Covid-19

Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UK’s foodservice and hospitality sector, from lockdown trading restrictions and government support schemes to recovery planning, operational adaptations, and long-term business implications. This includes essential reporting for restaurant operators, pub landlords, caterers, chefs, and F&B directors navigating one of the most disruptive periods in industry history.

Mar- 2022 -

18 March

Pubs and Bars

Feb deliveries and takeaways double pre-Covid levels but growth slows

Britain’s managed restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales continue to run at more than twice the level seen before Covid-19 – but trading has dipped from the peaks of early 2021. That is according to the latest CGA and Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker, which found that groups’…
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18 March

Catering Companies

J D Wetherspoon returns to normal trading amid improving sales

In the most recent three-week period, to 13 March 2022, J D Wetherspoon has revealed it has seen sales improve to just 2.6% lower than the equivalent period in 2019. In its preliminary results for the 26 weeks ended 23 January 2022, the group reported revenues of £807.4m, down by…
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14 March

Food and Drink

Hospitality managed groups’ sales up 3% in February

Managed groups’ like-for-like sales in February were 3% higher than in February 2019, according to the Coffer CGA Business Tracker, produced by CGA in partnership with The Coffer Group and RSM. It revealed the lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups to raise sales…
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2 March

Catering Companies

Catering sales still below pre-Covid levels despite ‘modest’ recovery

Contract catering sales saw a modest recovery in the last quarter of 2021, new CGA research reveals, but Covid-19 concerns continue to hold them “well below” pre-pandemic levels. The latest edition of CGA’s Contract Caterer Tracker shows sales from October to December 2021 were up by 37% on the same…
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1 March

Pubs and Bars

Revolution bars returns to profitability in H1

The Revolution Bars Group has announced its pre-tax profits for the 26 weeks ended 1 January 2022 (H1 FY22) hit £4.3m, up from a loss of £17.7m in the comparative FY21 period, and up from a loss of £1.6m for the same period in FY20. Additionally, the group returned to…
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Feb- 2022 -

28 February

Food and Drink

Storms ‘batter’ UK drinks sales, CGA finds

Average drinks sales by value for managed pubs, bars and restaurants were down 18% in the week to last Saturday, 19 February, compared to the same period in 2020, as a result of both storm Dudley and Eunice meaning many consumers decided not to venture out. Friday 18 February, when…
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21 February

Food and Drink

Delivery sales reach five times pre-pandemic level

Leading restaurant and pub groups saw delivery sales reach five times their pre-pandemic levels in January, according to the latest CGA and Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker. Such groups recorded a massive 422% increase in sales by value from January 2019, while takeaway sales were 29% up, as customers continued…
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18 February

Coronavirus

Hospitality suffers £115bn loss amid Covid damage

The hospitality industry has suffered a £115bn loss over the last two years due to Covid-19 as the sector was “hit first and hit hardest” by the pandemic, UKHospitality has said. According to its data, the sector has racked-up a loss of £114.8bn sales compared to what was expected for…
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16 February

Restaurants

Some 58% of UK hospitality business at risk of closure, survey finds

The majority (58%) of UK hospitality businesses say the pandemic has put them at risk of closure, according to new research from Peckwater Brands. Furthermore, it found 43% do not believe their business will exist in five years’ time, and 67% have seen a substantial decline in income since the…
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15 February

Pubs and Bars

Managed groups see sales recover in January

Rising consumer confidence about safety and the easing of restrictions have boosted sales across managed pub, bar, and restaurant groups in January, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker. Total sales across these groups were 3% higher than pre-pandemic trading in January 2019, and represent a “solid recovery” from…
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