Sales in June up 4.4% on 2019 figures despite on-going restrictions.

Sales in June up 4.4% on 2019 figures despite on-going restrictions.

by | 2 Jul, 2021 | Sales Figures

Sales in June up 4.4% on 2019 figures despite on-going restrictions.

The latest sales data from S4labour shows that hospitality sales for the month of June were up 4.4% on the same week in 2019. This is made up of a healthy increase in food sales of 16.2% but a significant decline in drinks sales of 6.9%.
Richard Hartley, Chief Innovation Officer for S4labour, commented “it’s great to see the country’s desire to get back into hospitality is sustaining, but the extended restrictions are continuing to have an adverse impact on the drinks trade and the revised date for ‘freedom day’ of July 19th will mean that they miss out on key trading opportunities including the key games of Euro 2020.” 

 

UK’s Hospitality Embraces Staff Across The Globe.

UK’s Hospitality Embraces Staff Across The Globe.

by | 24 Jun, 2021 | Hospitality

UK’s Hospitality Industry resonates as a leader with a plethora of international staffing. A good 20.4% of its workforce is non-British.

 

The industry sees a myriad of nationalities absorbed into its sector. Current figures as of June 2021 show 14.7% of staff originating from the EU and almost 6% outside the EU.  

 

The data shines light on the variety of employees working in the UK’s hospitality sector and the quality produced by embracing different cultures.

 

British nationals constitute a good 79.6 % of the industry’s labour force. This makes UK’s hospitality recommendable when looking at an industry that celebrate diversity.

 

An industry that gives almost 1/5th of its labour force opportunities to internationals, is worth celebrating.

However, we are sadly seeing several international work forces leaving the country.

Half Term Like-for-Like Sales Up by 11.5%

Half Term Like-for-Like Sales Up by 11.5%

by | 8 Jun, 2021 | Sales Figures

Half term presented a great opportunity for families to explore hospitality venues last week. This helped to boost sales by 11.5% compared to the same half term in 2019.

 

The industry saw a strong performance in food sales, going up by 22.27%, drinks saw a small increase of 0.72%. The increase was due to particularly good weather, giving families an opportunity to move around, spend and enjoy the break.

 

Week on week sales performance positively moved up by 3.1%, with food focused areas leading by a 6.2% increase. Drinks are not doing so well as sales dropped by 3.9%.

 

S4labour’s Chief Customer Officer, Sam Wignell added, “Eased restrictions are helping to bring in more people, but the industry has pending areas that need to be settled. Hence it could benefit from further eased policies. Also, we are looking at 21st  June to make things better”.

Staff Shortages and High Demand Causing hospitality businesses serious problems

Staff Shortages and High Demand Causing hospitality businesses serious problems

by | 4 Jun, 2021 | Hospitality

Data from S4labour, shows a reduction in the size of the hospitality workforce of 29% since February 2020 (pre-pandemic).

 

Coupled with the reduction in the workforce we can report that 26% of employees remain on furlough.

 

The challenge that these figures represent is further amplified when we consider that since the recent lifting of restriction sales have been up 34% against 2019 figures.

 

Richard Hartley, Chief Innovation Office for S4labour commented “It is great to see so many hospitality businesses thriving after such a terrible last year, but the lack of available staff is putting a huge pressure on businesses. With Furlough due to continue until the end of September and with restrictions on traveling to the UK to work this isn’t a problem that is going to go away quickly”

Sunny Late Spring Bank Holiday Drives 63% Increase In Like For Like Sales

by | 2 Jun, 2021 | Sales Figures

 

As The U.K. recorded it’s hottest May Bank holiday last weekend, hospitality experienced a significant 63% jump in like for like sales, comparing the Saturday to Monday with the same Bank holiday weekend in 2019.

 

The breakdown of the figures saw an increase in drink sales by 42.9 % and food sales skyrocketing 90.7%. S4labour’s Chief Innovation officer added that “while  we believe this was attributed to a favourable weather spanning through the weekend, it demonstrates the potential appetite the U.K. has for hospitality and just what a great job our sector has done to be able to meet that demand with restrictions still in place”.

 

 

Since reopening indoors, hospitality like-for-like sales are up by 34% comparing figures from the two weeks since the 17th of May, when rules allowed for indoor service, with the same two weeks in 2019. The increase was mostly driven by food sales, that grew by 51% and drink sales advancing 20%.

 

 

S4labour’s, Richard Hartley’s added “With this level of demand, the sector will be watching governmentannouncements closely, praying that social distancing and other barriers to trade are removed once and for all on the 21st of June.