Branded restaurant menu inflation 'outpacing rest of the market'
Main courses on branded restaurant menus increased in price by 10.1% between February and June this year, from £11.53 to £12.69 on average.
Generally speaking, the average price of any dish on leading branded restaurant menus was £9.02 in June 2022, up 7.4% from £8.40 in February 2022.
Lumina says inflation is being driven by main courses and desserts, with desserts increasing 5.4%, from £5.35 to £5.64.
Starters and side dishes have remained stable during this period, with the average starter costing £6.52 and the average side dish £3.46.
When analysed against other channels, branded restaurant menu inflation is at least double.
Between February and June 2022, the average price of a dish on a pub and bar menu increased 2.3%; on a QSR menu by 3.6%; and on a coffee and sandwich shop menu by 2.3%.
In contrast to branded restaurants, it is side dishes that are driving price inflation across the rest of the market.
It comes as inflation hit a 40-year high in June of 9.4%, with food and energy prices continuing to soar amid the UK’s cost of living crisis.
“Like the general public, operators are experiencing rapidly increasing costs, whether that be produce, energy costs or staffing,” says Katie Prowse, senior insight manager at Lumina Intelligence.
“Whilst menu inflation at branded restaurants is outpacing the rest of the market, this is likely to even out over the coming months, as more operators are forced to increase costs at a steeper rate to maintain margins.
“Despite reaching a 40-year high, inflation is not expected to slow, so operators are doing to have to work hard to drive footfall and increase consumer spend.”
