All O'Neill's articles – Page 2
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OpinionPizza pioneer
The inventor of the UK’s casual dining industry, an inspiration to a generation of restaurant entrepreneurs and the founder of what today is the country’s biggest restaurant brand, PizzaExpress, Peter Boizot, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 89, can lay claim to all of those descriptions and more. Here was a life, truly well lived, and one that shaped the industry as we know it, arguably more than most. Mark Wingett talks to those he inspired and worked with, including Ian Neill, Luke Johnson, Hugh Osmond and Harvey Smyth.
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OpinionLines from a legend
With 50 years’ experience in the UK’s hospitality sector, primarily in the development of multiple successful branded restaurant concepts, Ian Neill was quite rightly honoured earlier this year with the inaugural lifetime achievement award at MCA’s Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards in March. The driving force behind the formative years of PizzaExpress and the growth of Wagamama from one site to 110 worldwide, recently sat down with Mark Wingett to discuss the current state of the market, delivery, the pub sector and of course a certain deal.
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NewsM&B FY lfls up 1.3%
Mitchells & Butlers has this morning announced like-for-like sales the year to 29 September up 1.3%, with a 2.2% rise in the past seven weeks.
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NewsAmber to roll out new brand, The Northern Way
Amber Taverns is to roll out a new brand after a successful first iteration in Preston, MCA understands.
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NewsSmashburger appoints Baker as MD
Smashburger UK has appointed Jayne Baker, formerly of Wright & Bell, as its new managing director, MCA understands.
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NewsSourced Market launches £750,000 Crowdcube campaign
Sourced Market, the hybrid London-based concept, has raised 85% of its £750,000 Crowdcube campaign within the first 24 hours.
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Opinion
Craic-ing the market
The Irish pub is a global brand but over the past decade the segment appears to have fallen out of step with fashions. This appears to be changing as a new generation of operators give their twist to the classic Irish pub model. Jo Bruce reports
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NewsTodd promoted to MD of K10
Reuben Todd has been promoted to managing director of London-based sushi concept K10, as the brand eyes further growth in the capital in 2019.
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NewsJamie Oliver Restaurants appoints Radix as interim CFO
Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group has appointed Bharti Radix, formerly of Draft House, as interim chief financial officer, MCA understands.
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NewsAmber Taverns takes on Aprirose site
Amber Taverns has acquired Shenanigans in Preston, one of the 73 pubs Aprirose acquired from Mitchells & Butlers last year.
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Analysis & InsightTwo out of three operators implement regional pricing
On average, two out of three operators surveyed in MCA’s latest Menu Tracker report vary their prices dependent on region, with JD Wetherspoon, All Bar One and O’Neill’s among the operators with the largest differentials.
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NewsUrban on M&B’s “engine room”
MCA spoke to Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive, Phil Urban, on the back of yesterday’s half-year results. He discussed the next stage of the group’s transformation programme, including bolder pricing strategies on a local basis. He also talked about consolidation in the Stonehouse brand, further evolution of Harvester and the revival of O’Neill’s; as well as the scope for pay at table and delivery options.
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NewsEiG: Managed Expert exits; REIT status and regional growth
Following Ei Group’s H1 trading update, MCA spoke to chief executive Simon Townsend. He discussed what the group’s revised growth prospects mean for the long-term goal of converting to a REIT. He also spoke about the where growth would come from in the managed estate, timetabling eventual exits from the Managed Investment partnerships and the first new site for its joint venture with PubLove. On the tenanted and leased estate, he said that while the Midlands and the north of England had slipped into negative like-for-likes, the long-term recovery of these areas remains on track.
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News
M&B H1 lfls up 1.6%
Mitchells & Butlers has this morning reported a 1.6% increase in H1 like-for-like sales, with food sales up by 1.8% and drink sales by 1.4%
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NewsPOD co-founder to head Freshii UK
POD co-founder, Kate Skerritt, has been appointed UK chief executive of health-focused fast-casual chain, Freshii, as it gears up for expansion.
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NewsHolder steps down as Jamie’s CFO
Crispin Holder has stepped down as chief financial officer of Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group just six months after joining and two months after its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) process, MCA has learnt.
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News
Ex-M&B pair to become next Ei Group managed experts
A pair of ex-Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) employees are set to become the latest operators to team up with the Ei Group
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NewsSchlee named Retailers’ Retailer of the Year
Pret A Manger chief executive Clive Schlee has been voted by his peers as the stand-out individual in the UK’s eating and drinking-out sector.
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News
Neill steps down from Jamie’s Italian
Ian Neill, the former chairman of Wagamama, has stepped down as a non-executive director of Jamie’s Italian
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NewsTurner secures second Buff & Bear site
Former Geronimo Inns managing director, Ed Turner, has secured a second site for his Buff & Bear Saloons business, for an opening in the Spring.