Halloween (31 October) is behind only Christmas and Easter in the ‘spending stakes’, and has become immensely popular, with sales of related products topping £300 million in the UK last year. It is therefore at the forefront of autumn planning for Orchid Group’s Free House Dining pubs, where sales are predicted to rise by up to 12% this year – an attractive prospect to any … [Read more...]
Record sales, profit and earnings for J D Wetherspoon
Wetherspoon has announced preliminary results for the 53 weeks ended 29 July 2012, showing record sales (up 11.7%), record operating profit (up 4.9%), and record earnings per share before exceptional (up 17%). Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, the chairman of J D Wetherspoon plc, said: “I am pleased to report a year of further progress for the company, with record … [Read more...]
Britain’s Strongest Man helps launch King’s Feast meals for TCG
Managed pub and bar operator TCG called in Britain’s Strongest Man to help launch its ‘big value’ King’s Feast menu at the Royal Victoria & Bull in Dartford. Terry Hollands, a Dartford resident, tucked into a Cow Pie – one of the King’s Feast signature dishes– as general manager Delia Dalton and her team served a range of great value meals to customers. King’s Feast: the … [Read more...]
Olympics, 2011 riots and better weather impact on pub and restaurant sales
Latest data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker data, the industry's sales barometer reveals contrasting fortunes for operators inside and outside the M25 last month: pub and restaurant groups benefitted from an August sales boost, but almost exclusively in London. Combined like-for-like sales for August increased 5% inside the M25, they were only ahead 1% outside London … [Read more...]
Hospitality Sector must sell 97 million more pints to cover cost of £30 million carbon tax
The government’s mandatory Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme finally hit eligible companies this summer: though deferred since 2011, the companies affected finally had to pay out for their carbon allowances – effectively a tax on energy usage – amounting to a whopping £30 million for the 30 hospitality sector companies involved. In addition, under the new Mandatory Carbon … [Read more...]