NEWS
There’s a taste of the exotic with new Chocoviar, a Pizza Ambassador is announced and operators look ahead to the final quarter of 2025.
Restaurant sales fade in the summer heat
Warm weather helped Britain’s leading managed pub groups to solid sales growth in August, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. Pubs’ like-for-like (LFL) sales were 2.8% ahead of August 2024, making it their best month since April. Sustained sunshine attracted consumers to sites with gardens or terraces, and CGA by
NIQ data shows it was a particularly strong period for sales of beer and cider. However, the heat also reduced eating-out levels, and restaurant groups recorded a 1.6% dip in sales in August. Bar sales were down by 5.0% from August 2024, and the on-the-go segment was 4.5% behind. With all channels combined, the data shows LFL growth of 0.5% for hospitality operators in August. It is the Tracker’s first positive month since April and only the third of the year so far. Total sales, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were up 3.9% – just ahead of the current rate of inflation. For the sixth month out of eight, hospitality operators in London were outperformed by groups further afield. Sales within the M25 were 0.3% up on August 2024, but they were ahead by 0.6% outside of the M25. Karl Chessell, director - hospitality
operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “August’s figures complete a challenging summer for hospitality. Ongoing price rises are making consumers cautious, and while the sunshine loosened some spending in pubs, many restaurants have found it hard to generate the sustained realterms growth needed to mitigate sharp increases in costs. The future remains bright for well-run, good-value and guest-focused hospitality groups but the outlook remains difficult for some businesses as we move into the crucial final months of the year.” Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said: “Hospitality returned to growth in August with positive LFL sales for the first time since April. While good news, the figures do mask differing fortunes, with restaurants in particular continuing to report real terms reductions in turnover.”
Carpigiani gears up for Gelato Festival World Masters Gelato and ice cream equipment manufacturer, Carpigiani, is hosting the next stage of the Gelato Festival World Masters, the European Final, at its HQ in Bologna, Italy this October. Following regional heats across the globe, more than 40 finalists, including three from the UK, will compete from 30-31 October, to earn a coveted place in the World Final, with the ultimate goal of Gelato Festival World Masters Champion. The European Final will showcase the best in artisan gelato, bringing together exceptional chefs, each presenting an array of dishes – created using professional Carpigiani equipment – to a panel of industry experts. Representing the UK in Bologna will be: ● Daniele Panunzio of Panunzio’s Kitchen Gelati Italiani in Bristol – winner of the Hereford heat with ‘Monte Bianco’ – White Lake goat’s
cheese, caramelised salted pecans and fresh raspberry sauce. ● Samantha Cunliffe of Bene Gelateria in Frodsham – winner of the Manchester heat with ‘Chocolate Orange Cocco Crunch’ – custardbased gelato infused with ginger, cinnamon and orange. ● Jon Adams of Gelato Gusto in Chichester – winner of the London heat with the flavour ‘Liquorice & salted caramel’ – a plant-based caramel gelato. Carpigiani UK MD Paul Ingram, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be supporting our UK finalists, Daniele, Samantha and Jon, as they head to Bologna to compete in the European Final. The Gelato Festival World Masters brings together the best artisan gelato chefs, and the quality, creativity and professionalism across the three UK heats were phenomenal.
“The entire Carpigiani team is looking forward to welcoming all international regional finalists. Our panel of judges will no doubt be put through their paces selecting the European finalists to progress to the World Final in 2026.” To find out more, visit gelatofestival.com.
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08/10/2025 11:26