S4labour has identified that last week’s hospitality sales figures are up by 8% when compared to the same week in 2019. This is the third week in a row where sales have been up on 2019 levels. 

There are also similar patterns between food and drink like-for-likes, with food like-for-likes yet again outperforming drink like-for-likes: up 16.5% compared to 1.5% respectively. 

Richard Hartley, S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer, added: “the fact like-for-likes are up again spells even more positive news for the hospitality industry. Although there were fears on whether the industry can sustain its growth following the summer holidays, September has started off well. However, as positive as this growth is, there are concerns on higher VAT rates coming into effect from the 1st of October affecting hospitality.”

The culmination of August — in addition to the first week of September — saw hospitality sales rise by 12% when compared to the same week in 2019. 

Food like-for-likes increased by 24.5%: the highest number S4labour’s research has shown during August. Drink like-for-likes saw an increase too, however by a smaller 2.5%  — a common pattern throughout August. 

Week-on-week sales were less positive: there was an overall decrease of 9% in hospitality sales. Non-London sites experienced a 10% decline, whilst London experienced a 1% drop in hospitality sales. Although both site-locations were in decline, London outperforming non-London has been a rarity in recent weeks. 

S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer, Richard Hartley, commented: “after seeing August’s monthly like-for-likes outperform 2019, these like-for-likes are continuing to paint a positive picture for the hospitality industry. The next few months could certainly be challenging, however this first week of September revealing positive like-for-likes is a good start.”

S4labour has identified that hospitality sales in August 2021 increased by a small 1.6% when compared to August 2019. 

Notably, food like-for-likes were up 16% — something we have been used to seeing throughout August in our weekly like-for-like analysis. However, the decline in drink like-for-likes of 12.5% clearly contributed to the small overall increase. Food sales outperforming drink sales occurred within both dry-led and wet-led sites for August. 

As for London and non-London sites, the similar pattern continued: non-London experienced significantly more growth than London for month-on-months (August 2021 compared to July 2021). Even though month-on-month hospitality sales rose by 9.5%, London sites saw a decrease of 24.5% whilst non-London’s sales increased by 16.5%. 

The Chief Innovation Officer for S4labour, Richard Hartley, commented: “although the increase in like-for-likes is small, given the recent months hospitality has experienced it is reassuring to see August 2021 has bettered August 2019 in regards to overall hospitality sales. The easing of restrictions has certainly helped consumer confidence. These figures offer some sense of reassurance for the hospitality industry, and hopefully this revival continues as we approach the autumn months; especially the London commute making a comeback.”