Seona Shand’s Post

Last year the weather didn’t quite behave as we’d hoped across the first bank holiday weekend in May, but thankfully the trade still saw an uplift in sales across the board. The question is are we going to see a repeat of this in 2024? Our first May bank holiday weekend of 2023 saw drinkers consume 54.1 million pints of draught beer and cider across the UK, which was an increase of +8.5% versus 2022.  In individual pub terms, that equated to an extra +112 pints sold per pub versus the same period in 2022 and, most importantly £504 extra in the till. Even more significantly, the weekend sales were up +4% versus 2019, which demonstrated a strong sign of recovery for the hospitality sector, even with the limitations of the rising bills in the Cost of Living crisis. Saturday was the biggest day of the weekend for sales with each pub selling an average of 449 pints of draught beer and cider. Across the entire weekend, the average pub served 1,430 pints of Draught Beer & Cider, helped by a little bit of sunshine here and there, and these sales equated to a £6,435 income generator. This year, the weather is forecast to be better in places so there is real hope of some pub garden action for the On Trade, particularly with Saturday ending off the championship with the final decider at lunchtime. The media is bombarding us with hope for some decent weather and barbecues are being dusted down across the country in the hope that those pesky April showers are well and truly gone! Still, we can take hope from the On Trade’s performance a year ago when the weather certainly didn’t deliver – but thankfully, sales in the UK hospitality industry still managed to do so! Let’s watch this space….. Sign up to receive our post-bank holiday report: https://bit.ly/3ZQV4QL #ontrade #pub #hospitality #beernews #analysis #bankholiday #marketwatch #draughtbeer #report #oxfordpartnership #teamoxford

The holiday season can be a profitable time for liquor stores. As customers stock up on drinks for their celebrations and gatherings, it's important to ensure your store is ready to meet their needs. Here are some key steps you can take to prepare your liquor store for the holidays. https://hubs.la/Q02cZb3c0

📢 BREAKING NEWS! 📢 Greggs, the UK's favorite bakery, has announced price increases on some of its staple items. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the rising costs of ingredients and operational expenses have prompted this adjustment. This may come as disappointing news to many of us who enjoy their delectable treats. While it's never easy to see prices go up, it's important to understand the factors behind these decisions. Let's show support for local businesses facing economic challenges. Share your thoughts below on how this news impacts you and your go-to Greggs order. 💬 #Greggs #PriceHike #SupportLocalBusiness https://ift.tt/UPrAp4N

Inflation may be easing, but restaurant owners are still grappling with high prices. Despite the decline in inflation rates, local venues are charging more. For example, a simple cup of coffee now costs $6.50 in the CBD, up from $4 recently. Local venue owners express frustration over the ongoing need to keep prices high. Rising leasing costs, coupled with interest rate hikes, have squeezed already narrow profit margins. Despite efforts to absorb these increases, businesses find themselves gradually passing on expenses to customers. The impact of rising raw material costs is also significant. Beer kegs have surged from $300 to $400, and essentials like fruits, vegetables, and meat have seen substantial price hikes. These mounting expenses compel businesses to carefully adjust their pricing strategies to remain viable. The challenge is balancing affordability for customers while ensuring business sustainability. Regular price adjustments are crucial for covering operational costs and maintaining quality. However, merely passing these costs onto consumers risks alienating price-sensitive patrons and potentially decreasing foot traffic and revenue. Ultimately, this situation highlights the complexities businesses face in setting menu prices. Value-based pricing can help address these complexities. 

