All MCA Insight articles in October 2024
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsIkea opens standalone high street restaurant
Taking over a former Wasabi next door to its city store in London’s Hammersmith, the 70-cover restaurant features dine-in, food-to-go and self-service kiosks
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NewsDeliveroo rolls out new rider check-in feature
The feature is designed to reduce rider wait times, improve communication between restaurants and riders, and create a smoother pick-up for faster deliveries
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NewsJust Eat launches in-car ordering
Motorists will be able to arrange for a food delivery to their car using text and touch commands in their vehicle’s in-car entertainment system
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NewsCrowdfunding ‘corrupted and abused’ by craft brewers
Craft beer has been guilty of becoming over-reliant on crowdfunding to compensate for unsustainable business practices, Pressure Drop co-founder Sam Smith has said
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, featuring Heartwood Collection, Be At One, Jason Atherton’s latest restaurant, and more
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NewsWagamama turns to tech to support GMs
With less experience within the sector’s talent pool, the brand has developed a real-time data dashboard to give GMs “eyes in the back of the head”, MCA’s Hostech conference heard
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InterviewsHas Chipotle’s time in the UK finally come?
Having taken a decade to find its feet in the UK, the US burrito brand is at last starting to establish itself as a major QSR player on these shores
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InterviewsPizza Pilgrims: ‘The basics will never change’
Co-founder Thom Elliot speaks to MCA about relaunching food-to-go concept Slice, going international, and the “plenty of opportunities” remaining in the UK, as the business appoints advisors to explore its strategic and investment options
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Analysis & InsightDelivery sales up 6% in September
Delivery sales accounted for nearly 12% of restaurants’ total revenue last month, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker
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NewsSoho Coffee Co posts £3.2m loss
The 28-strong coffee shop group said its owner, Qatari development company BTC, is committed to “significant further investment” in the UK, and continues to fund ambitious expansion plans for the brand
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NewsUKHospitality: Budget is ‘latest blow’ to hospitality businesses
A hike in minimum wage, employer national insurance contributions, and reduced business rates relief means that “2025 will be painful for hospitality, with an increased annual tax bill of £3bn for the sector,” according to the trade body
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NewsDraught duty cut is a ‘drop in the ocean’
Pub sector leaders including Nick Mackenzie, Simon Dodd, Simon Emeny, and Chris Jowsey have expressed concern that costs will continue to rise with the reduction in business rates relief and rise in National Minimum Wage
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NewsWingstop’s international business ‘continues to be on fire’
CEO Michael Skipworth said that the QSR chain’s success in the UK, alongside its first restaurants in France, demonstrates its ability to grow to over 750 restaurants overseas
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NewsPizza Hut launches new app
The app will offer exclusive deals, recipes, and live order tracking among other benefits, and is part of the chain’s brand reset announced earlier this year
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NewsGipsy Hill acquired by St Peter’s Brewery owner
The south London craft brewery will join Wild Beer Co, Curious Brewing and Portobello Road Brewery as part of Sunrise Alliance Beverages Group after facing the prospect of entering into administration
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Event NewsMCA partners with the Burnt Chef Project
MCA’s flagship Restaurant Conference returns next week with a new charity partner which aims to address mental health stigma in hospitality
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NewsBig Table uses CRM to finetune portfolio
The Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s operator has consolidated its CRM platform to capitalise on cross-brand synergies and optimize its estate, MCA’s Hostech conference heard
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Analysis & InsightHow Greene King is building a new legacy
In celebration of Black History Month, the pub company partnered with historian and curator Tony Fairweather to bring the social history of the Windrush Generation into its pubs. MCA visits the Greene Man in London’s Euston to find out more
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NewsChipotle could open ‘thousands’ more locations in Europe
Interim CEO Scott Boatwright reiterated that Western Europe is a ‘sizeable’ growth opportunity for the fast casual Mexican chain
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NewsCamerons Brewery secures new funding
The Hartlepool-based brewer and pub company has agreed a refinance and new funding package with Sandton Capital Partners and IGF