St Austell Brewery has been named as the UK’s best performing pub company following a national survey of pub tenants.
The annual M&C Allegra (MCA) Tenant Track survey interviews more than 1,100 pub tenants and lessees across the country to gain a snapshot of the health of the sector. This year’s survey by the independent food and drink research agency saw St Austell come out top with high average pub sales, good ordering processes and the support it provides, with training and development among the drivers for its success.
The brewery’s relationships with its tenants was highlighted in the study, with the family-run business scoring 7.95 out of ten by tenants asked to rate their pub company, the highest score recorded in the survey.
St Austell also led on all three key training categories, including the support it provided for development training, general training and company support website. It also came out top in terms of recruitment.
The brewery’s network of business development managers was also seen as an important part of the company’s approach, with 87% of its tenants interviewed saying that their business development manager understood their business, again the highest score recorded.
Jim Sloan, tenanted operations manager at St Austell Brewery, said: “This independent survey of tenants is great news for the brewery and reflects the ethos of our business as a family-run company which prides itself on strong, longstanding relationships with our tenants and lessees. To be named the best operator in the UK by those in the front line of the hospitality trade is a wonderful achievement and I would like to thank everyone working in our estate for their hard work, support and enthusiasm.”
Food sales continue to be a core revenue stream across the brewery’s estate. During the survey, 77% of St Austell tenants reported selling food, the second highest share in the study. Food sales make up 38% of sales at St Austell pubs, up from 30% in 2015, showing impressive year-on-year growth.
Rob Willock, editor of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, said: “The average approval rating for pubcos from their tenants (is) up strongly this year. Pubcos’ relationships with their tenants continue to get better, and compliance with codes of practice is markedly improved.”
