PropelInfonews.con: New research – restaurants without loyalty schemes miss out on doubling chances of a customer purchase: Restaurants that have not yet implemented loyalty schemes could be missing out on the prospect of doubling the likelihood of a customer purchase. According to a study by data-driven marketing and loyalty platform provider Coniq, focusing on loyalty habits within the food and beverage sector, customers are twice as likely to buy something if they hold a loyalty card – yet many restaurants still don’t have schemes in place. Coniq chief executive Ben Chesser said: “We have certainly seen amongst our clients the great results that can be achieved through smart implementation of loyalty schemes, alongside the willingness of clients in this sector to be creative in their approach. However, there are still a vast amount of restaurants simply not making the most of this tactic and missing out hugely on the significant benefits to be had. ” The study findings also highlighted the importance of personalisation, a key component in driving loyalty and engagement. The study also revealed that male diners enjoy being loyal to bars and pubs and are twice as likely to redeem drink offers than females. Whilst the most favoured method of communication for loyalty card holders was found to be email, with 74% preferring this, mobile was close behind, at 73%, highlighting the importance of mobile as an increasingly effective channel for loyalty.

Morningadvertiser: WSTA: Wine replaces beer as UK’s favourite alcoholic drink

By Helen GilbertHelen Gilbert, 02-Feb-2015

A glass of wine has replaced a pint of beer as the nation’s favourite tipple, according to research commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/WSTA-Wine-replaces-beer-as-UK-s-favourite-alcoholic-drink

Tuesday 3/2/15

PropelInfonews.com: Multi-site companies nominated in Sustainable Restaurant Awards: Restaurants and food service businesses as diverse as an alpine ski lodge and a Welsh prison, are in the running to win the Sustainable Restaurant Awards 2015. The finalists in the Sustainable Small Group of the Year category are Lussmanns Fish & Grill, Drake & Morgan, London and Hawksmoor, London. The Sustainable Large Group of the Year finalists are D&D London, Carluccio’s and Boston Tea Party. The Sustainable Innovation Award finalists are Wahaca, Boston Tea Party, Silo, Brighton. The new People’s Favourite category sees the Bay Fish and Chips, Stonehaven, where customers know the name of the boat that caught their fish, competing against the Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom, where young unemployed people serve local dishes “with a modern twist”. The Real Junk Food Project in Leeds, set up to beat food waste and food poverty, serving surplus food on a “pay as you feel” basis, is also in the running, alongside Star Bistro, a Cheltenham restaurant that gives people with disabilities the chance to shine and uses its profits to feed poor local families. Silo, the fifth restaurant looking to be named the People’s Favourite, which opened in Brighton at the end of 2014, grows mushrooms on its walls and was designed to be totally waste-free. The prison-based restaurant The Clink in Cardiff is up against last year’s winner, the Gallery in Barry, for the Welsh Sustainable Restaurant of the Year, along with Enochs Fish & Chips.

Bighospitality.co.uk: UK eating out sector faces ‘turbulent and tremendous’ year

By Carina Perkins+Carina Perkins, 02-Feb-2015

The UK eating out market continues to grow – with the regions showing recovery for the first time – but discount driven consumers remain a challenge for the sector.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/UK-eating-out-sector-faces-turbulent-and-tremendous-year

PropelInfonews.com: Bristol becomes the first city to trial outdoor smoking ban: Bristol has become the first city in the UK to ban smoking in some outdoor public places. A voluntary smoking ban is being trialled at two of the city’s busy outdoor spaces. Both Millennium and Anchor Squares at the Harbourside will become smoke-free. But it will be up to each individual bar and restaurant situated in these areas if they comply with the pilot project. Fiona Andrews, director of Smokefree South West, which initiated the pilot, said: “This is an exciting initiative that we hope will have a lasting impact on not just Millennium Square and Anchor Square, but the wider region and potentially the rest of the UK. These city centre squares are often full of children playing and this pilot will provide a smoke-free environment for kids and their parents to enjoy.”

