Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

Hospitality business leaders react to staffing crisis

Published: 17 August, 2022

Unemployment levels are at a record low, while the total number of job vacancies in May-June 2022 was 1.3million, this is according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

On-trade favours major gin brands over small-batch

Published: 12 August, 2022

According to market research by Shepper, the UK’s on-trade and hospitality outlets prefer to serve leading gin and tonic brands as their house products instead of supporting local and small-batch counterparts.

Tequila’s star continues to rise as supermarkets sales double

Published: 25 July, 2022

Tequila is stealing a march on other spirits categories, with an impressive 94% growth spurt in two years underpinning the rise of the Mexican spirit in the UK.

Jubilee helps on-trade achieve 5% sales growth

Published: 20 July, 2022

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.

Hospitality sector recovery stymied by labour shortages, rising costs, and a drop in consumer confidence

Published: 13 July, 2022

A new report, Future Shock – Leaving Covid Behind, shows sales are back to pre-pandemic levels, but 15% of roles remain vacant, costs are spiralling, and the cost of living challenges is impacting consumer spending.

Britain’s cities back in growth as spend and inflation rise

Published: 27 June, 2022

Out-of-home food and drink sales are in growth in all of Britain’s 10 biggest city centres, with higher spend-per-visit driving growth rather than footfall.

Managed groups' like-for-like sales flat in May as cost crisis deepens

Published: 17 June, 2022

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in May were just 0.1% ahead of the pre-Covid-19 levels of 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Third month of double-digit inflation hits food and drink

Published: 10 June, 2022

Data from CGA has revealed a third month of double-digit inflation for foodservice prices in April, with further rises expected and inflation unlikely to fall below 7% until at least next year.