Thu 9th Jun 2022 - Jubilee holidays boost food and drink sales but weekend trading disappoints Jubilee holidays boost food and drink sales but weekend trading disappoints: Last week’s double bank holiday lifted sales for Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants, CGA by NielsenIQ’s latest trading data has shown – but street parties dented trading over the weekend. The research revealed average on-premise sales from last Wednesday to Sunday (1-5 June) were 5% higher than the average for the equivalent period over the previous 12 weeks. However, after uplifts of 47% on Wednesday, 54% on Thursday and 7% on Friday, sales dropped by 20% and 22% on Saturday and Sunday respectively. CGA’s data showed food sales increased by 8% over the five-day period, while drinks sales achieved a 3% uplift. There was also a 12% increase in spirit sales, with vodka a key driver, and a 10% hike in cocktail sales. Furthermore, there was an 11% rise in soft drinks sales, reflecting the increase in family visits to venues, and a 4% drop in beer sales, but a 12% rise in the cider category. The research also indicated that total five-days sales increased by 8% in rural areas – a better performance than high streets (up 5%) and suburban areas (up 4%). Despite Jubilee celebrations being centred on London, the sales uplift in the capital was below the UK average at 1%. Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director UK and Ireland, said: “It was very much a Jubilee holiday of two halves for operators and suppliers, with an early upswing followed by a tough weekend. It suggests excitement about the extra bank holidays, but a desire to mark the occasion at home and within local communities. It’s not the major boost to trading that some had hoped for, but it does show pubs, bars and restaurants remain a key part of celebratory occasions.”