Cost of Living
Coverage explores the impact of economic pressures on consumer spending, staff retention, and operational costs across the UK hospitality sector. We report on inflation, wage demands, energy prices, and discretionary income trends, analysing how restaurants, pubs, caterers, and other operators are adapting pricing, staffing, and promotional strategies in response to shifting demand and household budgets.
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Jun- 2023 -21 JuneComment
Discounts and freebies: what else can loyalty programmes offer?
Restaurateurs and bar owners will be well used to the concept of a customer loyalty programme. From the large chains with highly organised reward apps offering points and vouchers, to basic ‘loyalty stamp’ cards, there are many organisations in the field making use of customer loyalty to boost their footfall…
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21 JuneCatering Companies
Chartwells partners with Feeding Britain to tackle UK hunger crisis
Chartwells, the school and education catering company, has partnered with Feeding Britain, the food aid charity, to help tackle hunger across the UK. According to Chartwells, the two organisations share a common purpose to provide “affordable, nutritious food to children and communities, and this new partnership will see them work…
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15 JuneBusiness
Foodservice price inflation goes back above 20% in April
Foodservice price inflation has unexpectedly risen back above 20% to 21.4% in April, according to data from CGA. Price increases had begun to slow in Q1 this year, and inflation dipped below 20% in March for the first time since mid-2022. However, the rebound in April underlines the severe cost…
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May- 2023 -31 MayComment
The Experience Economy: Meeting changing expectations in a cost-conscious world
To today’s consumer, the experience economy has evolved beyond going to the cinema or to a pub quiz. According to research, one in three people are now seeking out a memorable experience regularly, and willing to pay 28% more to get it. On top of this, 56% of consumers are…
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26 MayNews
Contract caterers’ sales climb 30% in Q1, says CGA
Contract caterers’ sales in the first quarter of 2023 finished 30% above the same period in 2022, the latest Contract Catering Tracker from CGA by NIQ and Bidfood reveals. The strong quarter extends the sector’s recovery from the Covid crisis and reflects consumers’ steady return to workplaces and other locations…
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22 MayComment
“It is still a very toxic environment at times”: Q&A with Tim Etherington-Judge
Do you think there is a problem within the mental health of hospitality workers in particular? Absolutely, I think there’s a number of aspects of most hospitality work that makes it particularly challenging to maintain good mental health. Things such as trying to sleep outside of your circadian rhythms, because…
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15 MayComment
Towards an alcohol-free future: how will caterers accommodate it?
Do you think people are starting to prefer mocktails instead of cocktails? The low and no alcohol lifestyle is having a meteoric spike in popularity recently. As consumers become more health-focused and are facing cost of living pressures, the ability to enjoy cocktails throughout the day and evening without the…
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9 MayRestaurants
The Vurger Co secures new investors in pre-pack deal
Vegan burger chain, The Vurger Co., has been rescued out of a pre-pack administration by co-founder Rachel Hugh under a new company with the help of investors after appointing administrators at the end of last month. The vegan restaurant chain started out in 2016 as a stall in Tottenham, North…
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Apr- 2023 -24 AprilNews
Prezzo to shut down 46 restaurants
Italian restaurant chain Prezzo has announced a strategic review of its business that will see the closure of 46 of its sites. The move will affect more than 800 workers who will risk redundancy, although the company said that it will try to “redeploy as many staff internally as possible…
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21 AprilRestaurants
TGI Fridays axes free meals for staff
TGI Fridays has announced that staff who work a shift longer than 10 hours will no longer receive free meals. The company stated that staff would instead receive a 50% discount on all menu items, something that all staff received when working less than 10 hours. Unite Hospitality has launched…
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