All articles by Hannah Currie – Page 18
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Interviews
Three Uncles looks to ‘all corners of London’ for future expansion
The Cantonese roast meat concept is targeting up to three new sites in 2024, co-founder Pui Sing Tsang tells MCA
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Interviews
The restaurant experience will be ‘difficult for AI to replace’
Tech entrepreneur, author and futurist Tom Weaver says the restaurant industry’s service element is hard to replace, with high potential for optimising data collection through AI
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Interviews
Gail’s: Building craft at scale has forced ingenuity
Gail’s head of e-commerce, Rosie Hill explores how the bakery brand identifies as a “craft” business whilst also making room for innovation and technology, as it continues to grow at scale.
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Interviews
How Stonegate is adopting a retailer’s mindset with its MiXR network
The pub company has ambitions to create the “UK’s biggest retail media network” harnessing data from its new loyalty app, and 4,500 digital screens across its estate, to create targetable audiences and deliver revenue from advertising impressions.
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Analysis & Insight
Food to Go market outpaces pre-pandemic value
The channel is forecast to see strong net space growth, driven by the expansion of travel hub, drive-thru and kiosk-style services, according to data from Lumina Intelligence
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News
Portobello Starboard like-for-like sales ahead of market
The South East based pub and hotel business reports above budget returns from recently invested sites helped it exceed targeted EBITDA
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News
Openings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including Cubitt House, Heartwood Collection, Gino D’Acampo, German Doner Kebab and more
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News
Costa Coffee increases pay rate by 9%
The starting rate for baristas will rise to £12 per hour, from £10.70, with employees set to receive a pay rise from 1 April 2024
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News
Oakberry Açaí plans 16 site openings in 2024
The international açaí brand will target a mixture of equity and franchisee locations across the UK, after making its London debut last summer.
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News
Wendy’s: ‘We’ve seen real momentum in the UK’
CEO Kirk Tanner says the fast-food brand’s quality differentiation is resonating with UK consumers, giving him confidence to grow the market and create a springboard into Europe.
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News
Liberation Group makes two senior appointments
Jayson Perfect, previously group managing director at the pub operator, has been appointed chief operating officer, whilst Jamie Queen, previously marketing director at Thomas Cook, will join Liberation Group as chief growth officer.
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Analysis & Insight
From East to West: Bubble tea meets the mainstream
From a once novel curiosity to commonplace on UK high streets, the bubble tea shop has incrementally woven itself into the market. With surging outlet numbers and recent adoption by established coffee chains, MCA explores the potential of the Taiwanese import in the latest in a series of immersive, data-led features
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Interviews
Tortilla: ‘We’re excited by the opportunity in Europe’
The fast casual Mexican brand plans to open eight new corporate-owned sites in the UK in 2024 with a focus on shopping-centre locations, and is sizing up European markets to target in the future.
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News
Hydes Brewery commences multimillion investment programme
The Salford-based pub operator invested over £4m in its estate in 2023 and has committed to a seven-figure investment programme through 2024
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News
Apollo ‘in talks’ for Alshaya Starbucks franchise
The private equity firm Apollo Global Management is interested in acquiring a minority stake in the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia Starbucks, according to a Reuters report
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Interviews
Rare Restaurants: ‘There is a huge growth opportunity in the UK’
The Gaucho operator’s expansion strategy will combine a focus on “obvious” city locations and its proven neighbourhood model, CEO Martin Williams tells MCA
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Interviews
Various Eateries sees ‘big opportunity’ for Noci
The modern pasta concept’s distinctive “food-led” approach makes it well placed for growth as it targets further expansion in London, executive chairman Andy Bassadone tells MCA
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Interviews
Red Engine refocuses on the bar to drive dwell time
Adapting brand messaging to foreground its bar element has increased dwell time by around 30 minutes, at the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator, marketing director Juliette Keyte told MCA’s Hostech conference
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News
Westmorland boosts turnover and continues inward investment
The business, which operates service stations including Tebay, Gloucester, and Cairn Lodge, invested £6m in its estate in the year to July 2023
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News
Azzurri Group delivers revenue growth across brands
The ASK Italian and Zizzi operator has seen a 9.3% increase in revenues, and is continuing to invest at record levels with £22.2m of capital investment in 2023