Menu prices rise 4.5% year-on-year
Pub & bar menu average prices are 5.5% higher than quarter two of 2023, as operators increase the price of existing dishes and add new dishes with higher price points.
Coffee abd sandwich shop prices are the lowest in the market and have seen the lowest inflation year-on-year.
Lumina reports there is an opportunity to increase the use of premium ingredients.
New dishes are priced higher than existing dishes across channels (£8.77 vs £7.34), with operators opting to add more premium items to menus to drive average transaction value. Suppliers can capitalise on this through communicating premium ingredient credentials around quality and provenance.
Meanwhile, most channels are reducing menu counts but broadening their offers. Operators, most notably across the pub and bar channel, are reducing menu counts year-on-year. QSR operators are bucking the trend with an additional 10 items on menus.
Operators across all channels have been adding a wider variety of dishes and drinks to align with a more aspirational consumer. Other key highlights from the report include margaritas becoming the cocktail of the summer in restaurants.
Mainstream pubs are modernising with the use of trendy ingredients including whipped feta and kimchi. QSR and coffee shop operators are expanding their drinks ranges with items including protein shakes, premium hot drinks and energy/sports drinks.
