Costa, Wetherspoon, Greggs and Mitchells & Butlers named customers’ favourite brands
Costa, JD Wetherspoon, Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery, Miller & Carter and Greggs are among the businesses with the most momentum in the out of home eating and drinking sectors at the moment, a new report reveals.
The ‘CGA EI | Stone & River Brand Momentum Report’ analyses CGA data to produce rankings of operators in five key parts of the industry, with added expert insight from hospitality and retail consultancy Stone & River.
With this data, the report examines which brands are rising and falling in the eyes of British consumers.
The report found that Costa is the company with the most momentum in the coffee and food to go sector, followed by Patisserie Valerie. With more than 2,300 coffee shops and 7,000 Costa Express self-service units, Costa is now one of the most visible consumer brands.
In the high street drinks-led sector, JD Wetherspoon was shown to be the leading operator, followed by All Bar One. CGAs data showed that the brand has a wide appeal across all demographics, due to its convenience and value.
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery tops the reports list of leading pub restaurant names, ahead of Greene Kings Farmhouse Inns. Stonehouse has rolled out rapidly since launching, and has tapped into two of the most popular areas of eating out in pizzas and carveries.
M&B scores a second top spot in the restaurants category, with its steakhouse brand Miller & Carter leading narrowly from fast-growing brasserie concept Côte. Miller & Carter has replaced other M&B concepts in many locations lately, and has built loyalty among older diners in particular.
In the QSR category, Greggs continues its dominance by leading the list ahead of McDonald’s, thanks in part to efforts to offer more healthy options and sit-in service.
Karl Chessell, business unit director for retail and food at CGA, said: “Our fascinating snapshot of out of home eating and drinking brands reveals the names that are increasing awareness and generating loyalty and word of mouth – as well as the ones that are slipping behind in public opinion. It shows the simplicity of some of the elements of successful branding – but also how challenging it can be to achieve them on the frontline.”
