Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Restaurant takeaway sales fall for 16th month in a row in March

Published: 26 April, 2023

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s top-managed restaurant groups in March were 3% below the same month in 2022, according to CGA.

UK on-trade sales up YOY for sixth successive month

Published: 24 April, 2023

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in March were 1.4% ahead of last year’s levels, the new Coffer CGA Business Tracker shows.

Indies: Hybrid thinking

Published: 05 April, 2023

Once billed as bricks-and-mortar retail’s salvation, an on-trade element has become a trickier proposition. James Lawrence reports.

Pubs, restaurants and bars grow sales in February but battle soaring costs

Published: 21 March, 2023

February sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 3.9% ahead of last year on a like-for-like basis, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Managing the flames of Champagne demand

Published: 15 March, 2023

Out of the Covid frying pan into the cost of living fire – having experienced a strong bounce in premium sales, how is Champagne faring as inflationary pressures continue to impact? James Bayley reports.

Vacancies drop but wage bills climb as hospitality tackles labour issues

Published: 09 March, 2023

Labour shortages at Britain’s top managed hospitality groups may be starting to ease, but rising wage bills are piling more pressure on some fragile businesses.

CGA report highlights changing customer attitudes to hospitality

Published: 01 March, 2023

Exclusive research conducted in partnership with CGA by NielsenIQ shows how the cost of living crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have fundamentally shifted the online customer journey for British, French and German consumers that visit pubs and restaurants.

CGA survey reveals positive outlook for hospitality despite inflation

Published: 21 February, 2023

Leaders of Britain’s top-managed hospitality groups remain cautiously optimistic about the future despite spiralling costs, the 2023 Business Leaders’ Survey from CGA by NielsenIQ and Fourth reveals.

Low & no and the big shift in drinking

Published: 06 February, 2023

With moderate drinking trends hitting all sorts of milestones and headlines in 2022, Jo Gilbert asks, was that the year low & no went mainstream?

More hospitality closures in 2022 than Covid-hit 2021 reports CGA

Published: 20 January, 2023

In a new report published by CGA, inflation in energy bills and other costs led to a net decline of 1,611 licensed premises in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Inflation pilfers December gains for hospitality

Published: 18 January, 2023

Britain’s leading managed pub, bar and restaurant groups enjoyed their best December trading in three years, the latest data from CGA has revealed. However, thanks to double digit inflation, sales remain well below pre-Covid levels in real terms, demonstrating the double pronged impact of the cost-of-living crisis and Covid recovery on UK businesses.

Inflation puts the boot in World Cup boost

Published: 15 December, 2022

The UK hospitality trade rode a wave of World Cup fever in November, when sales were above a still somewhat Covid-dampened environment at the end of 2021. However, with inflation biting hard and more disruption on the way over Christmas 2023, operators could be set for a challenging end-of-year run.

Four in five bars plan to increase range of no and low alcohol drinks

Published: 01 December, 2022

Research by CGA by NielsenIQ and non-alcoholic spirits brand CROSSIP suggests that 67% of bar professionals have increased their range of no/low alcohol drinks over the past year, and 82% will do so over the next 12 months, demonstrating the growing importance of the category to consumer choice.

One in nine hospitality jobs still vacant despite pay rises

Published: 22 November, 2022

The staffing crisis is very much still underway heading into Christmas, data from CGA has revealed, with one in nine jobs in hospitality still vacant despite improvements in recruitment.

Costs crisis wipes out hospitality's growth despite an increase in October sales

Published: 16 November, 2022

October sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 1.5% ahead of the levels of October 2021, CGA has revealed.

Hospitality sales climb 4% in top UK cities as Manchester tops rankings

Published: 11 November, 2022

Pubs, bars, and restaurants are recording positive sales in Britain’s major cities — but high inflation is making real-terms growth very difficult.

CGA reveals opportunity for drinks in delivery & takeaway sales

Published: 28 October, 2022

As British consumers maintain some of the delivery and takeaway habits they picked up during Covid-19 lockdowns, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker highlights a growing trend – with drinks’ share of these sales increasing by 15% versus the start of 2022.

On-trade closures tally one an hour as economic crisis bites

Published: 20 October, 2022

Hospitality has lost 2,200 licenced venues in three months as crippling costs and staffing issues continue to hit business operators.

Over the inflation cliff

Published: 09 September, 2022

Inflation is 2022’s pandemic. As we emerge from a health-focused crisis, it’s increasingly becoming clear that the health of the public purse and the damaging cost of living is now society’s most pressing issue. No sector is unaffected. From household items to commercial costs – largely driven by spiralling fuel and shipping increases – all are feeling the additional weight of rising costs, which even the biggest players aren’t able to absorb.

Consumers and on-trade at a stand-off over costs

Published: 22 August, 2022

As inflation takes hold of consumers and businesses alike, the hospitality industry remains in a deadlock, with businesses planning for more challenging times ahead.