November sales grow for Britain's managed groups

Britain's leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 4% in November, according to the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. 

Restaurant, pub and bar groups have now achieved 14 consecutive months of like-for-like sales growth. November's figure marks an increase from October's, which was 3.2%, and is close to the UK's current rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. 

The Tracker – produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM – indicates an equally solid month for pubs, where like-for-like sales were 5% ahead of November 2022; and restaurants, where growth reached 4.9%. However, sales in bars were 6.9% down year-on-year, continuing a dismal 2023 for the channel. 

For the first time in 2023, total sales growth was slower in London than across the rest of the country. Groups' sales within the M25 in November were 3.5% up on last year, slightly behind the increase of 4.2% elsewhere. 

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators of food at CGA, comments: "November's solid growth raises hopes that consumers are starting to spend a little more freely, and that hospitality might move into consistent real-terms growth in 2024. However, with the sector still besieged by relentlessly high costs, conditions will stay challenging for some time to come. Christmas trading can make the difference between a modest year and a good one, so all businesses will be hoping that consumers' celebratory mood translates into confident spending on eating and drinking out."

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