All Opinion articles – Page 32
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OpinionGet Carter
There was an oversight at MCA’s annual Restaurant Conference, which took place last month. It was an oversight that some of the leading operators quietly pointed out to me; we had forgotten to mention a growing brand that was having an impact on the performance of parts of their estates – Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) premium steakhouse concept, Miller & Carter
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Opinion
From beer house to booze bunker
The great British pub has undergone countless changes over the past century – from community hubs to gastropub, via brewhouses, wine bars and theme pubs. Beer writers Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey have chronicled the journey of the modern day boozer, in their new book 20th Century Pub. The following is an exclusive extract for MCA readers
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OpinionFor better or worse
After a few months of searching, Hutton Collins, the backer of better burger chain Byron, has decided to stick with what it knows, in appointing Simon Cope as its new chief executive. It will now be down to Cope to plot a steady course to take the brand back to where it was – one of the sector’s key growth brands
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OpinionTime is not on your side
Time is one of the most precious commodities for customers and loyalty will stay with those operators who don’t waste it. Flypay’s Tom Weaver discusses the pitfalls of not taking time to save customers’ time
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Opinion
Why so Sirieix?
The Galvin at Windows GM, star of the small screen, industry champion and prolific fundraiser has a new book, Secret Service, out next month. With so many plates spinning, how does the country’s most recognisable front-of-house man manage to prevent it all from crashing down, asks Sophie Witts
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OpinionHow food delivery services are moving into airports
Queues at airport restaurants and food outlets are a common sight, especially at peak travel times, as transport hubs around the world deal with surging numbers of travelers. In response, a new batch of pick-up and delivery services has arrived on the scene to offer time-poor passengers an alternative to holding out for on-board plane food
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Opinion
Sector Snapshot: Leaving the herd behind
With two new openings in Southbank Tower and Principal Place this week, Black Sheep Coffee shows no signs of slowing down. But growth is not at the expense of watering down the operator’s speciality offer, head of coffee Tony Knauf says.
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OpinionTunnel vision
It’s heads down, gritted-teeth tough out there at the moment for the majority of the UK’s eating and drinking-out market, and there aren’t many signs that things are going to pick up soon. Also what next for Byron?
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Opinion
Inside Track: This is the rhythm of the night
The late-night sector rarely gets a good press, but does the recent surge of interest in Revolution Bars Group show appetite for nightlife is still strong? James Wallin talks to Deltic Group’s chief executive Peter Marks on why he is betting on the success of the sector.
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OpinionWhy tenanted pubs are back in fashion
The past few weeks have seen two huge deals in the tenanted and leased pub sector – with Punch and Admiral Taverns both getting new owners. In a period of great uncertainty, why do investors feel certain of success in a segment whose death has often been exaggerated. Peter Hansen, founder of Sapient Corporate Finance.
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Opinion
Measuring workplace happiness
The theory of a happy workforce being a productive one is fairly simple, but achieving this goal is far from straightforward. Here Lord Mark Price, the former managing director of Waitrose who announced he was resigning from his role as trade minister earlier this month , shares his thoughts on keeping employees engaged.
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OpinionAlchemist is going for gold
More than three years after its Palatine Private Equity-backed management buyout, The Alchemist, the Simon Potts-led cocktail and restaurant brand, finds itself as one of the sector’s success stories.
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OpinionPubs – what are they good for?
Fiona Stapley, editor of the Good Pub Guide, examines how the blurring of lines between pubs, restaurants and cafes has affected the public’s affection for this great British institution.
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OpinionAdmiral to set sail with new investors
MCA speaks to Admiral Taverns chief executive Kevin Georgel about the future of the pub company under new owners C&C Group and Proprium Capital Partners.
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Opinion
Regulatory changes to digest
The introduction of the Food Standards Agency’s Regulating Our Future programme could mean big changes in the foodservice industry. Here, John Barnes takes a look at what is likely to happen
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Opinion
Artisan ices that are hot hot hot
With home-made artisan ice cream the top US dessert trend for 2017, and the industry as a whole now worth $10bn, Kerstin Kühn looks at four leading players pushing boundaries with the cold stuff
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Opinion
Lessons from the front line
International Market Management specialises in working with restaurant brands in setting up overseas. In the first of a series, founder Jasper Reid poses the question, why go abroad at all?
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Opinion
Brexit – protecting EU workers
With the clock ticking on Britain’s exit from the EU, concerns are mounting over the impact on the nation’s hospitality sector. Rose Carey, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, reports
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Opinion
Caring in the community
While the majority of the industry has taken its foot off the expansion pedal, the Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed, fledgling restaurant business, is taking the opportunity to build its estate. Executive operations director Yishay Malkov talks to Mark Wingett about what comes next, whether the group is in danger of diluting the iconic restaurant name and how involved its famous backer is
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OpinionBrew ideas on an old theme
After falling out of fashion for more than 20 years, the brewpub is back with a vengeance, and Brewhouse & Kitchen has been at the forefront of its revival. James Wallin meets co-founder Simon Bunn to discuss its evolution