With year-on-year sales failing to meet inflation in six out of the past eleven months, operators have already found themselves balancing fine margins throughout 2024. But with staffing costs among managed groups expected to rise even further in April 2025’s Government budget, this Christmas is carrying the burden to make up for strained trading in the previous year and bolster business for the year ahead.
With like-for-like sales growth of 2.7% in week commencing 16th December performance may not have been stunning, but with sales beating recent inflationary benchmarks it has been a week of solid performance. However, the success has not been divided equally across the market.
A confluence of Christmas parties, late-night sporting events, and convenient bank holiday scheduling may have all contributed to the strongest performance seen among managed Bars this year, of 20.5% growth. This will be a welcome boon for the beleaguered sector, which has spent most of the past year in decline. It is also a welcome reminder that although spending may be currently restrained, there is still remarkable consumer desire to make the most of special occasions. Whether this momentum continues into early 2025, typically the toughest trading period for the late-night sector, remains to be been.
Celebration will be more muted across other segments. Food-led operators saw relatively stronger performance, with like-for-like growth of 3.4% in the On The Go sector, and 2.1% in Restaurants. Meanwhile Pubs saw only minor growth of 0.7%.
CGA by NIQ collected sales figures directly from 115 leading managed groups for November’s edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which provides authoritative monthly insights into Britain’s restaurant, pub and bar sales. Companies participating in the Tracker receive a fuller breakdown of trading that helps to benchmark performance and understand market trends. To join the cohort, contact Andy Dean at andy.dean@nielseniq.com.
Participants in this weekly edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker: Adventure Leisure Ltd, All Star Lanes, Amber Taverns, Anglian Country Inns, Arc Inspirations, Azzurri Group (Ask Italian, Coco di Mama, Zizzi), Banana Tree Restaurants, Barburrito, Barworks, Beds and Bars, Big Fang Collective, Big Table Group (Bella Italia, Chiquito, Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas), Bill’s Restaurants, Boom Battle Bar, Boston Tea Party, BrewDog, Burger & Lobster, Buzzworks Holdings Group, Byron, Chance and Counters, Chopstix, Coaching Inn Group Ltd, Comptoir Group Plc, Cote Restaurants, Creams Café, D & D London, Darwin & Wallace, Dishoom, Five Guys, Fortnum & Mason, Fuller Smith & Turner, Gaucho Grill, Giggling Squid, Glendola Leisure, Greene King (Chef & Brewer, Hungry Horse, Flaming Grill), Hall & Woodhouse, Hawthorn Leisure, Heartwood Collection, Honest Burgers, HOP Vietnamese, Individual Restaurants, Kibou, Laine Pub Co, Le Bistrot Pierre, Liberation, Lina Stores, Loungers, Lucky Voice, Marston’s, McMullen & Sons Ltd, Mildreds, Mission Mars, Mitchells & Butlers (Harvester, Toby, Miller & Carter, All Bar One), Mojo Bar, Mowgli, Nando’s Restaurants, Neos Hospitality, New World Trading Company, Nightcap Plc, NQ64 Arcade Bars, Oakman Inns, Parogon Pub Group, Peach Pubs, Pho, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut UK, Popeyes, Portobello Starboard Ltd, Prezzo, Punch Pub Co, Pure, Revolution Bars, Rick Stein Restaurants, Riley’s, Rosa’s Thai, Roxy Leisure, San Carlo, Shepherd Neame, Simmons Bars Group, Snug Bar, Southern Wind Group (Fazenda), St Austell, Star Pubs & Bars, State of Play Hospitality, Stonegate Pub Co (Slug & Lettuce, Yates’, Walkabout, Bermondsey Pub Company), Tasty Plc, TGI Fridays UK, The Alchemist, The Restaurant Group, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Tonkotsu, Tortilla, Treetop Golf, True North Brew Co, Turtle Bay, Upham Pub Co, Urban Pubs & Bars, Various Eateries (Strada, Coppa Club), Village Hotels, Wagamama, Wasabi, Wells & Co, Whitbread (Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table), Wingstop, YO! Sushi, Young’s and Yummy Collection.
