All Giggling Squid articles – Page 2
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NewsGiggling Squid proves ‘off-site trading model’
Giggling Squid is currently in a “strong financial position” and “trading well given its regional bias” as it heads into winter, according to its latest financial accounts.
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InterviewsGiggling Squid founder Andy Laurillard: ‘This is the asteroid that hit the dinosaurs’
Up to date on rent payments, a brand-new opening, and like for like’s ahead of last year - looking at Giggling Squid, the word ‘crisis’ doesn’t spring to mind.
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NewsGiggling Squid to open in Cambridge
Thai restaurant group Giggling Squid is set to open a new site in Cambridge next week.
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OpinionWill Eat Out Help Out?
Eat Out to Help Out went live on Monday, and so far the signs are looking every bit as good as rare steak for dinner after you were forced to skip lunch. Of course it’s too early to see total sales for the traditionally quiet early week trading period, but anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests the word ‘unprecedented’ could be due a comeback. I tried to book a table on Tuesday night at Bill’s and the earliest they could offer was 9pm. It was the same at Giggling Squid. Carmona Tapas, a small three strong chain, was empty the last time I went on 5 July. Now it was fully booked.
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NewsSector investor BGF invests £128m in 24 new companies
Sector investor The Business Growth Fund (BGF) has backed 24 new companies in the first half of 2020, investing a total of £128m in its new portfolio.
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NewsGiggling Squid appoints Backhouse
Giggling Squid has appointed Nick Backhouse, a senior independent advisor to Loungers, as a director. Backhouse is also a senior independent advisor to Hollywood Bowl, and was a non-executive director of Marston’s for six years. Nick Backhouse replaces Simon Kossoff, who stepped down as chairman in August 2019 after four ...
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NewsSector sees another week of reopenings
MCA rounds up the latest reopenings in the hospitality sector.
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NewsDelivery relaunches continue to grow
Pret, Giggling Squid, Turtle Bay, Ping Pong Dim Sum and 7Bone Burger Co. are some of the latest operators to reopen sites this week for delivery and collection.
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NewsDishoom, Burger King and Caffé Nero remove to-go and delivery options
Dishoom, Burger King and Caffé Nero are among the latest operators to announce a full estate-wide closure, removing collection, takeaway and delivery options.
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NewsYo!, Prezzo and Byron among latest casual dining closures
Yo!, Prezzo and Byron are some of the latest casual dining operators to temporarily close their doors.
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Analysis & InsightSteve Gotham: The devil in the detail on outlet growth
Outlet numbers are a critical metric we closely study within MCA’s Operator Data Index. Recently we rechecked December 2019 numbers, reassessed growth trends and reviewed outlook announcements from operators, ahead of producing our own forecasts of expansion/contraction across 250 leading casual dining brands.
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NewsAll’s fair in love and restaurants – how did the operators line up to fight for the Valentine’s share of wallet?
If French is the language of love, then presumably a French restaurant should be where I head with my true love on Valentine’s Day. Certainly, the leading French chains are using several seduction techniques to secure my custom – and for good reason. February is a slow trading month and an event where consumers might be more inclined to loosen the purse strings for fear of having their heart strings damaged, is well worth aiming to capitalise upon. So who offered what on the big day?
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Analysis & InsightBangkok bounce back?
Once the darling of the Thai restaurant scene, Busaba has had a tough few years, with falling profits and site closures. Now with a simplified offer and a fresh focus on the capital, it’s looking to bounce back
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NewsGiggling Squid nudges into profit
Giggling Squid has moved into the black, reporting total profit after tax of £221,123 for the year ending 31 March 2019.
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NewsSales spice up at Giggling Squid
Giggling Squid has said sales for the year ending 31 March 2019 were up 39% to £33m. It opened seven new sites to take it to 30 during the financial year, and said the new sites have all performed “on or well above expectations”. It has subsequently opened four new sites in Oxford, Chislehurst, Leamington Spa and Weybridge, and will open its 35th site in Leicester in January.
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Analysis & InsightBranded restaurants with strongest sales growth offer least promotions
Top 25 branded restaurants offer seven promotions on average per brand, but those with the strongest sales growth offer an average of three, the MCA’s latest Operator Index has revealed.
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NewsM&A Review of the Year
It certainly hasn’t been a year in hospitality M&A for the faint hearted, but for those who have stuck with the sector and taken a long-term view, opportunity has knocked. Despite fears of an investor hiatus as a result of lingering uncertainty (ongoing Brexit delays certainly haven’t been helpful to M&A advisors!), the past 12 months has again proved the robustness of the M&A market in this sector, and points to further opportunities for 2020.
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NewsGrowth Company Index 2020 launched
MCA is teaming up with Alix Partners again this year to find the top 50 private hospitality firms with the fastest-growing profits. If your company has three years’ audited accounts and turnover in excess of £3m, then please get in touch before 1 February to be considered for this year’s list. Previous entrants do not need to re-apply, but if you’d like to be considered for the first time, please contact james.halliwell@wrbm.com.
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OpinionAlixPartners: Cause for cautious optimism
The M&A market for UK restaurant operators remains cautious, with distressed situations making up the majority of activity. However, several high-profile transactions completed in 2019, with investors still willing to pay a premium price in certain circumstances, says AlixPartners’ Graeme Smith
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NewsDelivery versus in-house: What’s the difference in price?
I had a Deliveroo from Pho the other day. As nice as the Vietnamese curry always is, I was charged £11.25 for a dish that costs £10.50 in their Guildford restaurant. This started a small chain reaction of looking at other Pho price differentials, and then a few other restaurant chains. At Pho, the use of higher prices on Deliveroo was pretty much universal. Starter prices were typically 20p-30p dearer on dishes that mainly range between £4.95-£6.95, equating to a 4-6% premium on delivery.