Rain helps Brains food sales leap 3%

Food sales as a percentage of overall sales in the SA Brain managed estate have leapt by 3% to 29% in the three months since the smoking ban started in Wales. Food sales have risen by a steady 1% of the mix in each of the months since the ban started on 1 April.

The change in the sales mix has happened more quickly than management at the company expected.

Retail director Philip Lay said the company was now expecting food to account for 30% by the year's end.

He said April had been a "fantastic month" that had seen the arrival of many "pub tourists" checking out sites in the smoke-ban era.

The 14 weeks of solid rain that have occurred since had "accelerated winter behaviour" among customers, Lay said.

A recent seven-page report on trading prepared for the Brains board stressed that the weather had been the key factor in explaining trading patterns.

Meanwhile, SA Brain has opened an up-market food pub called the Grape & Olive in northern Cardiff. The pub, which opened a few weeks ago, is located on the site of a former Whitbread Brewer's Fayre that the company acquired for more than £1m last year.

Brains has invested around £500,000 on the site, which now offers conference facilities - and Wales' first marketing suite where marketers can study consumer groups. The menu focuses on fresh food, with chefs visible from the bar.

It is understood that the site is smashing its takings target of around £20,000 - with food accounting for around 60% of takings. Chief executive Scott Waddington said: "There are elements of this that we think we can roll out."