Brains eyes food sales growth across estate

The figure includes 31-strong brand Coffee#1 with all hot beverage sales. The brand sells ‘grab and go’ food items and retail director Philip Lay says the company is looking at more options to increase the offer.

"Food has become a significant income stream for us and we are constantly looking at how we can grow that," he said. "We have no plans to introduce more menu oriented food, so it will remain a ‘grab and go’ offer." Consisting of savouries and cakes, food at the sites account for around 30% of sales.

Food accounts for 38% of the core estate sales and remains in 4% growth per annum, and Lay expects it to break the 40% barrier in a year’s time. Meanwhile, accommodation accounts for 3% and is 5% up while wet sales are 1% down. Including Coffee#1 in the figures means food sales account for 45% of the whole company.

"There is a clear move towards different occasions in the business," says Lay. "Going to the pub now tends to be a dining occasion rather than a drinking one.

Challenging​

"We are seeing different trends in different pubs — in sites without food (of which there are not many) we are suffering an 8% decline since September against 14% growth at premium food brands such as Grape & Olive and Greenwood & Brown.

"The economy in Wales is becoming more challenging. People are still coming out when there is an occasion and we get an uplift whenever there is a game. Half term was £4,000 short of a record-breaking week for us. Weather remains vital. Sales go up in the pubs in sunshine, but down in Coffee#1. The broad portfolio works."