Today’s news in brief – 26/06/24

Year-on-year hospitality inflation has fallen to 4.6%, the lowest recorded in 28 months by Prestige Purchasing and CGA’s Foodservice Price Index report, revealing more positive trends for the industry. May also saw month-on-month deflation of negative 0.4% – only the fourth such decrease in the last 32 months. 

Restaurant deliveries in May were 11.3% ahead of 2023 on a like-for-like basis, according to data from CGA. This follows cool and damp weather in many parts of Britain for much of May, which led some consumers to order in food rather than going out. Combined delivery and takeaway sales were 6.2% ahead, an improvement on April’s figure of 4.5%. 

St Austell Brewery has partnered with ScottishPower to install EV chargers in its pub car parks across the South West of England. Currently, the electrical infrastructure in the South West is sparse, with Cornwall Council estimating that there are only around 450 EV charging points in Cornwall.

Slim Chickens will open a new location at Festival Place in July. With room for over 85 diners, the restaurant will deliver its casual dining offer serving hand-breaded buttermilk-marinated chicken, as well as other dishes including sandwiches, crispy wings, wraps, salads, sides and a range of plant-based alternatives.