Halloween is expected to generate notable revenue income for the UK hospitality sector.

Worldpay has released an analysis of Halloween 2013 in order to make predictions about how the food and drinks sector can benefit from the festival this year.

Dave Hobday, managing director of Worldpay UK said:

“Halloween has never been more popular on this side of the Atlantic, and as our data shows, it’s definitely not just for kids.”

The Worldpay data demonstrated that pubs saw a 15% increase in trade in 2013, with restaurants seeing a boost of 18%.

a 17%  increase in trade at off licenses, and an 11% increase in sweet shop trade were attributed to Halloween house parties.

Worldpay’s analysis showed that UK consumer spending on Halloween-related goods (i.e. wigs, decorations, sweets) increased from £12 million in 2001 to approximately £320 – £300 million in 2014.

With this year seeing Halloween falling on a Friday, the positive impact on spending is expected to see an even greater boost.

Kim Deam, lead buyer for Wally’s Party Factory, a US Halloween set of stores, confirmed that:

“Sales are always best when Halloween falls on the weekend. We will definitely need to replenish our inventory after this season, especially in preparation for a Saturday Halloween in 2015. We are already having an outstanding year sales-wise, and we are still two weeks out.”

Hobday added:

“Bar and restaurant owners should go all out to take advantage of the fact Halloween falls on a Friday night this year.

Whether that means hosting a fancy dress night, or simply offering a haven from trick-or-treaters, the savviest local restaurant owners and landlords should market themselves heavily to compete for the pumpkin pound”

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Words: Peter Cribley