Dec income from food, beverages down 7% y/y

The decrease was largely due to decreases in income from food sales (-8.5% and contributing -7.5 percentage points) and other income (-12.0% and contributing -0.2 of a percentage point).

However, these decreases were partly counteracted by an increase in income from bar sales (6.0% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point).

Stats SA added that the main contributor to the decrease of 7.0% in total income for December 2009 compared with December 2008 was restaurants and coffee shops (-16.6% and contributing -9.7 percentage points).

However, this decrease was partially counteracted by increases in income for caterers (15.1% and contributing 1.8 percentage points) and takeaway and fast-food outlets (4.4% and contributing 1.1 percentage points), Stats SA added.

The total income generated by the food and beverages industry for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased by 3.9% compared with the fourth quarter of 2008.

Decreases were reported for income from food sales (-4.2% and contributing -3.7 percentage points) and other income (-9.8% and contributing -0.2 of a percentage point).

The 3.9% decrease in total income for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the fourth quarter of 2008 was due to decreases in income reported by restaurants and coffee shops (-10.6% and contributing -6.2 percentage points) and other catering services (-7.0% and contributing -0.3 of a percentage point).

However, these decreases were partially counteracted by increases in income reported by takeaway and fast-food outlets (8.6% and contributing 2.0 percentage points) and caterers (4.4% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point), Stats SA added.