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All articles by Finn Scott-Delany – Page 59
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NewsSoho House UK reveals £18m losses
Soho House UK, the Richard Caring-backed business, made a loss of £18.1m in 2018, new accounts show.
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OpinionCaffe Nero: ‘We are the Waitrose of coffee’
With a new artisan fresh food range, Caffe Nero believes it has consolidated its premium edge over high street rivals. As the offering is rolled out and the store estate revamped, UK CEO Will Stratton-Morris explains why Caffe Nero is the Waitrose of the coffee house sector.
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Analysis & InsightHedge funds’ involvement a ‘statement of support’ for Pizza Express
The latest development in Pizza Express’s debt dilemma sees big name credit funds enter the frame.
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NewsRare Restaurants appoints new group CFO
Rare Restaurants, the operator of Gaucho and M Restaurants, has appointed Rob Dawson as group chief financial officer, MCA understands.
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OpinionSteve Moore: ‘The development never goes away. It starts on day one, it doesn’t finish on day one.’
Steve Moore is in jovial form when we speak a few weeks ahead of the launch of Electric Shuffle.
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OpinionRichard Caring: 'We’re fighters. We’ll make it work by investing in the business.'
A year ago, Richard Caring told MCA how Bill’s needed a “bit of love as it got left behind”. With a major refurbishment programme well underway, the investment seems to be paying off. Finn Scott-Delany catches up with Mr Caring and Bill’s executive chairman David Campbell.
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NewsBills posts £9.1m loss for 2018; lfls boost following refurb programme
Bills Restaurants made a £9.11m loss last year – but has retuned to above market like-for-like sales growth across its estate following a major refurbishment programme, MCA can reveal.
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NewsMarston’s disposals: ‘The level of interest is extremely high’
In its latest trading update, Marston’s described reducing its net debt of £1.39bn as its “principal focus”.
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NewsPizza Express: someone has got to take a hit somewhere
The appointment of financial advisors this week shone a fresh spotlight on the precarious situation at Pizza Express. The celebrity figureheads at Jamie’s Italian and Carluccio’s had already put their crises into the public consciousness, yet the prospect of Pizza Express facing the same woes is an even bigger moment. The brand is credited with creating the concept of casual dining and is the UK’s biggest and most enduringly popular restaurant brand with 490 sites.
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NewsCaravan appoints Hollinshead ops director
Caravan has appointed Graham Hollinshead, formerly of Quentin Restaurants, as operations director, MCA understands.
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Analysis & InsightSpending up 12.9% at wet-led venues
Spending at pubs, bars and clubs grew by 12.9% year-on-year in September, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.
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NewsMcDonald’s turnover down amid franchise focus
McDonald’s UK saw turnover decrease in 2018 as its continued focus on franchising increasingly recognised incomes over sales.
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NewsMOD Pizza UK reports £6.9m losses in 2018
MOD Pizza UK has reported losses of £6.9m in 2018 – following losses of £11m the previous year.
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OpinionThe Ivy Collection: ‘We have a formula that works’
With five new openings in November including a second Asian concept in St Paul’s, The Ivy Collection is confidently bringing its aspirational glamour across the UK. Ahead of a busy month, managing director Baton Berisha discusses his workaholic tendencies, executing Richard Caring’s vision, and the group’s unique formula for success.
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NewsBrewdog bars lose £235k amid expansion drive
Brewdog’s bar division made a pre-tax loss of £235,000 in 2018 - up from £45,00 in 2017.
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NewsAdministrators appointed at Bumpkin and Eclipse operator Ignite
Ignite, the premium West End operator which was once a favourite of Prince William and Prince Harry, has been taken into administration, MCA understands.
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NewsPizza Hut: ‘A lot of people have tried to imitate us, but I think we do it best’
As a subsidiary of the five billion-dollar corporate behemoth Yum! Brands, misty-eyed sentimentality might not be an emotion readily associated with a Pizza Hut refurbishment.
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NewsPrezzo made £29.7m loss in 2018 after CVA
Prezzo made an operating loss of £29.7m in 2018 following the CVA that saw it close nearly 100 restaurants.
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InterviewsWhy Inn Collection set its sight on £1m-plus sites
Following The Inn Colleciton Group’s sale to the Harris family and Kings Park Capital for a reported £300m, MCA revisits a deep-dive interview with MD Sean Donkin, where he details the group’s strategy of buying and building pubs with rooms
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InterviewsCoqfighter: chicken for grown-ups
In the early days of Coqfighter, a senior industry peer predicted that soon enough, they would be forced to ditch the vodka from their chicken batter due to mounting costs. The addition was inspired by Heston Blumenthal, with Coqfighter’s executive chef and ‘mad scientist’ Troy Sawyer using it to make the batter lighter and more crispy.