Wage rises for workers in the food and drink sector have dropped for the first time in four years, research has revealed.

The sector, encompassing hotel and leisure operators as well as food and drink suppliers, gave staff an average pay rise of 3.2% last year: the third smallest in the industry "pay rise league table", according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) study.

The survey of more than 42,000 workers, conducted for the CMI by Remuneration Economics, showed that average total earnings for managers in the food and drink sector were £40,426, compared with £47,449 across the whole of the UK

The figure places managers in the sector as the third lowest "industry earners", with managers in the charity sector coming last (£37,456).  

Across the food and drink sector, 33% of executives were awarded bonuses, compared with 48.3% the previous year.  The average bonus payment across the sector was £4,313.

The survey also reveals that resignations in the food and drink sector increased, standing at 3.8% compared with 3% last year.   

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By Daniel Thomas

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