Thu 18th Jan 2024 - Managed operators end year with sales up 8.8% in December, bars see first growth since January 2023 Managed operators end year on a high with sales up 8.8% in December, bars see first growth since January 2023: Britain’s managed hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. The result capped a solid 2023 for managed pubs, bars and restaurants, who collectively achieved like-for-like growth in every month. December’s figure is a sharp increase from 4.0% in November and double the current rate of inflation in the UK, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The tracker – produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK – reveals like-for-like sales growth of 9.6% for pubs in December, while restaurants enjoyed an 8.3% upswing. Bars bounced back from a long run of negative figures with growth of 5.6% – the segment’s first growth since January 2023. Trading in the on-the-go segment, a new segment for the tracker, was 3.1% ahead. For the 12th time in the last 13 months, growth in London was higher than elsewhere. Groups’ sales within the M25 in December were 11.2% up on last year, compared with an 8.1% increase outside the capital. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “December’s tracker numbers show the enduring appeal of pubs, bars and restaurants over the festive season. They are a welcome sign that pressure on consumers’ spending may be easing, and the extra revenue is vital to groups as we enter quieter trading months. However, cost and labour issues mean some businesses remain under severe pressure. All operators will need to stay resolutely focused on the fundamentals of great hospitality in order to sustain real-terms growth throughout 2024.”