Food & Beverage outlook improves Print E-mail

But average check total decreases

Jim Story and staff
Jim Story and his Clubhouse staff

By Ann Dickerson
ann.dickerson@bigcanoenews.com
With the advent of warmer weather and a little more sunshine, as well as a concerted marketing effort, costs for the POA’s Food & Beverage operation continue to stabilize.

The Mountains Grille lost $47,939 in April, compared to a budgeted loss of $42,021 for the month. Monthly sales were under budget by $22,343 (23 percent); year-to-date sales are under budget by 30 percent.

“We’ve definitely turned the tide,” Amenities Director Jim Story told the POA Board May 20.

Salaries and wages were under budget by $22,343 (23 percent) for the month (12.5 percent for the year to date). Operating expenses were over budget by $4,067 (16 percent), in part due to expenditures of the tent over the Sunset Veranda and extra costs for linen napkins (property owners have complained about the paper napkins).

Story said the new menu and drink specials, which debuted May 1, have been very well received. He praised the efforts of the F&B marketing committee, which includes Glenda Wood, Debbie Pickett, Kim Cooper, Becca Weck, Tammie Hill and Ben Sheldon.

F&B served 8,762 customers for the month, better than the budgeted 8,595, but the average check total of $12.75 lagged well behind the budgeted $16.90. Duffer’s had the worst variance, with an average check of $5.33 in April versus a budgeted amount of $12.45. Monthly sales of $114,093 were under budget by $31,161 (22 percent).

F&B has lost $268,243 for the year to date, compared to a budgeted loss of $197,217.

January and February were expected to be slow, due to the usual wintry weather that deters both golfers and diners. But the bad weather combined with the lagging economy resulted in huge losses for those months. The Mountains Grille lost $55,227 in March, compared to a budgeted loss of $53,345.

Story said he, Public Safety Director Bill Bates and Staff Architect Wayne Huey are continuing to work with the Pickens County Health Department to utilize the Sunset Veranda. The Health Department told the POA in April that outdoor grilling won’t be allowed without meeting certain guidelines, such as a hot and cold running sink and an enclosure around the grill.