Punch tenants' £1.99 meal plan

Punch tenants can sell meals for set amounts starting at just £1.99, under a new scheme.

The Table Top scheme, initially available for around 1,000 pubs, is seen as a way to help tenants compete with rock-bottom food deals at managed pubs.

Five meals will be available from Brakes and 3663, including pub favourites such as sausage and mash, and fish and chips. They can be sold for either £1.99, £2.99, £3.99 or £4.99, depending on local competition and the customer base.

Gross profit depends on the supplier and the selling point. For example, selling £1.99 meals from Brakes offers a margin of 52%, based on 100 meals per week. On the £2.99 package, the margin would be 68%.

Pubs with limited kitchen space, as well as those near pubs and restaurants offering heavily-discounted meals, will be offered the deal first. It will be rolled out further where a need is identified.

Licensees discuss a pricing strategy with their business relationship manager then order point-of-sale material and get what they need within 10 days.

Punch operations director Kevin Georgel said: "Table Top is a fantastic initiative for those licensees where a basic but competitive food offer could make a significant difference to their volume and profitability."

Peter Whitehurst, of Punch's Wheatsheaf in Stoke-on-Trent, has been trialling the scheme and currently serves around 60 meals per week.

"We've definitely seen an increase in trade and Punch has made it easy for us to set up. We received all the necessary marketing materials, as well as details on calculating margins and instructions on preparing the food. It's all straightforward — microwaving, grilling, or frying."