High street bosses plead for crisis cash to help with dramatic energy bill hikes ENERGY BILLS High street businesses have called for emergency help over skyrocketing energy bills, as bosses warn a cocktail of cost pressures threaten to subdue their pandemic recovery. Without government action, historic levels of inflation and dramatic energy bill rises pose a risk to the beauty sector’s recovery, the British Beauty Council has said. The industry group [...]
Sales slow at J D Wetherspoon as costs rocket and punters dip SPOONS Sales at J D Wetherspoon dipped four per cent in the third quarter as the pub group struggles to keep pace with pre-pandemic levels.
Raising a toast: Beer sales return to pre-pandemic glory as pub goers ditch wine and spirits LOCKDOWN DRINKING Beer sales have brewed a comeback with 1.1bn more pints sold last year than in 2020. Some 4.6bn litres of beer was sold in 2021, up 13 per cent on 2020. Lockdown drinkers opted for spirits, causing beer sales to plummet, but pints regained popularity when pubs reopened. Wine and spirits saw a drop of [...]
Revenue sinks at JD Wetherspoon as boss says cost pressures ‘mitigated to an extent’ March 18, 2022 Revenue at pub chain JD Wetherspoon has taken a hit to the tune of 13.5 per cent as the firm warns of rising costs across its business. The company reported revenue of £807.4m, for the 26 weeks ended 23 January 2022, versus £933m in 2020. However, chairman Tim Martin said pressure on input costs from [...]
Some rationality called for amidst the drumbeat to restrictions December 14, 2021 Who would have thought that just five years after the Brexit referendum, Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin and the CBI would be back on the same side. Truly, Covid-19 has made for the strangest of bedfellows. Both have railed, reasonably, against the new Plan B restrictions which are well on their way to being passed into [...]
JD Wetherspoon boss: Country headed for ‘lockdown by stealth’ with Omicron measures December 13, 2021 JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has said the country seems to be heading towards a “lockdown by stealth” and warned of a potential hit to profits. The pub company warned its first half results may be impacted by an uncertain market, with consumers put off from pub trips after headlines about the Omicron Covid variants [...]
JD Wetherspoon and Budweiser ink 20-year partnership as brewer chain’s largest beer supplier November 29, 2021 Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has announced a 20-year deal with brewer Budweiser, which will become the chain’s largest beer supplier. JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will be ditching its 41-year association with brewer Heineken in favour of products from Budweiser Brewing Group. Beers including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona and Bud Light will be on offer at JDW [...]
JD Wetherspoon to extend reduced drink prices into next year November 19, 2021 Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has declared it will extend its current price slashing initiative until February next year. All pubs are to offer drinks at reduced prices until Monday 28 February 2022, following an initial discount throughout November. The slashing of prices comes as many pub bosses have echoed concerns about rising overheads and warned [...]
JD Wetherspoon launches 99p pints despite sector warning of cost pressures October 27, 2021 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has put 99p pints back on the menu as the pub sector battles rising costs. The operator said it would slash the prices on a range of drinks throughout November in a bid to lure post-lockdown drinkers back. Across its 671 pubs in England, JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will sell three alcoholic [...]
JD Wetherspoon to hike meal prices 50p ahead of VAT increase September 15, 2021 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has said it will have to increase prices of meals by 50p later this month because of a VAT increase. Prices of meals at the pub group will go up on Wednesday September 29, ahead of VAT rising to 12.5 per cent on Friday October 1. The group will slash the [...]