Confidence, delivery, Pernod, Brown Forman, JDW, AB InBev & other:

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

As we had a power cut when we were away for a few days prior to Christmas, we found ourselves in a position where we had to cook and eat – or at least try to eat or freeze – two turkeys fit to feed-16-to-20 people each, within the space of a few days.

Well, try as we might, eating it all was beyond us so we ended up with about two dozen, what-had-been-Chinese-food containers worth of turkey in gravy, turkey stew and minced turkey in broth in the freezer which, thankfully, hasn’t suffered from any further power cuts since.

And finally, finally, we’re nearly through it.

And, like a plaster cast on your foot or a squealing bathroom door, we’ll kind of miss it when it’s gone.

That’s not to say that a bit of variety won’t be welcome and, on that note, we can turn toward the weekend.

The weather looks reasonable and, though we lose an hour’s sleep on Saturday night, it’ll be lighter into the evenings. But we’ve got one more day to get through before downing tools so let’s move on to the news:

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PUBS & RESTAURANTS:

Consumer confidence:

GfK has updated on its measure of consumer confidence, saying that it was down two points in March. It reports that ‘expectations of further sharp price rises are driving a ripple of fear among consumers…’

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Delivery:

NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker suggests that February ‘delivery sales rose 4.7% from the same month in 2025.’ It points out that this ‘is well above Britain’s current rate of inflation and follows a 7.4% increase in January.’ The rain reportedly helped as NIQ says that ‘February’s sales were boosted by wet weather that kept people at home in many parts of the country, and by hesitant consumer confidence that may have led some to reduce their spending on eating out….’

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Economy:

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development has suggested that Britain is ‘set to suffer the second lowest growth and second highest level of inflation in the G7…’

Other news:

Lumina Intelligence has reported the results of its latest Eating & Drinking Out Panel suggesting that promotions are driving volume…

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Next Phase reports that the number of food halls in the UK looks set to rise from 114 to 149 this year, a rise of 31%.

COMPANY NEWS:

Bloomberg reports that Pernod Ricard is in talks to combine its business with US group Brown-Forman. It says that the talks between Pernod and the Jack Daniels distiller are at an early stage and there can be no guarantee of a transaction. Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman have confirmed that they were engaged in discussions…

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Taco Bell franchisee Campana has secured funding from HSBC UK to support a major expansion programme. The company currently operates 23 Taco Bell restaurants across the South West, Wales and the Midlands….

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J D Wetherspoon has announced that it is to open two pubs at Josep Tarradellas  Barcelona – El Prat airport. It says this ‘follows on from the opening of the company’s first pub in Spain at Alicante Airport (February 2026)’ with the first of the two pubs set to  open at Terminal 1 in September 2026 and the second, in Terminal 2 in January 2027. They are both airside….

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Shake Shack is reported sett o open its first fully halal-certified restaurant in the UK at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced that Board Chairman Martin J. Barrington will be retiring from his position on the Company’s Board of Directors following the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 29 April 2026….

The BBC reports that ‘drinks giant Suntory Global Spirits has scrapped plans to build a controversial £150m whisky maturation facility in East Ayrshire….’

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Inception Group is to move into competitive socialising with its new Mr Fogg’s Games Parlour offer that will open in its existing Mr Fogg’s City Tavern near Liverpool Street this spring.

Brew York is to open its latest unit, at Goole Market Hall, on Tuesday 31st March. The Market Hall will be ‘proudly brought to life by Brew York, with craft beer, locally inspired food, and a vibrant new community space in the heart of Goole.’

HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:

Travel Trade Gazette reports that this Easter will be the first real, high-volume test for the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES)…

Uber has reported that it is to partner with Pony AI to operate the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe, beginning in Zagreb.

CoStar reports that the US industry generated positive metrics in the week to 21 March. Occupancy rose by 2.7%, ADR was up by 2.2% and REVPAR was 4.9% higher than the same week last year.

OTHER LEISURE:

PM Sir Keir Starmer has said that, in the wake of a landmark trial in the US, he is ‘very keen’ for the UK Government to tackle addictive features on social media.

X (formerly Twitter) has had its law suit in which it accused a group of advertisers and major companies of illegally boycotting its platform, dismissed by a US judge.

FINANCE & MARKETS:

Oil analysts have suggested that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has prompted the biggest upheaval in the history of the commercial oil industry.

Sterling mixed at $1.3340 and €1.1562. Oil up around $3.50 at $107.92. UK 10 year gilt yield up 13 basis points at 4.96%. World markets mostly lower yesterday but Far East mixed in Friday trading and London set to open around 35 points better as at 6.30am.

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