The catering and hospitality sectors of the United Kingdom enjoyed a very positive January as consumers shook off the prospect of a New Year’s hangover and continued to spend their money on meals out and short trips away from home.

According to reports that we chronicled last month, the two industries saw year-on-year spending rise nearly ten percent whilst sales of food and beverages also rose during the same time period.

Unfortunately, it turns out that couples reigned in their outlays this Valentine’s Day. But that minor setback hasn’t stopped diners eating out. Greene King’s Leisure Spend Tracker indicated that consumer spending in restaurants has grown for the seventh consecutive month whilst money spent on drink showed a sharp upwards spike in excess of ten percent after the lull of Dry January.

But perhaps worryingly, it was the powerhouse of London that led the way, growing by almost ten percent.

“The gap in [spend] between London and the South East and the rest of Britain has reduced in recent months, so it is interesting to see a slight reverse in that trend,” noted Fiona Gunn, Greene King’s marketing director.

Sales of alcohol rose as pubs, bars and restaurants saw an increase in customer expenditure as the trend for abstinence in the post-Christmas period began to dwindle out. In terms of year-on-year sales in this area, this area grew by a more modest two percent. But as all of those in the hospitality and catering trade will agree, a rise is a rise!

 

If you are looking to invest in beverage sales after seeing a spike last month then it might be a good time to give your glassware a complete overhaul, if you haven’t done recently.

Chipped, dirty and AWOL glasses can cause efficiency problems for those working behind the bar, and cause problems for customers who could turn away from your business.

Don’t forget that CS Catering Equipment sells an extensive range of glassware including half and pint glasses, short glasses for sherry, brandy and other types of spirits, and traditional hiballs and tumblers.