5.4% rise in food and drink sales in July 2019.
According to analysis of more than 100 restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels and cafes that use S4labour software, sales of both food and drink were up 5.4% in July 2019 compared to July 2018.
Both wet and dry led operations saw positive like for likes, but it was food focused businesses that performed particularly well. Overall, sales in dry led establishments went up by an impressive 8.3%, the largest hike in like for like sales in 2019. The bumper month was split evenly between growth in food and drink sales, up 8.2% and 8.5% respectively.
Unlike the same period the year before, the inconsistent weather may have been enough to deter many from lighting the BBQ and opting for an out of home eating experience instead.
Improved sales figures were also a feature in drink focused businesses, however the growth here was largely driven by food sales. Sales of food in wet-led pubs grew by an encouraging 5.2% compared to a modest uplift of 1.6% in drink sales. However, overall like for likes sales growth was a welcome 2.3%.
Like previous months, food sales, particularly in food focused businesses have been the stand out performers in the hospitality sector. This month was no different, however, modest gains for wet led operations is good news for the sector.
