Cocktail sector continues to surge
More than three quarters of the country’s bars now sell cocktails, with healthier and premium mixed drinks among the big trends driving the flourishing market, exclusive new research from CGA Strategy reveals.
New openings round-up
Business, CGA Peach, Drinks, Food, Industry, Market Growth Monitor, New Openings, Peach Report, Retail
Brands including Carluccio’s, Brew Dog, Papa John’s, Las Iguanas, Be At One, Harvester, Frankie & Benny’s, The Botanist, Solita and Belgo are among those with new opening plans to report this week.
BrewDog chases the coffee market
BrewDog has become the latest bar brand to pursue a bigger share of the coffee market, with CGA Peach research confirming the scale of the crossover opportunity now.
Consumers back the new National Living Wage
Operators across the eating and drinking out markets have been adapting to the introduction of the new National Living Wage—and CGA Peach data suggests that consumers look more favourably on brands that pay their staff decent rates.
Sugar tax faces soft drinks backlash
Plans for a new tax on sugar-heavy soft drinks unveiled in last week’s Budget have run into criticism from soft drinks manufacturers.
Sales of sugar-free drinks rising for Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon says well over half its non-alcoholic drink sales are now sugar-free choices. The pub chains’ claim is a growing trend that is backed up by CGA Peach data, and came just before yesterday’s government announcement of the sugar tax.
Whitbread debuts Bar + Block
Whitbread has teed up a new Beefeater Bar + Block high street all-day restaurant concept, with the first branch to open in Birmingham next month.