All articles by Finn Scott-Delany
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NewsLandmark Brighton venues acquired
Concorde 2 and Volks, which specialise in live music and late night events, have been acquired by independent music company All Things Considered
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NewsArslan Sharif leaves PizzaExpress
MCA understands the CTO’s departure is part of a restructure to make the business more agile, with chief commercial officer Chris Holmes to lead customer, marketing, digital and loyalty
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NewsMartin Williams to lead Evolv Collection
The former Rare Restaurants CEO has been named as the chief executive of the group formerly known as D&D London, following the departure of co-founder David Loewi at the end of last year
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InterviewsChopstix on unearthing ‘diamonds in the rough’
The QSR noodle brand is looking to give everyone at the business the opportunity to upskill themselves whatever their experience or learning capabilities, head of people Tricia Hamilton explains, in a finalist profile for the Diversity Leadership category at the MCA Hospitality Awards
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InterviewsCaravan: ‘There’s a balanced approach to everything we do’
People & culture director Fernanda Antonio explains how the restaurant and coffee group has put diversity & inclusion at the heart of its culture, in a profile for the Diversity Leadership Programme category
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NewsGino D’Acampo hotel partner taking claims ‘very seriously’
International hotel group Meliá, which has at least four UK restaurants linked with Italian TV personality D’Acampo, is “closely monitoring” the allegations against him
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InterviewsFrasers Hospitality leadership programme ‘levels the playing field’
The Malmaison Hotel operator has put inclusion at the heart of its management and leadership training, Phil Hudson-Davies explains, in the latest finalist profile for the Diversity Leadership Programme category at the MCA Hospitality Awards
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NewsSacha Lord resigns over grant inaccuracies
Manchester’s nighttime economy advisor has stepped down over a “small number of unintended oversights” his events company made in a £400,000 Arts Council grant awarded during the pandemic
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NewsMcDonald’s accused of being a ‘hotbed of harassment’
Amid fresh allegations of sexual harassment, McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow insisted the brand had taken action and strengthened standards during questioning in parliament
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InterviewsJason Atherton: ‘Most neighbourhood restaurants are run from private equity boardrooms’
Few British chefs are as closely associated with Michelin-starred fine dining as Jason Atherton. So what’s the inspiration behind his move into more accessible all-day restaurants? MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany heads to his new neighbourhood bistro Three Darlings to find out
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InterviewsGerry Ford: A lot of people get stuck because they can’t scale
Fresh off the back the acquisitions of 200 Degrees and FCB Coffee, Nero Group is now the go-to company for trade acquisitions, founder and CEO Gerry Ford tells MCA
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NewsPizza Pilgrims appoints advisors to assess strategic options
The Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria brand has had unsolicited conversations with trade operators, international hospitality partners, global food service providers and financial institutions about its next steps
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NewsUKH: Mass closures without urgent business rates solution
Substantial, deep reform of the system is not possible before rates relief ends on April 1, but a reduced multiplier can be a permanent, universal solution, according to UKHospitality deputy CEO Allen Simpson
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InterviewsPapa Johns UK: ‘We went from profit-making to loss-making overnight’
UK managing director Chris Phylactou says the pizza business is in a “much better place” after acquiring 116 struggling stores, closing 43, and re-franchising 60
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OpinionIs Gail’s Bakery having a Tesla moment?
Like Elon Musk, Gail’s chairman and investor Luke Johnson is enthusiastically contrarian in railing against the liberal consensus. But as a campaign mobilises in Walthamstow against a new bakery, at what point does an outspoken entrepreneur prove a turn off for consumers?
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InterviewsFrankie & Benny’s sales ‘much higher’ than wider market
Big Table Group is trialling a refreshed proposition at three sites and conversions to Bella Italia at a further two after discovering the Italian American brand is still making “massive average weekly sales”, CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA
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InterviewsCraft Union: ‘We want to make pubs beautiful again’
As the community pub company opens its 600th location, CEO Frazer Grimbleby discusses the win-win appeal of the operating model, its cross-demographic consumer appeal, and how the Stonegate-owned business is using data to inform growth
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NewsCraft Union shakes up operator-managed model
The Stonegate-owned community pub company has introduced extra incentives, additional profit share and uncapped earning potential for its managed operators as it opens its 600th site, CEO Frazer Grimbleby tells MCA
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InterviewsTim Martin: My £100m mistake
Wetherspoon’s chairman shares his latest wheeze in the pubco around chilled bottle beer and branded pint glasses; how he plans to reach 1,000 sites; and his multimillion-pound investment blunder at MCA’s Pub Conference
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NewsCrosstown made losses of £3m in last two years
The doughnut brand saw a drop-off in demand for its premium products, and was impacted by supply side cost inflation, before being acquired by Karali Group in a pre-pack administration for £500,000