Bighospitality.co.uk:VisitBritain launches £3m campaign to drive tourists to countryside

By Emma EvershamEmma Eversham, 02-Feb-2015

VisitBritain has launched a marketing campaign to drive more international tourists to Britain’s countryside and help generate an extra visitor spend of £70m in the next three years.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/VisitBritain-launches-Countryside-is-Great-campaign

PropelInfonews.com: Licensees warned of dangers from cold callers exhorting indiscriminate business rates appeal: Licensees have been warned that they could actually face higher costs if they fall for boiler house telesales claims that business rate appeals will always save money. As the deadline of 31 March for submitting business rate appeals set in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement looms, there have been increased reports of firms encouraging business rate appeals with the line “use it or lose it”. Jerry Schurder, head of business rates at the consultancy Gerald Eve, which advises 25% of the FTSE 100 on property taxation, said: “We suggest you treat with caution these telesales approaches over the coming weeks. Cold callers have a track record of promising reduced assessments but leaving their clients with increased bills when the Valuation Office realises the rateable value appealed was too low. There is no purpose in appealing without the prospect of achieving a saving and only harm can arise from challenging a low valuation, which might encourage the Valuation Office to increase and backdate the assessment. Nonetheless, where an appeal is merited and a business is satisfied that there is no risk of an increase, then a challenge should be made before the end of March deadline. Use it – yes – but don’t abuse it.”

Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Pubs urged to shout about their work for the community

By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 03-Feb-2015

Pubs are being encouraged to contact their local MPs and shout about their work for the community after the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group (APCRG) launched a new initiative to celebrate responsible businesses.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/Pubs-urged-to-shout-about-their-work-for-the-community

Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Punch plans to expand Mighty Local model

By Mark Wingett, M&C ReportMark Wingett, M&C Report, 03-Feb-2015

Punch Taverns believes there is potential to convert “hundreds” of its sites — both across its core and turnaround estate — to its fledgling wet-led community local model, Mighty Local, subject to clarity on the market rent only option (MRO), the Publican’s Morning Advertiser‘s sister title M&C Report understands.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Company-City-News/Punch-plans-to-expand-Mighty-Local-model

Wednesday

Purple WiFi, the cloud-based social WiFi software company, today announced its partnership with Molson Coors, one of the UK’s biggest brewers to create a solution called “Molson Coors Cloud”.

As part of a new trial, Molson Coors is offering a secure gated access point for a pub’s WiFi where Molson Coors brands are stocked, such as; Carling, Coors Light and Cobra. The access point also enables the licensees to engage with their customers directly to build loyalty and provide them relevant information and offers.

Upon logging in, the customer will be given the choice of how to access the free WiFi, either by a short form or their chosen social media account. When accessing via social media, the venue can ask for a Facebook ‘Like’ or a Twitter ‘Follow’ and gain the opportunity to engage via social media or email.

Users must agree to the terms and conditions, allowing the following data to be collected during login: name, age, gender, location, email address and mobile number.

Each customer that accesses the WiFi provides their consent to the venue access to some of the information captured during the login process. This information is stored securely in the MolsonCoorsCloud.com portal and can be used by the venue to view insights and analytics about their customers.

All data is stored in line with all legislation and best practice, and can be used by the venue.

Propelinfonews.com:  Research shows upselling has declined:　Research by the guest experience management company HospitalityGEM has found that upselling in the foodservice industry significantly declined over the past two years, featuring in only 70% of customer visits in 2014, down from 83% in 2012. The data found that upselling was at an all-time low for the industry in December 2014, when it was recorded in just 66% of visits, against a record high achieved in February 2012 of 87%. This was likely to be a result of the higher numbers of customers and large group bookings at Christmas-time, particularly as consumer spend on eating out continues to rise in spite of economic difficulty, and the increased pressure this in turn places on staff, HospitalityGEM said. Generally, up-selling is at its highest throughout January, at 80% in 2014, suggesting the traditionally lower levels of footfall throughout this month leave staff with more time to focus on upselling through service, aided by the new year promotions that are commonplace, it said. In terms of industry sectors, upselling is at its highest in fine dining restaurants and high end hotels which registered at 79% and 76% across the year respectively, which could mean staff feel more comfortable offering additional food and more premium drinks choices in an environment where customers expect to spend a larger sum of money. It is at its lowest in the counter service sector, just 56%, no doubt due to the speed of service required at these establishments, leaving little room for offering extras to enhance the experience, the company said. Steven Pike, managing director of HospitalityGEM, said: “While staff may feel uncomfortable offering customers additional or more expensive products, it’s well worth operators investing in training to ensure this takes place. Our research identified that the Net Promoter Score is actually higher on visits where upselling features; this suggests that the customer appreciates the offer and the implied consideration of their requirements, and this is ultimately translated into positive word-of-mouth.

