All articles by Georgi Gyton
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NewsWagamama voted UK’s most diverse restaurant workplace
Judges of the Diversity Award were impressed by the makeup of Wagamama’s workforce in terms of general diversity, gender and age, according to a survey from the FT and Statista.
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Analysis & InsightBrands can drive profitability through value message
Value is not about price, it is the experience you provide to your customers, MCA’s Restaurant Conference heard
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InterviewsKFC: ‘There is still tremendous opportunity for growth’
The fried chicken brand is looking to ‘step-change growth’, through innovation, enlarging its footprint, and new formats, with a multi-million-pound investment planned to upgrade its restaurants, MD Meg Farren tells MCA’s Restaurant Conference
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NewsOakman ends strategic review process
Announcing the sale of two of its high value premium pubs to McMullen’s, Oakman Group said it will now focus on investing in its existing sites and paying down debt, CEO Peter Borg-Neal tells MCA
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NewsNorth Brewing founders to concentrate on bar business
North Brewing Co’s founders John Gyngell and Christian Townsley are stepping down from the brewery to concentrate on growing their nine-strong North Bar business.
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Analysis & InsightTax rises in Budget hit consumer confidence and will impact pay growth
Consumer confidence has dropped as households feel the outlook for the economy and their own personal finances has worsened, with pay growth also due to be hit, according to reports by S&P Global and Goldman Sachs
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NewsBrewDog shuts Mumbai bars
The brewer and bar operator had plans to open 100 bars in India but has shuttered its two flagship sites following challenges in the market, it has been reported
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Analysis & InsightMarston’s has potential to outperform market
The pub group has shown solid progress over the year, “beating street expectations on all fronts” – trading momentum, margin expansion and de-leveraging, according to analyst JP Morgan Cazenove.
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NewsBleecker lines up two more sites
The burger business is planning to open two further restaurants before the end of its financial year in April, including one at Kerb’s Seven Dials Market, founder Zan Kaufman told MCA
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NewsGusto’s subscription scheme driving significant cover growth
There is no such thing as a truly loyal customer in casual dining, with the Italian restaurant group instead focusing on a driving a transactional relationship, CEO Matt Snell tells MCA’s Restaurant Conference
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NewsNando’s launches full hospitality career pathway
The restaurant chain has launched a Level 5 apprenticeship in England and expanded its programme to Scotland for the first time
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NewsDishoom: ‘Decision to take outside funding not taken lightly’
The Indian restaurant group is “taking a cautious approach to choosing an investor”, as it plans to launch in the US in 2026, Shamil Thakrar told The Times
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Analysis & InsightLicensed premises numbers continue to grow, but Budget jeopardises recovery
The number of licensed premises in Britain increased by 0.7% between July and September 2024, according to the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners.
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds-up the latest openings stories from the past week, featuring Roxy Leisure’s first London site, a six venue for Black Bear Burger and the return of All Bar One to Richmond
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InterviewsYoung’s: ‘We want to get the City Pub estate rocking and rolling’
Chief executive Simon Dodd talks to MCA about the positive momentum in the business, the “outstanding” returns it is seeing from some of its investments and opportunities to develop the City Pub estate
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NewsGovernment drafts legislation to cut business rates
The government says this is the beginning of its promise to reform business rates and boost the high street, but operators argue more clarity is needed on what the reform will look like
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NewsBlacklock sells stake to BGF
The chop house restaurant, led by Gordon Ker, is understood to have sold a minority stake to the British Growth Fund, following reports it had been exploring options for the business
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NewsJDW switches from Spanish to Italian beer
The pub business has said it will no longer serve San Miguel, once current stocks sell out, and will be replacing it with draught Italian beer Angelo Poretti, later this month.
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NewsMarcel Khan: Franco Manca is moving forwards by looking backwards
The Fulham Shore CEO believes the brand can achieve even greater success by zeroing in on the human connection and personality it had in its heyday, he tells MCA’s Restaurant Conference
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NewsYoung’s achieves 22.9% increase in adjusted EBITDA
The pub operator achieved adjusted EBIDTA of £59m for the 26 weeks to 30 September 2024, with profit before tax up 3.3% to £25.3m as it benefited from a strong performance during the Euro ’24 football tournament and the integration of the City Pubs estate.