Exclusive – Downing acquires Pub People and commits to growth: Investment manager Downing has acquired Midlands pub company Pub People and committed to further funding for expansion, Propel has learned. Downing has acquired the company from its management team – Andrew Crawford and Kevin Sammons – and merged it with its existing investment in Autumn Pubs, which has been managed under contract by Pub People since 2012. Funds managed by Downing will be the majority shareholder in the combined business, which includes 49 managed pubs, and Downing has committed further funding to help the group expand through acquisitions. Sammons has headed Pub People for more than 28 years, and its estate of food and drink pubs is based in and around Nottingham, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield and Lincoln. Following the acquisition, Sammons will transition into a non-executive position, while Crawford will move into the role of managing director. Sammons said: “I am proud to have led and built this successful company, along with the many loyal and exceptional employees who have been important contributors to that success. They can now continue the Pub People journey along with Downing and fulfil theirs and the group’s potential. I am extremely grateful for the support Downing has given us over the last ten years. It is now time for me to step back and hand over to a worthy and capable successor and his team.” Crawford added: “Kevin and I have worked very well together as a management team for more than 20 years. We have together built a company we can be truly proud of, but now there are new chapters to be written. While there are numerous economic challenges on the horizon, we have a strong team, and with support from Downing, the group can continue to invest and grow its high-quality pub estate.” Nick Carter, associate director at Downing, said: “We wish Kevin well, and are excited to take the group to the next stage under Andy’s direction.”

Convenience reigns king as food delivery sales soar over takeaways: Britain’s consumers have switched from pick-up food takeaways to third-party deliveries, continuing the habits they picked up during covid-19 lockdowns, the latest CGA Hospitality at Home Tracker has revealed. The monthly report showed delivery sales at managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in August 2022 were 13% higher than in August 2021. By contrast, takeaway and click-and-collect sales were 25% down from a year ago. Compared with August 2019 – the last comparable month before the covid-19 pandemic – delivery sales were 263% higher – more than five times the growth of 49% for takeaways. Deliveries accounted for almost 15p in every pound spent with managed groups offering delivery in August 2022, while takeaways attracted only 7p. The tracker showed how total at-home sales have fallen since covid restrictions ended, but remain much higher than pre-pandemic levels. Combined delivery and takeaway sales in August 2022 were 8% down on August 2021 – the tenth month of year-on-year decline in a row – but 102% ahead of August 2019. Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “Restaurant closures and covid concerns led many consumers to order in food and drink instead of going out in 2020 and 2021, and while restrictions have ended, it is clear delivery habits are here to stay.”