Covid-19
Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UKโs 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.
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Jun- 2022 -28 JuneFood and Drink
Food and drink sales recover in UK city centres
Restaurant, pub and bar trading in the UK has seen โsolidโ growth as out-of-home food and drink sales in all of Britainโs 10 biggest city centres have recorded growth over the four weeks to 4 June 2022, according to new CGA and Wireless Social. Sales were between 1% and 13%…
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24 JunePubs and Bars
Delivery and takeaway sales fall year-on-year
Delivery and takeaway sales at Britainโs managed restaurant and pub groups are falling from the peaks of Covid-19 lockdowns, as combined sales in May 2022 were 29% below the level of May 2021. According to the CGA by NielsenIQ and Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker, this marks the fifth month…
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24 JuneCafes and Coffee Shops
Pret sales rise as offices fill up
Pret A Mangerโs sales of coffee and sandwiches were 88% of pre-Covid-19 levels through last Thursday (16 June) in London City and Canary Wharf, according to the latest figures tracked by Bloombergโs Pret Index. Bloomberg said this a sign that the lunch hour is almost completely back to normal in…
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16 JuneNews
BoE raises interest rates to 1.25%
The Bank of Englandโs (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee has voted to raise interest from 1% to 1.25% – marking its fifth rise in a row as it bids to offset the impact of rising inflation. The Monetary Policy Committee voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase the rate to…
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May- 2022 -30 MayRestaurants
Comptoir Group revenue soars 67% in FY21
The Comptoir Group has seen group revenues rocket 66.9% to ยฃ20.7m in the year ended 31 December 2021, up from the ยฃ12.4m reported in 2020. As trading returned over the year, gross profit was up by ยฃ7.1m to ยฃ16.9m up by ยฃ7.1m, up from ยฃ9/8m the prior year when trading…
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27 MayBusiness
Valor Hospitality debuts chef academy amid skills shortage
Valor Hospitality, the international hotel management company, has launched a new Chef Development Academy, set to launch in August 2022, in a bid to encourage more people to embark on a culinary career, following a national skills shortage in the sector. In partnership with Umbrella Training, an expert apprenticeship and…
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24 MayBusiness
SSP revenues surge 212.9% as travel rebounds
The SSP Group has reported its revenues surged 212.9% year-on-year to ยฃ803.2m for the six month period ended 31 March 2022 (H2), recovering โstronglyโ with 64% growth compared to pre-Covid levels as the travel sector rebounds.ย SSP operates brands such as Upper Crust and Ritazza, as well as franchises for…
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16 MayNews
TRG faces investor backlash over CEO bonus
The Restaurant Group (TRG) is facing a potential backlash from the Institutional Voting Information Service (IVIS) as the companyโs chief executive, Andy Hornby, has received the highest pay since 2017, while benefiting from government support. According to the Guardian, the Institutional Voting Information Service (IVIS), which is part of the…
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12 MayCatering Companies
Cost pressures hit growth for contract caterers despite bounce back
Sales in the contract catering sector remain well below pre-Covid levels as sales are 20% below the figure recorded in the first three months (Q1) of 2019, despite year-on-year increases. According to CGAโs Contract Catering Tracker, caterers now serve around 1,250 fewer units than they did three years ago, and…
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3 MayPubs and Bars
Greene King returns to profitability amid expansion plans
Greene King has reported an adjusted operating profit of ยฃ18.6m (loss of ยฃ186.9m) for the year ending 2 January 2022, with statutory operating profit of ยฃ63.8m (loss of ยฃ433m), after being โsignificantly impacted by Covid-19โ. It comes as the group celebrated a strong second half with group revenue rising 41.6%…
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