Fri 20th Jan 2017 - Brewhouse & Kitchen reports December like-for-likes up 14.6% Brewhouse & Kitchen reports December like-for-likes up 14.6%: Brewhouse & Kitchen, the expanding brewhouse concept led by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell, has reported December like-for-like sales were up 14.6%. The company said investment into a new website, bookings system and enhanced brand marketing had helped deliver “exceptional results”. Brewhouse & Kitchen has 14 brewpubs operating under the brand with ten of these achieving record sales weeks during the festive trading period. The company said the academy arm of the business, providing beer masterclasses and brewery experience days, continued to go from strength to strength. Alongside a new online gift card purchasing system, these additional revenue lines added a further £56,000 to the company’s revenues in December and were 112% above last year’s academy and over-the-counter gift card sales. With wider UK coverage, these products have proven to make great Christmas gifts and the group predicted more than 60% of sales would be booked and redeemed in the first quarter of 2017. Food sales now make up 39% of Brewhouse & Kitchen’s revenue, with the majority of customer visits involving dining, with beer-matched menus remaining a key ingredient to the Brewhouse & Kitchen guest experience. The group’s own brewed beer sales make up 43% of total draught beer sales for the business, helping develop the business model into a high margin craft beer business. Gumbrell said: “We have had a great year for on-site brewing innovation with the introduction of an in-pub keg solution and 750ml speciality bottling. Alongside our cask range, this will allow us to offer an even more diverse range of own-brewed craft beers.” With new sites in Lichfield and Bournemouth launching in March, Brewhouse & Kitchen will be actively brewing more than 285 different beers annually across its business. By having a head brewer in each site, focus remains on brewing individual beers dedicated to and designed for each brewpub. The company said it remained committed to resisting offering large-volume, mass-market beer brands, focusing on quality and differentiation across its range. At a minimum, guests can expect a choice of at least 50 draft and bottle beers in each Brewhouse & Kitchen brewpub. Gumbrell added: “Looking forward, 2017 presents some uncertainty but also opportunity. The beer consumer is drinking less but better quality and differentiation are essential, and our brand is well placed to ensure a greater level of expectation can be satisfied. In terms of growth, the company is cash generative and financially well supported, Brewhouse & Kitchen will continue to acquire and develop great brewpub businesses throughout the UK this year.”