Pub food report 2012

Do you remember when the on trade was just about pubs, blokes and beer? Those simpler times have been left far behind as the push of operational innovation and the pull of consumer demand (underpinned by shifting regulation) have shaped a new out of home market.This evolution was initially contained to the wet side of things as Beer, Spirits, Soft Drinks and Wine created an ever more varied sales mix. A quick look at the proliferation of fonts, the crowded back bar and fridge is all the proof needed of this phenomenon. Things started to change on the dry side as the sorry looking sandwich with its curled up edges and ‘emergency pie’ in the nightclub freezer gave way to, at first, a token food offer before a move to something altogether more serious and desirable. Pubs, sometimes the wrong pubs, embraced food as the key to survival in a fast changing social and regulatory landscape. While that was occasionally a mistake – food is not a universal solution – the broad logic was sound. Today we have a compelling, competitive and complete food pub market. As on trade usage moves from habit to treat, our pubs and bars anticipate and react to these changing needs. And it’s in this context that we present our Pub Food Report: the precursor to the launch of a new suite of food insight services from CGA. As the on trade changes, so too the service portfolio of its leading research consultancy evolves. This report showcases the insights we have the capacity to uncover when we refocus our renowned industry expertise on the detailed food data we have been amassing: five years of retailer sales data from the major players in the managed pub market; eight years of menu listings collected biannually from a representative sample of over 1,000 outlets; all coded with painstaking attention to detail to provide the most granular perspective on pub food sales that has ever been available; and cross referenced with drinks sales intelligence to deliver a holistic view of the total ‘with food’ opportunity. Why is this level of insight important? Because all the signs suggest that food occasions are only going to grow in importance, and it’s in everyone’s interest – retailers, food and drinks category stakeholders – to understand the nature of the opportunity in detail in order to optimise growth. This report shows the value of a holistic view. Roast dinners are not the most ubiquitous nor the most expensive menu item – but rates of sale means that they dwarf all but a handful of other meals in terms of their total value. Coffee is a hot topic, but rates of sale in managed food pubs are still only a third of those expected from independent coffee shops. And even in dedicated food-led pubs, evidence of a weekender mentality is apparent in the daily sales mix – suggesting the drinks category opportunity in food pub outlets is more complex than many assume, and extends well beyond Soft Drinks and Wine. The contents of this report highlight the value and characteristics of the modern pub food market. But they’re only a starting point. Our strategy in food will mirror our approach in drinks: we will work with you to help you achieve more.

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