Like-for-like sales were up by only 1.7% from February 2024 — below the country’s current rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index.
It follows a 0.6% drop in January, which was the Tracker’s first negative number for more than 12 months.
The flattening of restaurants’ at-home sales is in line with eat-in trends measured by the separate CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which recorded a year-on-year sales increase of just 0.1% in February.
“The flatlining of both eat-in and at-home sales has made it a concerning start to 2025 for many hospitality groups,” says Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA.
“Rising costs continue to compromise consumers’ discretionary spending and they are also intensifying the pressure on restaurants’ menu prices and profit margins.”
A breakdown of CGA’s Hospitality at Home Tracker indicates deliveries provided slightly stronger sales growth in February 2025, rising 2.4% year-on-year.
Takeaways and click-and-collect orders increased by just 0.4% — their lowest figure since August.
“Better weather will hopefully encourage more people to go out in the next few months,” Chessell adds.
“But the outlook for 2025 remains challenging.”