All MCA Insight articles in June 2024
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsPunch Pubs looks to grow operator-managed estate
CEO Clive Chesser discussed the evolving landscape of pub partnerships at MCA’s Pub Conference, highlighting the benefits of delivering a centralised offer in an entrepreneurial, localised format
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NewsBuzzworks: ‘Scope to reach 50+ sites in Scotland’
A continued focus on interesting buildings in unusual locations could see Buzzworks Holdings reach more than 50 sites, MD Kenny Blair told MCA’s Pub Conference
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NewsEURO 2024 helps pubs & bars return to growth
Pubs and bars (unbranded) saw like-for-like sales growth of 9.9% during England and Scotland games, HDI data shows
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NewsTaro ventures outside London
The Japanese restaurant group has opened its seventh site in Brentwood as well as its eighth site in Catford
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NewsWingstop UK named fastest growing restaurant group
The wing brand was placed in The Sunday Times 100 fastest growing companies, alongside Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brewery, Wafflemeister and Emerald Hospitality
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NewsSan Carlo continues to grow
The premium Italian restaurant group is relocating Cicchetti Piccadilly while refurbishing and reopening the Flying Pizza in Leeds, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024
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Analysis & InsightAlixPartners: ‘The pub customer has proven resilient’
Customers have cut back on visits to restaurants but have maintained their frequency on visits to pubs, albeit by economising on spend, according to Graeme Smith, MD of the financial advisory firm
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NewsDes Gunewardena to open £10m restaurant at Olympia
The former D&D London boss is planning a new restaurant, bar and events space at the London exhibition venue, The Times reports
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NewsWimbledon serves up luxury hospitality deal with Le Gavroche revival
Sporting events increasingly focus on premium packages for wealthy individuals as corporate clients cut back
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Analysis & InsightHow British ‘snobbery’ left restaurants scrambling for staff
The industry is scrambling to fill more than 100,000 vacancies, which account for more than 10% of all unfilled roles in the UK
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NewsAdmiral Taverns: ‘It’s fantastic to be in the right place, at the right time’
CEO Chris Jowsey is pleased to see community, wet-led businesses in the ascendancy, and reports more applications to run a pub than ever before, noticing a younger, and more female profile amongst Proper Pub applicants
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Article
JULY 2024
MCA’s July edition features in-depth analysis and commentary on the eating and drinking out sector. This month, writer Simon Brooke looks into how pubs are balancing their books to allow top-line growth to feed through to the bottom line. Lumina Intelligence makes a case for rising consumer confidence amid a ‘summer of sport’ resulting in a boost for pubs and bars, while Egg Soldiers explores Gen Z’s demand for bold, new immersive concepts looking to break free of the status quo. The edition also features interviews with pub giants, including new Marston’s CEO Justin Platt, Mitchells & Butlers on plans for its recently acquired Ego and Pesto restaurant chains, Liberation Group on prioritising quality over scale, and Admiral Taverns on remaining at the forefront of M&A activity. We also speak to German Doner Kebab, Joe & the Juice, and Chicken Shop about their appetite for growth across the UK, while Busaba CEO Winston Matthews reveals plans to trial a new concept. Industry commentators Peter Martin, Dominic Walsh, and David Read share their views on sector issues, including customer experience and the general election’s repercussions for hospitality.
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, featuring Wingstop, Slim Chickens, Market Halls and Burger Drop
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NewsHeavitree grows sales despite wet weather
The Devon pub company and brewer increased turnover by 2.1% to £3.3m in the first half of the year, despite cold condiitons and an early Easter
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NewsTasty forecasts uplift in profitability
As part of a restructuring plan, the group renegotiated seven rent agreements and exited 19 loss-making sites sites
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NewsGordon Ramsay to enter India
The chef’s restaurant group is parterning with Travel Food Services on a three-year programme to open six restaurants under Street Pizza, Street Burger, and Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To-Go brands at airport terminals across India
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InterviewsStonegate: ‘We have momentum despite everything thrown at us’
CEO David McDowall discusses the shared culture of “restlessness and curiosity” between Stonegate and BrewDog, and the ability to move at pace despite scale
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NewsInvestor revolt at Adnams
The chairman and director of the underperforming Suffolk brewer and pub company saw more than a third of shareholders vote against their re-election
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Event NewsHeartwood Collection aims for £100m+ turnover by 2026
Speaking at MCA’s Pub Conference, CEO Richard Ferrier previewed the company’s latest pipeline as it looks towards 10 new openings per year and plans to reach 400+ rooms in the next two
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NewsKarali Group acquires 46-strong Taco Bell portfolio
The sites were acquired as part of a pre-pack administration deal from Caskade Group. It follows news that 40 branches of KFC have been acquired by Adil Group from Caskade