Coffer Peach Business Tracker, February 2017 trading figures for pub, bar and restaurant groups
- February like-for-likes sales up 1.7% nationally
- School half-term gives extra boost for casual dining
Britain is continuing to go out to eat and drink – particularly in managed pubs and branded restaurants, which saw collective like-for-like sales grow 1.7% in February against the same month last year, according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.
“With mounting pressures on the sector from business rate hikes, the falling pound leading to higher food costs and the general uncertainty around Brexit, the fact that consumers are still coming through their doors to eat and drink will be a welcome relief for operators,” said Peter Martin, vice president of CGA Peach, the business insight consultancy that produces the Tracker, in partnership with Coffer Group and RSM.
The February results follow a 1.9% like-for-like increase in January and 2.2% growth over the busy Christmas and New Year period, and contrast favourably with faltering retail sales in the high street.
Overall, restaurant groups in the Tracker cohort had the best of February’s trading with like-for-like sales up 2.4% nationally on the same month in 2016, boosted by family business during the school half term holidays. Managed pubs were also ahead over the month, but with collective like-for-likes up a more modest 1.2%.
Regionally, London out-performed the rest of the country with like-for-likes sales ahead 2.6% against 1.4% for outside of the M25.
“Encouraging though these figures are, pub and restaurant groups will be working even harder this year to maintain trading levels as their margins are squeezed by increasing overheads,” added Martin. “As our recent CGA Business Leaders Survey of 250 senior executives across pub, bar and restaurant chains showed, almost three quarters are looking to pass increased costs, at least in part, on to the consumer this year. That means they will have to redouble efforts to up the customer experience.”
Total sales growth in February among the 34 companies in the Tracker cohort was up 4.7%, reflecting the impact of new openings over the year. However, the underlying annual sales trend shows sector like-for-likes running at just 1.0% ahead for the 12 months to the end of February.
Mark Sheehan, managing director at Coffer Corporate Leisure, said: “London restaurants and bars are seeing strong sales growth which they certainly need. With overheads increasing ahead of inflation the top line growth is very important to food and drink operators. This year has started strongly for operators in the sector.
However, the business rates revaluation has really focused operators on their occupancy costs and despite the very minor concessions in the budget this is yet another additional negative impact on margins and affecting future growth.”
Paul Newman, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM, added: “Eight of the last nine months have shown like for like sales growth, providing operators with good cause for optimism. Despite a backdrop of uncertainty and cost pressures facing the sector, investor interest remains strong. We are seeing opportunities for both early stage and more mature leisure concepts which combine flair and innovation with a commercial focus on converting sales into profit.”
The Coffer Peach Tracker industry sales monitor for the UK pub and restaurant sector collects and analyses monthly performance data from 34 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 34 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, New World Trading Co, Peach Pub Co, Le Bistrot Pierre, Laine Pub Co, All Star Lanes, Le Pain Quotidien 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
ccronshaw@coffergroup.co.uk
Paul Newman, Head of Leisure and Hospitality, RSM
020 3201 8637
paul.newman@rsmuk.com
