Popular Edinburgh food hall eyes ‘exciting calendar of events’ as sales top £11 million
“Hospitality continues to face ongoing pressures from widespread cost increases” – Ryan Barrie, Bonnie & Wild MD
Edinburgh food hall Bonnie & Wild has notched up five consecutive years of growth after gross turnover topped £11 million.
Bosses said the popular food and drink marketplace was on track for a strong end to the calendar year, noting that bookings for its events space were also up on the year before.
Overall turnover exceeded £11m in the latest financial reporting period after a 4 per cent year-on-year jump in sales.
The business, which launched within the Westfield St James Quarter development in July 2021, is home to 14 independent owner-led small businesses with a total workforce of around 100 employees.
During the peak trading period of August, the venue said it twice broke its weekly sales record in two consecutive weeks, and in the final weekend of August it recorded its highest ever daily sales.
Bonnie & Wild’s trading announcement follows the arrival of three new concessions earlier this year - the venerable Scottish-Italian deli Eusebi, which now runs the bakery at Bonnie & Wild, New York-style pizza slice bar Flùr, and Tacos Lah, the Malaysian-Mexican concept from BBC chef Julie Lin.
Sales were further buoyed by a two-month bar residency with Edinburgh Beer Factory and its Thistly Cross Cider brand, which helped drive a 14 per cent lift in draught sales and a 44 per cent lift in cider sales. Additional events and activations, such as regular “meet the maker” tastings, the “Bonnie & Style” fashion show, and monthly White Heather Club Ceilidhs, have also helped drive sales.
Bonnie & Wild’s managing director, Ryan Barrie, said: “Bonnie & Wild is in a very fortunate position having achieved five years of consistent sales growth after another record-breaking summer.
“Our ongoing success is a reflection of the attractive offer we present, excellent service and value for money, commitment to working with high quality local suppliers, and the sheer hard work that everyone within the Scottish Marketplace puts in to making the venue thrive in the face of an ever-challenging economic environment.”
He added: “Hospitality continues to face ongoing pressures from widespread cost increases, such as last week’s rise in duty and minimum wage, as well as supplier and energy increases, which we do our utmost to absorb rather than pass on to our customers.
“Thankfully, in spite of these challenges, we still have lots to look forward to as we go into our busy Christmas trading months, as well as an exciting calendar of events in 2027 including the 80th anniversary of the Edinburgh Fringe, the Tour de France start, Sam Fender at Murrayfield, and of course the Six Nations home fixtures.”
This year also saw Bonnie & Wild achieve the prized B Corp certification, becoming the world’s first food hall to be awarded the globally recognised marque. The accreditation reflects the business's core aim to support local Scottish producers as well as its wider commitment to social and environmental performance.
The food hall, located on level four of the Westfield St James Quarter, houses three bars, an events space and a gallery of Scottish landscape photography.
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