper sales in the first week of June, which also enjoyed good weather,” said Martin.
“However, there will be caution too, as May’s performance follows a drop in sales in April and a generally flat start to the year overall – and the underlying annual trend shows sector like-for-likes running at just 0.9% up for the 12 months to the end of May,” he added.
Total sales for the month among the 31 companies in the Tracker cohort were up 2.2% on 2015, reflecting the fact that groups are still opening new sites, if at a slower rate than previously.
Mark Sheehan, managing director at Coffer Corporate Leisure, added: “The pub and restaurant sector has been dealt an undeniable blow by declining consumer confidence over the course of this year. For the most part, this has stemmed from general economic fears that have been worsened by the impending EU Referendum next week. With each of the home nations represented in Euro 2016, excepting Scotland, we hope to see an upturn in next month’s data, but overall, restaurant operators are undeniably struggling while pub companies are experiencing strong like-for-like growth.
“Looking further ahead, a ‘Remain’ vote in the referendum on 23 June would give a much needed boost of confidence for the sector while a ‘Leave’ vote would pile further pressure on the pound and is likely to exacerbate the weaknesses in consumer behaviour seen already this year. Notwithstanding this, a Brexit would also create a negative impact on hospitality businesses’ employment, commercial contracts and our tourism levels.”
Paul Newman, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM, said: “Making long-term predictions on the back of short-term statistics is always a dangerous game. However, a 1.4% LFL decline in sales represents the biggest one-month decrease in well over two years and is clearly a worrying sign for operators and investors in the sector. In an ever more crowded market place, our conversations with operators are now shifting in focus from estate growth and rollout to driving gross margins and controlling cost inflation with major concerns around rent reviews, the NLW and next year’s rating revaluation.”
Jarrod Castle, leisure analyst at UBS Investment Research, noted that the 12-month moving average like-for-like growth rate was falling, coming in at 0.8% in May, compared to 1.0% in April and 1.2% in March. “The moving average inside the M25 ended at 1.1% while outside it fell to 0.7%,” he added.
The Coffer Peach Tracker industry sales monitor for the UK pub and restaurant sector collects and analyses monthly performance data from 31 operating groups, and is recognised as the established industry benchmark. CGA Peach is part of CGA Strategy.
About Coffer Peach Business Tracker
CGA Peach collects sales figures directly 31 leading companies. Participants include Mitchells & Butlers (owner of Harvester, Toby, Miller & Carter, All Bar One etc), Pizza Hut, Whitbread (Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table), Pizza Express, The Restaurant Group (Frankie & Bennys, Chiquitos, Brunning & Price), Spirit Group (Flaming Grill, Fayre & Square), Casual Dining Group (Café Rouge, Bella Italia, La Tasca, Las Iguanas), Stonegate (Slug & Lettuce, Yates’), TGI Fridays, Marston’s, Azzurri Restaurants (Zizzi, ASK), Wagamama, YO! Sushi, Prezzo, Novus (Tiger Tiger), Fuller’s, Carluccio’s, Young’s, Living Ventures, Strada, Amber Taverns, Hall & Woodhouse, Gaucho, Intertain (Walkabout), Giraffe, Loungers, Byron, Peach Pub Co, Le Bistrot Pierre, Laine Pub Co and Downing LLP (investment partner of Antic London)
Coffer Peach Business Tracker is powered by Demographix
For more comment contact:
Peter Martin, CGA Peach
07825 350249 (mobile)
peter.martin@cgapeach.co.uk
Claudia Cronshaw, Coffer Group
020 7299 0709 (office)
ccronshaw@coffergroup.co.uk
Paul Newman, Head of Leisure and Hospitality, RSM
020 3201 8637
paul.newman@rsmuk.com
Richard Morton, UBS Media Relations
+44 20 7568 0175
richard.morton@ubs.com
