All MCA Insight articles in April 2025 – Page 9
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Weekend PressAlixPartners drafts in Goldman Sachs to run sale of stake
Deal is latest in wave involving professional services firms, The Sunday Times reports
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Weekend PressIs gin less popular? Why the UK’s thirst is drying up
In the late 2000s a change to a 180-year-old law led to a craft gin revolution. We sank bottle after bottle of the stuff in lockdown. But have we fallen out love with our favourite tipple, asks Harry Wallop
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Weekend PressStarbucks slows India expansion as consumers tighten belts
Footfall drops as economy weakens but chain still hopes to reach 1,000-store goal, the FT reports
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Weekend PressInside the secret world of covert restaurant bookings where customers are ranked to get a table
From private WhatsApp lines to curtained-off tables and free meals on the house, The Independent investigates how the hottest restaurants are bending over backwards for some people while leaving others out in the cold
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Weekend Press‘We will see closures’: The industries hit hardest by national insurance hike
People working in retail, hospitality and small businesses have told Sky News of the tangible effects the increase will have on them.
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Weekend PressWhy the restaurant world hates beer drinkers
I’ve always thought working in hospitality is like getting a free MBA – but one rooted in the real world rather than theory, Rory Sutherland writes in The Spectator
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NewsYard Sale Pizza secures investment from Piper
The London neighbourhood pizza delivery brand plans to supercharge expansion in London and new cities across the UK, with a goal of reaching 40 shops over the next five years, MCA can reveal
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EventsIntroducing The Takeaway podcast, with Amol Rajan
Award-winning journalist Amol Rajan, host of Radio 4 Today and University Challenge, delivers a thought-provoking rallying cry to the sector at the MCA Hospitality Awards, in the first episode of a new podcast series
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NewsBoss Pizza announces 50-site target
The independent chain plans to open 20 sites in the next 18 months and 50 within three years, while looking for an international franchise partner
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NewsBlack Tap to open four UK sites in 2025
The US burger brand will open its UK flagship in London’s Soho this month, with plans to launch three additional UK sites before the end of the year
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NewsDoner Shack secures new multi-site franchisee in Scotland
The UK-born Berlin-inspired kebab franchise is to expand in its hometown of Glasgow following the agreement of a new three-site franchise deal.
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NewsTariffs hit £162m British beer exports
President Donald Trump’s 25% aluminium tariffs, which affect canned beer, are set to impact Britain’s brewing sector, which exports £126m of beer across the Atlantic
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Analysis & InsightUK largest branded coffee shop market in Europe
The total European branded coffee shop market grew 4.7% to reach 51,042 outlets over the last 12 months, according to World Coffee Portal’s Project Café Europe 2025
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NewsWetherspoon targets hoteliers in search for franchise partners
The pub company is also welcoming enquiries from other sectors amid plans to grow to 1,000 sites nationwide, with five franchise pubs to open later this year
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Event NewsHeadline sessions revealed for Hostech 2025
Burger King, Azzurri Group, Tortilla, Creams, Bill’s and Big Table Group are among the businesses speaking at the MCA conference on 22 May
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NewsIn pictures: Playbox – the new social gaming concept from Boxpark
Housed within Boxpark’s Croydon venue, the new concept has been brought to live in an underutilised mezzanine space and combines competitive socialising with live sports.
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NewsWells & Co's performance driven by strong like-for-likes
The brewer and pub operator achieved group revenue growth of 5.6%, to £65.8m, for the year to 30 September 2024, with like-for-like growth of 7.5%.
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NewsThe Firehouse Manchester and Ramona sold in pre-pack
The popular restaurant and bar venues were sold back to their directors, well-known Manchester operators Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen, founders of Trof Group
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, including Wingstop, Pasta Evangelists, Chipotle, and more
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NewsCornish Bakehouse targets major UK roll out
The regional bakery has kicked off a UK-wide expansion plan and is targeting four to five openings per year, with a new format just launched in Brighton, according to MD Kevin Mitchell