Inflation may be easing, but restaurant owners are still grappling with high prices. Despite the decline in inflation rates, local venues are charging more. For example, a simple cup of coffee now costs $6.50 in the CBD, up from $4 recently. Local venue owners express frustration over the ongoing need to keep prices high. Rising leasing costs, coupled with interest rate hikes, have squeezed already narrow profit margins. Despite efforts to absorb these increases, businesses find themselves gradually passing on expenses to customers. The impact of rising raw material costs is also significant. Beer kegs have surged from $300 to $400, and essentials like fruits, vegetables, and meat have seen substantial price hikes. These mounting expenses compel businesses to carefully adjust their pricing strategies to remain viable. The challenge is balancing affordability for customers while ensuring business sustainability. Regular price adjustments are crucial for covering operational costs and maintaining quality. However, merely passing these costs onto consumers risks alienating price-sensitive patrons and potentially decreasing foot traffic and revenue. Ultimately, this situation highlights the complexities businesses face in setting menu prices. Value-based pricing can help address these complexities. #pricingnews #taylorwellspricing Source: https://lnkd.in/g9AJaakh

$11.00 for a small, self-serve, brewed by the gallon drip coffee & a bagel w/egg (no cheese). This is why many/most #americans are not feeling merry about the reduction in #inflation. This Einstein Bros Bagels was not in airport, which always adds convenience penaltie$, this was in Bee Cave, a far flung, west Austin suburb. For comparison, you can get (2) brekkie tacos (all-natural ingredients and fresh torts) & coffee at Tacodeli for the same price! 😋 Why are #restaurants still leaning on #covid19 pricing? Supply chain costs are down and labor shortages have eased (note that this shop was perfectly staffed, and service was fast and friendly!). In #groceryretail we survive and thrive based on dynamic pricing—we get hourly and daily feedback from customers and competitors. So, sharing this feedback as a friendly nudge from a proud # grocer and an ex-restaurateur for more #cafes to rally for value. Cheers Y’all! Food Sport International

Despite weather challenges and shifts in consumer behavior, BJ's Restaurants, Inc. continues to outperform the casual-dining segment according to Black Box Data, and with a focus on profitability and operational efficiency, BJ’s continues to show resilience in the face of adversity. Read the full article > https://hubs.la/Q02m4HV60

Eating and drinking places registered total sales of $94.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in June. That was up 0.3% from May and represented the third consecutive monthly sales gain, after May’s preliminary reading was revised significantly higher. While the trendline during the first half of 2024 was only modestly positive, the revised data paint a much more positive picture than was originally reported last month. Coupled with the continued resiliency of the labor market, this makes it likely that consumers will bend but not break during the second half of the year. The recent uptick in restaurant sales was primarily driven by rising menu prices. As a result, real eating and drinking place sales were essentially flat during the first half of 2024, after adjusting for menu price inflation. Overall, June’s sales volume of $94.8 billion was a full $2 billion below the November 2023 peak, in inflation-adjusted terms. For the original National Restaurant Association post from my colleague Bruce Grindy, see https://lnkd.in/eRY6u3N6. #retail #consumer #retaurants #spending #sales #economy

Dear LinkedIn Community, The latest research from Abrasel reveals the challenging situation faced by bars and restaurants in light of high indebtedness and a decline in sales. The study shows a struggle to adjust menu prices to keep up with inflation, with a growing number of establishments impacted in 2024. For further insights, click here: https://ift.tt/aRElQyb #MarketResearch #HospitalityIndustry #BusinessChallenges

So how did pubs perform over the bank holiday weekend? Despite some intermittent sightings of the elusive sun across the weekend, unfortunately the patchy weather contributed to a somewhat lacklustre few days for the on trade. However, there was some good news with Saturday becoming the biggest sales day this year, even surpassing the same day in 2019. Our first May bank holiday weekend of 2024 saw drinkers consume 52.7 million pints of draught beer and cider across the UK, which was a decrease of -2.6 % vs. 2023. The average pub served 1,393 pints of Draught Beer & Cider over the weekend, which was no doubt hampered by the lack of sunshine and continued cost of living concerns. This equated to a £6,436 income generator. However, there was some good news with the highest sales on Saturday which was +2.1% vs. 2023 and became the biggest Saturday for sales of 2024 so far and even out selling the same day in 2019 by +12.3%. Draught Volume Data Powered by Vianet Group PLC Full report available to download: https://bit.ly/3WE0Iqu #ontrade #pubs #beernews #bankholiday #hospitality #teamoxford