UK hospitality and retail sales influenced by heatwaves and World Cup

UK restaurant and supermarket sectors experienced varying consumer trends in July and August 2026, influenced by heatwaves and the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup.

In the hospitality sector, restaurant groups saw fractional growth of 0.3% in delivery and takeaway sales in July, marking the lowest growth since February. While delivery sales rose by 4.0% year-on-year—partly driven by demand from consumers watching the men’s football World Cup—revenue from takeaway and click-and-collect orders fell by 8.1%. Total at-home orders now represent nearly one-fifth of all restaurant sales.

In the retail sector, total supermarket till sales in the UK increased by 3.1% in the four weeks ending August 8, a slowdown from the 4.4% growth seen previously. The deceleration followed the end of the World Cup and the start of the summer holiday season. Despite the slowdown, promotional activity remained a key driver, accounting for 25% of all FMCG sales. The World Cup had previously boosted demand for food and drink, particularly for international lager brands, which saw a 13% value increase during the tournament period.