Pub openings boost TRG sales

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Sales lift: The Restaurant Group puts its pub success down to premium food-led pubs (image: Jeff Buck, Geograph)

The Restaurant Group’s (TRG) pub openings contributed to a total sales boost of 57% for the first part of its financial year.

Like-for-like sales increased by 2.8% for the 19-week period ending 12 May 2019, the group announced in a trading update.

Its pub business consistently traded ahead of the pub-restaurant sector, according to the group’s chairman Debbie Hewitt.

A record number of 21 new pub sites – including venues for its family pub brand Brunning & Price – were opened in 2018. The group also acquired Asian restaurant chain Wagamama.

TRG purchased Brunning & Price for £32m in 2007 when it had 14 sites in its portfolio.

The pubco initially focused on sites in the north-west of England and north Wales but now has sites across the country.

Gastropub operator Food & Fuel was also sold to the group for £15.4m in August 2018.

Food-led offer

Growing its pub business would continue to be a key priority, the group said in its final report at the end of 2018.

It stated: “Our pubs business is well positioned in the market with a premium, differentiated food-led offer that is increasingly outperforming the pub-restaurant sector.  

“The business benefits from operating and often owning differentiated assets and delivering an exceptional experience.  

“There continues to be opportunities to expand this business and we have a healthy organic pipeline in place.”

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