Breakfast Briefing - The latest hospitality news
Quote of the Week
"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out".
Ronald Reagan
Tweet of the Week
@KayBurley tweeted:
Should @Nigel_Farage be person of the year? To view the full tweet, click hereNews of the Week
Record spending on essential items drives 5.1 per cent increase in consumer spending
According to the latest consumer spend data from Barclaycard,spending growth hit 5.1 per cent in November, the second-highest figure since the data was first published in October 2011. This figure was boosted by record growth on essential items (up 4.7 per cent) which comprises supermarket shopping and petrol purchases. The data also reveals that consumers’ confidence in household finances has remained flat at 55%; furthermore, only a third feel confident in the UK economy, down from nearly half in September. Other key findings that have been reported:- Spending on essential items was up to a record high of 4.7 per cent boosted by spending in supermarket (1.6 per cent) and on petrol forecourts (11.7 per cent)
- Consumers also continued to spend on the ‘experience economy’, leading to double-digit growth in entertainment spend (11.9 per cent) and travel spend increasing 6 per cent
- Pubs and restaurants continued to be top-performing categories, with growth of 14.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively
Story of the Week
H+J looking into emerging food trends at the IET London.
On 30th November, H+J held a talk at Savoy to give a real taste of the emerging food trends at the IET London: This was the first in a series of H+J’s Trend Talks, a quarterly snapshot to clients on what is emerging, not just with food but with lifestyle in general. The inaugural talk was given the added twist of food for thought when top chef Ben Spalding provided a taste of the future. On arrival, guests who thought they were sipping on pre-talk cocktails, were given Seedlip non-alcoholic gin to reflect the key emerging trend of cutting down on alcoholic drinks. The evening, attended by more than 50 of H+J’s clients in the Haslett, Flowers and Marconi rooms, kicked off with a talk by international Retail Futurist, Howard Saunders entitled ‘The Future Is…?.’ This explored a number of topics from the impact technology will have on us in the coming years to the latest street food trends. Company director and Co-Founder Nathan Jones commented: “At H+J we are independent, intrepid and original; we are also forward-thinking and committed to our future. Providing for our future is a challenge that both the events world and food industry needs to address and H+J are determined and proud to be at the forefront of raising awareness."Read more