September’s First Week Boasts Positive Like-for-Likes

September’s First Week Boasts Positive Like-for-Likes

by | 7 Sep, 2021 | Press & News, Sales Figures

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.”

Hospitality Like-for-Likes See Slight Increase during August

Hospitality Like-for-Likes See Slight Increase during August

by | 1 Sep, 2021 | Press & News, Sales Figures

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.”

Hospitality Like-for-Likes Down 5.5%

Hospitality Like-for-Likes Down 5.5%

by | 24 Aug, 2021 | Sales Figures

Hospitality like-for-likes were down 5.5% last week when compared to the same week in 2019. 

The majority of the decline was driven by a 17% decrease in drink like-for-likes. However, food sales were up by 11%. 

As for week-on-week sales, S4labour’s research shows a small 1% overall increase on the previous week. However, London and non-London revealed differences; something that has often been the case. London’s week-on-weeks were level, whilst non-London sites saw a week-on-week increase of 1.4%. 

Richard Hartley, S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer, stated: “These figures continue to reinforce the picture we’ve been seeing: food operators, mainly outside of London, are continuing to do well — whilst many drink focused operators are struggling. Tourist trade may help food focused sites in London; whereas wet-led sites are continuing to experience reduced footfall in the Capital. 

Mid-August Sees High Like-for-Likes at 7.7%

Mid-August Sees High Like-for-Likes at 7.7%

by | 17 Aug, 2021 | Sales Figures

As we start to enter mid-August, S4labour’s research shows there to be high like-for-like figures at 7.7% as well as a gradual increase in week-on-week sales figures.

Last week’s food sales were up 16% compared to the same week in 2019 — meaning like-for-like food sales are continuing to increase as we head further out of restrictions. As for like-for-like drink sales, they did increase too — although by a much smaller 1%. 

London sales have risen by 2.3% based on the previous week — a first for the Capital which has been in recent decline. Non-London, however, had week-on-week sales growth of 1%. Notably, the difference in week-on-week food sales is of interest: Non-London saw an increase of 1.4%, while London’s food sales grew by 3.4%. 

Speaking to S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer, Richard Hartley, he stated: “The increase in like-for-like sales is very positive for the hospitality industry. With an increase in staycations, and generally there being more consumer confidence at the moment, hopefully these increases will continue and not be short-lived. We are now seeing sustained week-on-week growth in addition to positive like-for-likes.”

July Tips into Growth Off the Back of a Big Final Week

July Tips into Growth Off the Back of a Big Final Week

by | 12 Aug, 2021 | Sales Figures

After 3 weeks of decline in July, the final week has led to sales being up by 1.7% in hospitality compared to July 2019, one of the first times since re-opening. This is mainly driven by food sales which were up 6.9% compared to July 2019, despite drink sales down at -2.5%. Figures expectantly show London down at 10% following recent trends and non-London areas up 4.6%

Last week’s hospitality sales were up 13.6% on the same week in 2019, being the first time a positive weekly like for like (on 2019) had been recorded since re-opening back in April.
 
S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer, Richard Hartley commented, “It is brilliant to see a positive monthly like for like figure for the first time in a while, albeit driven by one positive week. With changes to the NHS App hopefully reducing the ‘Pingdemic’ and foreign travel to the U.K allowed for some vaccinated countries we are hopeful about the coming weeks”.

Hospitality sales up on last week but still down on 2019 by 4.9%

Hospitality sales up on last week but still down on 2019 by 4.9%

by | 28 Jul, 2021 | Blog, Press & News, Sales Figures

 

Following the lifting of restrictions, S4labour (the people, productivity and payroll software provider for hospitality) analysed last week’s hospitality sales figures. Comparing the same week in 2019, they found evidence of an overall drop in sales of 4.9% with food sales down 3.3% and drink sales lagging by 12.6%.
 
In London, total sales were down by 18.6%, with drink sales down 23.4% and a drop in food sales by 10.2%.
 
Non-London sales figures showed a decrease in drink sales by 9.6%, but an increase in food sales by 5.4%.
However, week on week sales saw an increase in overall sales by 6.9%.
 
Commenting on the analysis, S4labour’s Chief Innovation Officer Richard Hartley, stated “Given the current conditions of people having to self-isolate within short notice, we have seen a noticeable number of sites not being able to operate a full trading week. It’s also worth noting the effect this is having on the customers’ ability to show up for bookings as hundreds of thousands are in self-isolation. This clearly is hampering the industry’s ability to successfully trade”.