Today’s news in brief – 31/03/25
Kerb has seen its trader revenues rise by 37% to over £32m in 2024, up from £23.5m a year prior. This marks an 89% increase since 2022 when it first generated £17m in revenues for its food stalls. Kerb’s flagship food hall, Seven Dials Market, has welcomed on average 30,000 visitors each week in 2024. Home to 20 independent food businesses, the market has achieved year-on-year food revenue growth of 20.6% to £17.5m. Kerb also operates five weekly pop-up lunch markets in London that achieved year-on-year growth of 13% to £1.1m.
UKH has called on the government to bring forward a plan for hospitality amid rising costs. The trade body believes that this should include the Treasury ensuring its business rate reform, to be unveiled in the autumn, offers the maximum discount for hospitality businesses. Hospitality businesses are facing an additional £1.9bn in wage costs, £1bn of employer NICs and £500m in business rates, as a result of relief being lowered from 75% to 40%. Seven in 10 hospitality businesses say they will have to reduce their employment level.
Average drinks sales were up by 2% in the week ended 15 March against the same period in 2024, CGA has revealed. There was an even stronger growth of 5% in the following seven days to 22 March. After a tough start to the year for the on-premise, drinks sales have now been ahead of last year’s levels for four weeks in a row, after increases of 4% and 8% in the previous fortnight. Peak growth days in the second half of this month have included Saturday 15 March, when the final round of Six Nations rugby matches lifted drinks sales.
Market Halls has acquired Shelter Hall, Brighton’s seafront food hall, in a multi-million pound deal with Sessions – marking a milestone in its expansion beyond London. The Shelter Hall deal makes it Market Halls’ fifth site and its first venture outside of the capital. For Sessions, this sale is said to signify a strategic shift towards expanding its brand portfolio. Having launched Shelter Hall on Brighton’s seafront in 2020, the group is now doubling down on franchising – both in delivery and high street locations.