Welcome Break enjoys record Christmas trading
Motorway services operator Welcome Break has reported record Christmas trading as sales in the three weeks to 6 January hit an all-time high.
Sales across Welcome Break sites in the period increased by 12.2% on the same period last year to reach £15.8 million.
Catering sales, which include transactions at the company’s recently expanded portfolio of premium branded outlets, rose by 10.7% to account for £7.34 million of total sales.
Welcome Break served up almost half a million hot drinks during the Christmas period, with coffee accounting for over three quarters of these sales. The company also welcomed a record number of visitors with over 45,300 vehicles arriving at Welcome Break sites on Christmas Day alone.
Rod McKie, Welcome Break chief executive, said: “Welcome Break’s record Christmas trading comes on the back of a very strong year overall. The introduction of new food brands such as Tossed and Subway has proven extremely popular with our customers who enjoy the extended choice and quality on offer.
“Across the board, the brands, which also include Starbucks, Waitrose and Harry Ramsden’s and our hotel offerings with Ramada and Days Inn, have performed extremely well. Sales reflect the work done in recent years to improve our offer and give customers what they really want from their visits to our motorway service areas.”