How a Traditional Brewery Boosted GP by 6.2% Through Menu & Stock Audits

“The audits we preformed for Arkell’s are a great example of how a business can strengthen profitability without changing what makes it special. By introducing simple but effective controls around menu costing, stock and portioning, the teams were able to maintain their identity while running their kitchens with far greater financial confidence.”

– Jennifer Hurst, Consultant

1. The Brief – The Roadmap for the Audits

Arkell’s, a heritage family brewery with a mix of managed and tenanted estates wanted to bring greater financial control and efficiency to its managed venues. With aging processes and inconsistent kitchen operations across sites, the group sought expert support to optimise gross profit (GP), portion control, and menu pricing — without overhauling its supply chain or brand ethos.

2. Setup – The Audits

We partnered with the brewery across five of their managed venues. The engagement began with on-site menu costing audits to accurately price every dish using real-time ingredient costs.

Our team worked directly with kitchen staff to:

• Implement portion control practices

• Introduce standardised kitchen equipment

• Test and refine recipe specs

• Deliver operational and stock control coaching

An ongoing menu costing tool was introduced, enabling sites to track cost prices and instantly assess GP impact.

This tied directly into the group’s existing monthly stocktaking processes, offering visibility and consistency in financial management.

GP variance graph showing the results Arkells saw after a stock audit.

3. The Results – Changing Mindsets Not Menus

The transformation from the audits was swift and significant:

• Average GP% increase: +6.2% across all five sites

• Total ROI: £74.5K across all five sites

• One venue saw a £22.3K GP increase, despite staff turnover

• Another achieved a £44.2K uplift, thanks to stable management and kitchen leadership

• Group-wide GP% variance improved from -6.23% to 0%, aligning with budget targets

• Sites now achieve an average 60.9% GP, up from 54.7% at the end of 2023

The results weren’t driven by supplier changes or cost cuts, but by operational excellence and smarter selling prices.

Staff were equipped to manage waste (using a 5% buffer) and empowered to control profit leakage, fostering a renewed focus on financial responsibility at every level.

The figures produced after audits from Venners

4. The Future – Keeping It Consistent

Our partnership continues through monthly stock audits and ongoing tool support. Senior leadership has reported improved portion control, service standards, and a cultural shift toward profitability.

With transferable processes and measurable ROI, this case study shows how old-school businesses can embrace new efficiencies, without losing their identity.

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