Food

Inflation continues to hit: almost all foodstuffs are experiencing double-digit inflation according to the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Food prices rise by a fifth in 12 months

By Gary Lloyd

Food price inflation hit 19.9% in October – the ninth consecutive month of double-digit rises – according to the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.

Additional pressure: inflation hits highest level for more than 40-years with food prices making one of the biggest upwards contributions (Credit: Getty/ Ibrahim Akcengiz)

Inflation sees biggest increase in over 40-years

By Rebecca Weller

Record setting inflation figures will “undoubtedly cause anxiety” for businesses as keeping costs under control becomes “ever-more challenging”, according to leaders from across the sector.

Chicken's coming home: KFC opens first pub

KFC launches first pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

KFC has launched its first pub – the Colonel’s Arms – in Hammersmith, west London, which will open its doors from 25 November to 1 December.

Get guests onside: responding to more reviews can turn neutral or negatives into positives (credit: Getty/Hispanolistic)

Guest satisfaction rises but pubs can do more

By Gary Lloyd

Customer satisfaction is on the rise at hospitality sites but businesses could still do more when it comes to responding to online reviews, according to a Reputation study.

No respite in sight: food and drink inflation has risen by more than 10% for eight months in a row (credit: Getty/Muhammad Farhad)

Food and drink inflation rises to record-high 18.8%

By Gary Lloyd

Inflation in food and drink prices hit a record high of 18.8% in September 2022 – the eighth consecutive month of double-digit rises – according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.

Win big: Entries open for 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub awards

Top 50 Gastropubs awards open for entries

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Entries for Newcomer of the Year and Front of House Team at the 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub awards open today (Monday 7 November).

Sector overhaul: Loungers plans to open Brightside sites across A-road locations throughout the UK

New Loungers concept to reinvigorate roadside dining

By Gary Lloyd

Loungers, multiple operator of café-bar and restaurants brands Lounge and Cosy Club, is set to reinvigorate the spirit of the ’70s and ’80s in Britain with the launch of roadside dining concept Brightside.

We're stuffed: Avian flue wreaks havoc for turkey farmers (Getty/ Monty Rakusen)

Avian flu means turkey prices could soar

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Turkeys are expected to rocket in price as avian flu forcers farmers to cull livestock and freeze birds for the festive season.

Going Green: Consumers want to make sustainable decisions when dining out (Getty/ FG Trade Latin)

Brits want sustainability when dining out

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Brits want to make more sustainable choices when eating or drinking out, but according to new research, two-thirds of UK consumers are not able to.

Preventing loss of stock: having a plan in place crucial to manage food safety during potential blackouts (Credit: Getty/FabrikaCr)

Preparation crucial during blackouts

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality businesses must ensure they have a plan in place to avoid panic and maintain food safety standards in “unlikely” event of blackouts this winter.

Food trends: Sustainability, cost-efficiency and social media are key to your winter menu

FEATURE

FEATURE: What’s on the menu for food trends?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Christmas is round the corner. But with a cost-of-living crisis squeezing budgets, there’s little room for festive cheer with 40% of consumers dining out less frequently than usual. Operators can make sure their pub is the place to celebrate this winter...

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 48

The Lock In Podcast

The World Cup vs Christmas

By Ed Bedington

The World Cup is usually a bumper time for pubs, but with it clashing with Christmas, how are operators going to manage the two? With their usual expertise and competence, the podcast team investigate...

Enormous cliff edge: food inflation made biggest upward contribution to rising inflation in September (Credit: Getty/ fcafotodigital)

Inflation leaving sector on 'cliff edge'

By Rebecca Weller

Soaring food inflation has left many hospitality businesses facing a “cliffs-edge” as food costs push inflation up 10.1% in the 12 months to September 2022.

Big wins: Over-66s can bag free food at Greene King pubs this World Cup (Getty/ Dean Mitchell)

Greene King offers free food to over-66s

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King is launching a competition which will allow some people aged 66 and over to bag free food and drink during the 2022 World Cup.

Strike action: Disputes over pay could cause Christmas chaos for drink firms (Getty/ Luis Alvarez)

BrewDog packaging firm faces strike action

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Some of Britain’s best-known drink brands, including BrewDog, Pepsico and Diageo, face Christmas logistics problems as DS Smith workers vote over industrial action.

Beer and food pairing with Ed Hughes of Sharp's

the cask project

How to match complex cask flavours with your food

By Ed Hughes, beer sommelier, Sharp’s Brewery

Sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and fruity: beer arguably has a more complex range of flavours than wine, and beer and food matching is a growing concept in modern cuisine.

Adaptation advantage: the versatility of pizza means the dish can be easily innovated (image: Getty/ Maren Caruso)

2023 food and drink trends revealed

By Nikkie Thatcher

A nod to the past, ongoing consideration of sustainability and overseas inspiration are just three of the food and drinks trends operators should consider, research has found.

Big Hospitality Expo and Low2NoBev show success

Sector comes together for epic three-day event

By The Morning Advertiser

Hospitality leaders came together for a three-day event focused on restaurateurs and chefs, casual dining operators and pubs and bars, and also the low to no-alcohol scene at Olympia, London.

Rising inflation: Climbing fruit and veg costs put pressure on operators (Getty/ Thomas Barwick)

Fruit & veg prices soar by 35%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

September seasonal fruit and vegetable prices have climbed by 35% versus the like-for-like period in 2019, adding to the “dangerous cocktail” of soaring costs threatening the sector.

Reservations kept: more consumers appear to be honouring their bookings at hospitality venues (image: Getty/AlxeyPnferov)

Cost of no-shows slashed by £5bn

By Nikkie Thatcher

The likelihood of no-show diners has almost halved from 11% to 6%, reducing the cost of customers who make reservations and don’t turn up by £5bn a year in revenue, research has found.

Low price: the menu is available throughout the week days for four hours a day

NWTC unveils lunch under £10

By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) has launched a low-cost lunch menu in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

Sporting chance: (clockwise from top left) the Admiral Nelson, Anlaby Park, the Denbigh Castle, the Railway, The Gardeners Arms and Famous Three Kings

GBPA 2022

Meet the GBPA finalists for Best Pub to Watch Sport sponsored by Sky

By Gary Lloyd

Many pubs make screening sport one of their main revenue streams and with the football World Cup approaching, there's no excuse for any site not to cash in on the tournament or any other sport that is currently taking place. Here are the finalists...

Horrific timing: calorie labelling added extra pressure to the sector (Pictured left to right: Alice Bower, Matt Presinger and Paul Dickinson at MA Leaders event on Thursday 15 September)

Calorie labelling 'horrific timing'

By Rebecca Weller

Calorie labelling had “horrific timing” and added pressure to the sector at a time it was already facing multiple burden’s, according to industry leaders.

Company news: the deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions for McCain Foods (image: Getty/10'000 Hours)

McCain Foods acquires Scelta Products

By The Morning Advertiser

Manufacturing business McCain Foods has bought Netherlands-based frozen foods producers Scelta Products for an undisclosed sum.

Equality needed: 'it doesn't make sense for the hospitality industry to subsidise supermarkets,' JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin says (image: Getty/Image Source)

JDW slashes prices to highlight VAT cut benefit

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is cutting prices on its food and drink for one day to spotlight the benefit a permanent VAT decrease would have on the hospitality sector.

Time for change: chefs need improved technology and training to encourage creativity

Chefs need improved technology and training

By Rebecca Weller

Two fifths of catering staff believe a lack of training, technology and resources has caused low morale amongst their teams, a survey of contract catering firms across the UK has revealed.

Spotlight

(credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast episode 78 Making the most of your ghost Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year

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