PropelInfonews.com: Stuart Inns expands into boutique bedrooms: Stuart Inns, run by brothers Oliver and Iain Macmillan and their sister Lorna Pissarro, has expanded into boutique bedrooms. The company runs three Suffolk pubs, the Swan at Long Melford, where they began in 2011, the Ram at Hadleigh, which they added in 2013, and the Greyhound in Lavenham, which they took on last year, all Greene King tenancies. The latest addition is a new departure, with the business having bought Melford House, formerly a family home next-door-but-one to the Swan, which has now been converted to provide four luxury en-suite guest bedrooms. Clive Chesser, business unit director for Greene King Pub Partners, said: “All of Lorna, Oliver and Iain’s businesses have blossomed as a result of their dedication to outstanding customer service, first-rate food and memorable dining experiences. I am in no doubt that Melford House will be another success for them and we are very proud to have this family of young and talented local entrepreneurs running Greene King pubs.”

PropelInfonews.com: Legendary Pubs buys second site: Legendary Pubs has bought the freehold of the Bull Inn in Cavendish, west Suffolk through the property agent Fleurets. Legendary Pubs already operates the Half Moon in nearby Belchamp St Paul. The Bull will close for refurbishment for two weeks after completion, and re-open mid-February. The property was sold off a freehold asking price of £325,000 plus VAT.

Thursday

Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Nightclub in cumulative impact zone granted 6am licence

By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 04-Feb-2015

A Lincolnshire nightclub has been granted a 6am licence after winning an appeal – despite the fact it is situated in a cumulative impact zone.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/Nightclub-in-cumulative-impact-zone-granted-6am-licence

PropelInfonews.com: Former Marco Pierre White pub in Wiltshire to be reopened by Punch: The Pear Tree Inn, Whitley, Wiltshire, which was run by Marco Pierre White as a gastro-pub from 2011 until August last year, when it closed suddenly, is to reopen in May, owner Punch Taverns has announced. The news comes days after Melksham Without Parish Council said it was going to apply for the pub to become a community asset after fears over its future. Punch Taverns said: “We can confirm that we are at an advanced stage of negotiations with interested parties regarding letting the Pear Tree in conjunction with undertaking a significant refurbishment.

Morningadvertiser.co.uk: BBPA Running A Pub guide: Operating costs rise again

By Mike BerryMike Berry, 05-Feb-2015

Total operating costs of running tenanted and leased pubs increased last year — with rises across all types of pub businesses, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA) latest Running a Pub benchmarking survey of companies representing 14,000 pubs.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/BBPA-Running-A-Pub-guide-Operating-costs-rise-again

PropelInfonews.com: Star Pubs and Bars invests £75,000 in 1,000 training days: Star Pubs & Bars, the 1,200-strong tenanted pub company owned by Heineken, is investing £75,000 in a new suite of retail skills workshops for its lessees, which it anticipates will deliver 1,000 days of free training for lessees and their staff in 2015. The initiative is part of the company’s 2015 focus on supporting lessees’ retail skills.

Bighospitality.co.uk: BBPA renews call for beer duty cut to support industry’s 870,000 jobs

By Emma EvershamEmma Eversham, 05-Feb-2015

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has renewed calls for a cut in beer duty at the next Budget after a report it commissioned showed that the brewing and pub sectors contribute £21.7bn to the economy and employ 870,000 people.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/BBPA-renews-call-for-beer-duty-cut-to-support-industry-s-870-000-jobs

PropelInfonews.com: Marston’s launches ‘Help for Heroes’ beer created by three injured veterans: Marston’s has launched a draught beer designed by three injured ex-servicemen to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes. It has been brewed at the Burton upon Trent Marston’s brewery to a recipe worked upon by Pete Dunning, Dan ‘Baz’ Whittingham and Simon Brown, who were all injured in action while serving for the British Forces. Six pence from the sale of each pint will go to Help for Heroes, which supports injured members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Friday

telegraph.co.uk: London’s best restaurant sites are being eaten up by chains

Start-up eateries are unable to expand due to a chronic shortage of affordable sites in the capital. London’s restaurant squeeze is hurting small brands as chains gobble up popular high street spots.