Consumer Confidence
We report on consumer confidence trends and how they influence spending habits across the UK foodservice and hospitality sector. This features our coverage of economic sentiment, household budgets, discretionary spend patterns, and the wider behavioural shifts affecting restaurant, pub, café, and catering trade. Whether you’re planning pricing strategies, forecasting sales, or adjusting marketing efforts, our reporting links consumer psychology to trading outcomes, helping foodservice operators make informed commercial decisions in a changing economic environment.
-
Mar- 2020 -25 MarchCoronavirus
Britain ‘sees opportunity’ for food and drink deliveries, says CGA
In the week prior to the Prime Minister’s stay-at-home order, 53% of the public used or planned to use delivery as an alternative, according to the latest research from CGA. Some 13% of the public received delivery from a restaurant or takeaway either for the first time, or more often…
Read More » -
5 MarchBusiness
Hospitality leaders optimistic despite post-Brexit concerns, says CGA
Optimism among business leaders in the eating and drinking sector was at its highest level for nearly four years, according to the CGA’s latest Business Leaders’ Survey. The poll, run in partnership with hospitality technology specialist Fourth, revealed 60% of senior executives were “optimistic” about prospects for the sector in…
Read More » -
4 MarchComment
10 predictions for the food industry in 2020
The 2010s saw a number of food trends which would define a decade. From the popularity of activated charcoal and kombucha signalling a renewed interest in health and wellness, to the rise of veganism, these new food trends allowed difficult conversations to enter the mainstream. 2020 shows no sign of…
Read More » -
Feb- 2020 -11 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Yes, the trade barriers are coming
I think both Leavers and Remainers probably expected this in the long run – Michael Gove announced yesterday that businesses should “accept” that frictionless trade with the EU will be impossible whatever agreement is finally reached by the deadline of 31 December this year. This is the cost, he says, of making…
Read More » -
Jan- 2020 -30 JanuaryRestaurants
McDonald’s UK to open 60 restaurants in 2020
McDonald’s UK has revealed it is aiming to open a further 60 restaurants across the UK and Ireland as it prepares to invest £1bn over the next three years. The news comes as McDonald’s revealed that global sales for the year ending 31 December 2019 passed $100bn (£76.7bn), with consolidated…
Read More » -
29 JanuaryBusiness Bites
British Airways gets flighty and Starbucks smells the coffee over coronavirus
The business response to the coronavirus situation, which appears to be developing into a serious crisis, continues apace today. British Airways today announced that it was suspending all flights between the UK and Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus originally broke out. In a statement it said: “We have…
Read More » -
24 JanuaryBreweries and Distilleries
Marston’s delivers ‘credible’ trading performance
Marston’s has announced overall like-for-like sales increased by 1% in the 16-week period ended 18 January. Trading over the Christmas fortnight was “strong”, with a like-for-like sales growth of 4.5%. The brewer said this period compensated for more “subdued” trading in the first three weeks of December, when poor weather…
Read More » -
15 JanuaryBusiness
Restaurant and pub sales lifted by positive festive trading
Collective like-for-like sales were up 2.5% across pub, bar and restaurant groups over Christmas, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. In the six weeks ended 5 January, trading was positive across all parts of the industry. Restaurant chains saw a 2.3% uplift in like-for-like sales, while managed pub…
Read More » -
10 JanuaryBusiness Bites
Spooked markets seem soothed by Iran-US climb-down
When Iran decided to hit back on US military facilities after president Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, there was talk of the outbreak of war. NATO countries apparently implored Trump not to go for another attack, fearing that if he did things would escalate beyond control…
Read More » -
Dec- 2019 -17 DecemberBusiness
Optimism improves across eating and drinking out sector, says CGA
Optimism in the hospitality sector is at an 18-month high, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from the CGA and Fourth. The quarterly survey of business leaders across the UK pub, bar and restaurant sector showed that 44% of respondents were optimistic about the market for the coming year. …
Read More »
