Pricing, economy, Whitbread, Red Engine, Alchemist & other:

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

Here’s tea-break question for you, one for which I have (or rather had) no ready answer; which action, event or happening has the largest number of euphemisms or other ways of describing it?

Spoiler alert below.

Is it going to the loo?

One way or the other or is it being drunk? Or dying?

Snuff it, turn up your toes, fall off your perch, pass on, etc., or is it something else, some other physical actions that we won’t get into at this time in the morning?

Suggested answers below.

ChatGPT, by the way, said it was ‘thinking longer for a better answer’, which was very mature of it and, ultimately, it said that it was kicking the bucket followed, unsurprisingly, by toilet actions and procreative activities.

It then offered to produce frequency charts, exhaustive lists and the like but, with work to do, that wasn’t a rabbit hole that I wanted to go down. On to the news:

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PUBS & RESTAURANTS:

Pricing pressure:

Meaningful Vision reports that an analysis of data gathered in H1 this year ‘reveals the scale of pricing pressures across the UK hospitality market.’ it says that ‘price increases have become a defining feature of the sector, with all major segments experiencing notable growth in average menu prices….’

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Pricing decisions in practise (sent out to clients last week).

It’s sometimes said that prices go up like a rocket but come down like a feather. And, though we have to accept that it might be more memorable (and irritating) when the above happens & thus it gets imprinted more readily onto memories, the above does, nonetheless, often seem to be the case. Taking chocolate as an example…

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Disposable incomes:

Energy supplier Octopus Energy has told MPs that consumers’ bills could rise by around 20% in the next four years, even if wholesale markets fall, due to the cost of government policies. Octopus director Rachel Fletcher says that ‘serious and urgent consideration’ is needed to deal with rising non-commodity costs.

Economy:

The ONS has reported that the UK economy grew by 0.1% in August. The CBI reports that ‘today’s figures confirm that growth over the summer was slower than during the first half of the year….’

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that Brexit costs and the impact on the UK economy is responsible for the scale of the black hole she is now having to deal with. Ms Reeves mixes it up a bit when she says ‘austerity, Brexit, and the ongoing impact of Liz Truss’s mini-budget, all of those things have weighed heavily on the UK economy.’ She adds ‘already, people thought that the UK economy would be 4% smaller because of Brexit….’

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Other news:

Drinks trade professionals are being urged to ‘save the date’ as the 2026 Drinks Trade Regatta will be staged on 4-5th June 2026. The new 2 day format creates lower charter fees, but also only one dinner in Cowes and one nights accommodation in Cowes, but still set to be two full days of fun racing and networking.

COMPANY NEWS:

Red Engine has confirmed earlier Sky News reports that it has secured .further investment to accelerate UK and international growth.’ The company, which runs the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle chains of venues, says that ‘the new £10 million funding, on top of last year’s £60 million boost, will support new venue openings and continued innovation in competitive socialising…’

The Alchemist, where Sky News reports that owner, PR house Palatine Private Equity is looking to sell its stake, has reported full year numbers to 31 March 2025 to Companies’ House saying that revenue had slipped by 4.1% to £56.2m. Higher costs led to operating profits dropping by 81% to £284k (FY24: £1.5m) and the group reported a loss before tax of £724k against a profit in the prior year of £580k. The company still has retained earnings (of £4.3m) and positive shareholders’ funds of £5.0m…

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The Sun reports that ‘Nando’s bosses have slapped ‘cheeky’ prices increases of up to 12 per cent on some popular menu items.’ It says that Nando’s ‘blamed the rising cost of food and staffing for the hikes.’

WHITBREAD H1 NUMBERS:

Whitbread reports H1 revenues down 2% at £1.57bn. It says that EBITDAR is down by 2% at £601m and adjusted PBT is down by 7% at £316m. The company reports that EPS is 2% lower at 133.7p and the dividend at the half-way stage has been held at 36.4p. The company reports that the lower profit ‘reflects broadly flat UK total accommodation sales and positive momentum in Germany, offset by the anticipated lower food and beverage sales due to the continued implementation of our Accelerating Growth Plan.’

Current trading & outlook:

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HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:

Park Holidays, which operated during the year under review some 56 holiday parks across the UK and which is ultimately owned by NYSE-listed REIT, Sun Communities Inc, has reported numbers to 31 Dec 2024 to Companies’ House. Park Holidays reports that revenues rose by 2.1% to £297m and that underlying operating profits – held back by higher expenses – slipped by around 6% to £68.6m….

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US president Donald Trump has reportedly threatened to move Boston’s World Cup matches away from the city next year. He says the city has been ‘taken over’ by unrest.

OTHER LEISURE:

Canal Plus has updated on nine-month trading saying that total revenue of the combined Group is €4,684m. It adds that it is ‘on track to achieve 2025 revenue guidance….’

US president Donald Trump’s Scottish golf courses have reported numbers to end-December confirming that they remain in (albeit lower) loss. Turnberry revenue rose 15 per cent to £24.2 million but the company reports a loss before tax o £632k. Revenue rose by 22 per cent at Trump International golf course in Aberdeenshire to £4.5 million, with the loss before tax falling to £937k from £1.4 million in 2023.

FINANCE & MARKETS:

The IFS has said that Rachel Reeves will face a ‘Groundhog Day’ after her next budget if she is not bold enough on spending.

Sterling up at $1.3412 and €1.1511. Oil slightly up at $62.35. UK 10 year gilt yield down 2 basis points at 4.55%. World markets mixed yesterday and London set to open around 22 points lower as at 6.30am.

RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:

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