Restaurants have highest risk of failure

RESTAURANTS have the highest risk of failure of any sector in the North West, according to new figures.

The figures from insolvency trade body R3 show that 38% of restaurant companies in the region are considered at higher than average risk of failure in the next 12 months – equivalent to almost 1,800 businesses.

By comparison, 36% of pubs were considered at risk and 23% of hotels. Restaurants had a higher risk score than any other sector including technology (37%), transport (32%), construction and retail (31%), professional services (29%) and manufacturing (22%).

The figures are also supported by statistics from the Insolvency Service, which show that restaurants are  one of the few  business categories where insolvencies have been steadily rising in recent years. The number of restaurant failures in the UK rose by 42% between 2010 and 2014, from 585 to 833.

Richard Wolff, North West chair of R3 and head of corporate recovery and insolvency at law firm JMW, said: “The restaurant trade remains under pressure, despite the increase in consumer spending. Restaurants are one of the most popular choices for start-up businesses and the high number of new entrants means the market is very competitive.  

“Running a successful restaurant also requires an incredible amount of skill – from developing the initial concept and choosing the right location to getting the key things right, such as marketing, the ambience of the venue and of course the quality of both the food and the levels of service. By way of example I have seen one recent case where the owner invested heavily both in the fit-out and launch of the venue but ultimately failed to get the basics right and has been unable to recoup the outlay.

“My advice to entrepreneurs would be to gain experience in the industry and do as much research as possible before starting up. Meanwhile even successful restaurateurs need to ensure they keep on top of the figures.”

The ‘at risk’ figures were compiled using Bureau van Dijk’s Fame database. The average risk of failure for all North West businesses was 27%.

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