Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hospitality sector expands in fourth quarter, despite unprecedented challenges

Published: 20 January, 2022

Britain’s hospitality sector grew modestly in the last quarter of 2021, according to the latest CGA Market Recovery Monitor.

Rising consumer confidence suggests hospitality recovery in 2022

Published: 18 January, 2022

New research undertaken by CGA Strategy has recorded a strong desire from consumers to visit on-trade venues, indicating that the sector has successfully allayed fears concerning the Omicron variant.

Cold Christmas in the on-trade

Published: 18 January, 2022

Already battered on-trade businesses suffered further in what should have been their busiest time of year. Clinton Cawood reports.

UK hospitality sector endures 'devastating' Christmas period, says new data

Published: 13 January, 2022

Newly released data from UKHospitality and CGA Strategy paints a grim picture for on-trade businesses, with sales in UK pubs, restaurants and bars falling 60% on Christmas Day, 31% on Boxing Day and 27% on New Year’s Eve, when compared to 2019.

Hospitality sales rebound in late December

Published: 10 January, 2022

Consumer footfall across the UK’s hospitality sector increased between Christmas and New Year, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.

New variant bears down on hopes of buoyant festive trade

Published: 15 December, 2021

The enforcement of ‘Plan B’ rules continues to dampen spirits across the sector this festive season, as a growing number of venues report mass cancellations.

A Plan B Christmas will put the industry under “severe pressure”

Published: 09 December, 2021

A re-tightening of restrictions is threatening to put a pin in Christmas celebrations, causing more gloom for the hospitality sector as the government rubber stamps plans to introduce vaccine passports for late-night venues.

Friday read: Prosecco DOC Rosé's future prospects

Published: 26 November, 2021

After years of intense lobbying by producers, the Prosecco Consortium finally allowed blended sparkling wine styles to be bottled under the 'Prosecco DOC Rosé' designation in 2020. Exports began in November last year, although there have been reports of a Pinot Noir shortage in 2021. Nevertheless, the category has got off to a flying start, with buoyant sales and an enthusiastic consumer reception. But how sustainable is this growth, and will it affect sales of 'ordinary' Prosecco?

CGA report hints at hospitality recovery

Published: 15 November, 2021

New data released by CGA Strategy offers a glimpse of a beleaguered industry in resurgence, with total sales rising in Britain's managed pubs, restaurants and bars.

Hospitality is in ‘peril’ and ‘fighting’ for survival

Published: 12 November, 2021

The hospitality sector is “an industry in peril” that is fighting for its life, the latest edition of the UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker has said.

Young consumers set to embrace Christmas trading

Published: 02 November, 2021

Young adults are set to embrace pubs, bars and restaurants for Christmas celebrations, but older people may be more hesitant about eating and drinking out, new research from CGA has revealed.

Spain inches up

Published: 02 November, 2021

Spanish wines appear to be holding ground against the broader UK wine market, with signs of uplift at the mid-to-high end. Andrew Catchpole sizes up the stats.

Christmas 2021: An optimistic appraisal

Published: 27 October, 2021

The British tabloids have spoken: Christmas 2021 is unlikely to yield much festive cheer. Unfortunately, this isn’t simply press hyperbole – the UK’s food industry is under enormous pressure, while retail supply chains continue to be stymied by a lack of HGV drivers.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released a set of data in September which confirmed that the on-trade staffing crisis has not abated. “Sourcing staff has been one of our biggest challenges since we reopened,” says Avinash Shashidhara, head chef at Pali Hill restaurant in London.

Managed hospitality venues see September sales bounce

Published: 18 October, 2021

Managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a ‘significant bounce’ in sales in September, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Licensed sector shrinks by 10,000 sites

Published: 13 October, 2021

The licensed sector has shrunk by nearly 10,000 sites from pre-Covid levels, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners has revealed.

Hospitality leaders fight to recruit and retain staff as labour shortages bite

Published: 04 October, 2021

One in six (16%) hospitality jobs currently lie vacant, triggering intense competition among firms to recruit and retain team members, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has said.

CGA: Digital consumerism continues to accelerate post-Covid

Published: 28 September, 2021

New research undertaken by CGA Strategy and a global reputation management firm has revealed the importance of maintaining a robust digital presence in the pandemic era, with consumers increasingly focusing on social media reputations – and peer review sites – before planning a night out.

Price spikes predicted as 3/4 of hospitality prepare to pass on costs

Published: 23 September, 2021

Costs resulting from ongoing supply chain issues are likely to be passed onto the customer this autumn, CGA has predicted, with three-quarters of hospitality businesses admitting that they are likely to raise prices as a result.

Half of consumers happy to pay table deposits

Published: 22 September, 2021

Half of UK pub and restaurant goers are happy to pay a deposit to book a table, and even more (55%) are in favour of paying no-show fees if they don’t turn up, new research from Zonal and CGA has revealed.

Managed restaurant and pub groups see strong delivery and takeaway sales in August

Published: 20 September, 2021

Delivery and takeaway sales of managed restaurant and pub groups were close to treble their pre-pandemic levels in August 2021, the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker has revealed.