June’s like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 5% ahead of the pre-COVID-19 levels of June 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.
The result from the Tracker—produced by CGA by NielsenIQ in partnership with The Coffer Group and RSM UK—represents the strongest month of like-for-like growth since the start of 2022. However, June’s figures are skewed by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which provided two Bank Holidays against none in June 2019. The growth is also below inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, which recently topped 9%.
Restaurants were the strongest performing of the Tracker’s three hospitality segments in June, with like-for-like growth of 8%. Pubs’ sales were up by 3% on three years ago, and bars’ sales rose by 5%.
Trading in London remains challenging, the Tracker shows. After a flat performance in May, like-for-like sales within the M25 were down by 1% in June, compared to 7% growth beyond the M25. It follows rail strikes over several days in June, which significantly reduced footfall from workers and visitors in London.
The Tracker also suggests that some consumers who have opted for deliveries since the start of the pandemic are now returning to eating out. Managed groups’ dine-in only sales were up by 2% on a like-for-like basis in June—the first time this year that they have been in line with total growth.
Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA, said:
“Like-for-like sales growth of 5% would represent a strong performance for managed groups in most months. However, high inflation means sales are down in real terms, and mounting costs continue to pile pressure on profit margins. The first half of 2022 has brought some welcome stability to the hospitality sector, and consumers have returned to most of their pre-pandemic habits—but while the long-term outlook remains good, there may be some tough months ahead for many businesses.”
Mark Sheehan, managing director at Coffer Corporate Leisure, said:
“We are seeing a very slow return to normality. Recent publicly announced results show Loungers at 17.9% like-for-likes on 2019 and Wetherspoons at 0.5% for example. Some operators and locations are trading well. Inflation and recruitment remains a priority.”
Paul Newman, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said:
“With the late May bank holiday falling into June this year and the additional day for the Jubilee, operators saw a welcome boost to sales for the month. But even the Queen’s gift to the nation won’t reverse the wider economic challenges facing the sector. Stripping out the bumper bank holiday, and with sales growth tracking behind inflation, the underlying trend is still one of squeezed margins and flat sales.
A new Prime Minister could be just the silver lining operators have been waiting for, with a change in tone at the top of Government potentially bringing about meaningful reforms to the way businesses are taxed. An improved business rates system would be an obvious way for new leadership to bring back the UK’s thriving highstreets and encourage consumer spending.”
