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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Jul- 2023 -17 JulyComment
Loans repayment, inflation, staff shortages: what else we can expect from hospitality insolvencies?
What are the potential reasons for the continued increase in the number of hospitality insolvencies we’ve seen recently? Glyn: I think it goes back to the pandemic. Covid was a big thing for the sector and rightly, both the government and HMRC stepped in to help companies with furlough and…
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10 JulyCatering Companies
Compass Group receives Living Wage Champion Award
Compass Group UK and Ireland has won the Living Wage Champion Award in the Recognised Service Provider Category at the Living Wage Foundation annual awards. Compass has secured the recognition for its leadership in advancing the real Living Wage within its own industry and its client network, since becoming a…
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10 JulyBeverages
Alcoholic mixer sales drop 4.3% year-on-year
Sales of mixers in the UK have dropped 4.3% to £109.8m in the last quarter according to figures from CGA. Furthermore, mixers have steadily lost share in the wider soft drinks category and now account for 10.4% of sales, down by 0.9 percentage points from last year. This downward is…
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5 JulyComment
Catering to Britain’s future: Nurturing hospitality and entrepreneurship post-Brexit
As the country continues to navigate a new chapter outside of the EU, it is becoming even more crucial to identify those sectors that have the capability to drive economic growth and foster innovation. Catering is an industry that has proven its resilience and thirst for innovation over recent years,…
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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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