Research from food & drink research consultancy CGA Strategy reveals that an average pub food outlet serves 235 Coffees a week and that 1 in 4 of these is a Cappuccino.
Coffee fits perfectly with the ever-growing importance of Food sales in the UK on-trade. Female-friendly facilities and dwell time essentials such as Wi-Fi also mean longer-lasting drinks such as Coffee continue to become even more appropriate to the pub setting.
Coffee outsells tea 6.5 to 1 – in pubs
Coffee is in fact so popular that it outsells the nation’s favourite, Tea by 6.5 cups to 1 in UK Managed Food Pubs. Coffee sales in pubs are growing in all but one region throughout GB, with Scotland and Yorkshire showing the greatest increases.
Cappuccinos and Lattes top sellers
The premiumisation trends so prevalent across all drink categories in the on trade are also evident in the Coffee market. Cappuccinos and Lattes are far and away the most popular categories in pubs and out-sell the more standard Americano serve.
Comparable product offering and environment required
CGA’s Scott Elliott tell us, “The battle for footfall on the high street is more intense than ever, and for pubs to gain share from the coffee specialists there are a few things which they must get right. Offering comparable product quality is a given, as is the provision of a bright, clean and airy space with appropriate dwell time facilities – comfortable chairs, Wi-Fi and the like.”
There are certain steps publican’s and managers should take to maximise their coffee offer, Elliott adds. ”Pubs are located in great positions to offer shoppers, business people or any other passers by a quick break. Clearly advertise the coffee offer through the day and make people feel welcome using the pub for just this reason. Don’t be afraid to upsell, often lacking in pubs is the small snacks, cakes or biscuits so prevalent in the coffee specialists. These give the customer the mid-meal snack and recharge they want, whilst increasing average spend.”
Considering the reward of loyalty can also help to unlock cross-category sales too, as Elliott suggests, “The specialist operators know that the coffee stop is habitual. Encourage the same customers to come back, and they may well join you for lunch or drinks in the future as well.”
CGA Strategy
This data has been produced as part of the Pub Food Report developed by food & drink consultancy firm CGA Strategy. The report findings are based on a combination of data sources, including daily sales data for over 5,000 managed pubs, 8 years of trended menu analysis from over 1,000 pubs and restaurants and total market estimations driven by anonymised sales data from a pool of over 69,000 licensed venues across 18 operating companies representing 70 retail brands.
CGA Strategy is the leading on trade consultancy with over twenty years’ experience of blending best in class quantitative analytics with exceptional market understanding, to create truly actionable insight.