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All O'Neill's articles
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NewsPubs nudge up prices
J.D. Wetherspoons increased drinks prices by around 10 pence as it reopened the majority of its pubs over the weekend.
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InterviewsM&B CEO Phil Urban: ‘People want to go out and be social again’
As social media storms go, it was up there with the silliest.
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Analysis & InsightSteve Gotham: Turning up the heat and other NPD delights
New product development (NPD) is rightly recognised as a lifeblood for the eating out industry, and MCA’s Menu Tracker offers insights into the latest menu trends and influences across 150 leading operators. This review only serve as a taster, but the three courses have each been accompanied with three key summary insights.
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Analysis & InsightAnd the 2019 consumer award winners are…
While we are in the midst of the entertainment awards season it would be most neglectful not to extend this to the worlds of foodservice and hospitality.
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NewsHow can tech ease the customer journey?
Greggs, Leon and Wagamama are just the latest to join the self-ordering revolution, with the latter’s new grab and go concept Mamago one of the most hotly discussed openings of last year. To share their early exeperiences and more, MCA brought together marketing, IT and digital leaders from across the sector to consider how new technology can help, and sometimes hinder, the customer experience
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NewsVeganuary operator offering round-up
Once again, Veganuary is upon us, and with the number of vegans more than doubling to 600,000 between 2016 and 2019, this year’s operator offering is bigger than ever.
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NewsOld Spot Pub Company makes it 10
The Old Spot Pub Company has opened its 10th site – the Crown & Treaty in Uxbridge, following a refurbishment of the historic pub.
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NewsStrong drink sales drive M&B’s 3.3% lfls growth
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has continued to outperform the market in the eight weeks to 21 September, with like-for-like sales growing by 3.3%.
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NewsThe Big Interview: Jamie Barber on Cabana
Jamie Barber’s Cabana chain was bought out of administration last week and absorbed into his Hush Brasseries group, saving the Brazilian barbecue concept, but shuttering a further two sites. In his first interview since the news, Barber discusses the bittersweet outcome, securing new investment for the brand, and the continued tough trading in the sector.
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NewsCabana calls in administrators, sold to Hush
Cabana Restaurants, the Jamie Barber-led Brazilian barbecue brand, has appointed administrators, with five sites sold to Hush Brasseries, another Barber-led group.
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NewsCabana closes Trinity Leeds
Cabana, the Brazilian barbecue concept from Jamie Barber, has closed its Leeds branch, after appointing KPMG to review its options.
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NewsK10 explores growth capital raise
Sushi takeaway concept K10 is exploring options for its next stage of growth, executive director Maurice Abboudi has told MCA.
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NewsM&B lfls up 4.1% in H1
Mitchells & Butlers has reported like-for-like sales (lfl) sales growth of 4.1% for the 28 weeks to 13 April 2019.
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NewsBuff & Bear has potential for up to 12 sites
Former Geronimo Inns managing director Ed Turner is looking to expand his Buff & Bear Saloons business to achieve a small independent group with a maximum of 12 pubs, MCA has learned.
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NewsUrban: ‘We do the same things with 110 sites as we did with 30’
As part of the launch of the CGA Stone & River Brand Momentum report, Mitchells & Butlers’ chief executive Phil Urban talks about how the multi-branded operator has remained at the top spot despite the volatility of the market.
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OpinionCulture wars
This week Gordon Ramsay’s latest Lucky Cat was slammed for its ‘authentic Asian’ offering, while Aldo Zilli claimed only Italian chefs should cook in Italian restaurants. To help navigate the cultural appropriation minefield, MCA’s Finn Scott-Delany spoke to contributing editor Peter Martin and Mowgli’s Nisha Katona.
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NewsSmashburger quits Leeds Editions
Smashburger, the MSG Group operated brand, has left Deliveroo Editions in Leeds, MCA understands.
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NewsWeekend press round-up, 23-24 February 2019
MCA presents a round-up of this weekend’s press stories relating to the sector
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News
Old Spot Pub Company lines up two new sites
Old Spot Pub Company, an Ei Managed Investments venture, has lined up two further openings for 2019, which will take its portfolio to seven.
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NewsDecember 2018
In the final MCA journal of 2018, we bring you the headline findings from our Foodservice Delivery Report and focus on two key challenges for operators – people & property. In particular, we look into the changing nature of the high street, new charity Only A Pavement Away, which helps the homeless gain employment in hospitality, and explore opinions on the apprenticeship levy. We also profile the man who put Wagamama on the map, Ian Neill, and pay tribute to his mentor, Peter Boizot.