All Opinion articles – Page 47
-
Opinion
Serving small and thinking big
Having proved itself as the new kid on the recession block, the Koh Group and its Thai tapas concept is ready to come of age. Andy Lennox talks to Ruth Williams
-
Opinion
Food success the Malaysian way
Anne Chow’s husband William missed Malaysian food so much when he moved to England that he taught himself to cook his native dishes – a skill that proved more than useful when the pair set up the successful chain of Banana Tree restaurants. Mel Flaherty reports
-
OpinionThe tie untied
And so it came down to just eight MPs. Decades of political wrangling about the legality and fairness of the beer tie ended with a slim Parliamentary majority of 15 voting to give pub tenants of the largest pubcos a ‘market rent only’ (MRO) option – thus freeing them from this historic and oft-abused mechanism.
-
OpinionFollowing the mob mentality
Branded Italian restaurants offer bigger discounts and promotions than any of the others on the high street. Simon Stenning, strategy director at Allegra Foodservice, asks if this is really sustainable
-
OpinionHunting down the perfect pub in London
With London pubs now regularly changing hands for eye-watering amounts, how can small operators make their mark in the white-hot capital? Glynn Davis talks to companies that are thinking creatively about where and how they can make their mark in the city.
-
Opinion
Analyst corner: Mark Brumby on leisure sector IPOs
Leading analyst Mark Brumby at Langton Capital takes a look at the appetite for going public and ask whether “take privates and IPOs are two sides of the same coin?”.
-
Opinion
Going Native
Founded in 1994 in Palm Springs, California, Native Foods Cafe has developed into America’s premier fast-casual vegan group, which now spans coast to coast.
-
OpinionAn open letter to Pubs Minister Kris Hopkins
M&C Report group editor Rob Willock writes an open letter to community pubs minister Kris Hopkins.
-
OpinionHabit forming
As the UK economy continues to recover from the post-financial crisis recession, consumer confidence has picked up, supporting discretionary spending on leisure activities, including dining out, says Rupesh Patel of Grant Thornton UK LLP, which has published new report called Come Dine With Us. Alongside this cyclical trend, structural changes in consumers’ eating habits are also reshaping the bars, restaurants and casual dining industry and are driving sector transaction activity.
-
OpinionThe Renaissance Man
Tim Hulme has had a big task on his hands turning around the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), but he’s adamant that progress has been made as he targets further reform and growth for the organisation. Hulme also has bold ambitions for the pub sector as a whole.
-
Opinion
New category treads a fine line
Never happy to stand still, the restaurant industry is continually redefining itself. Kerstin Kuhn looks at the latest sub-sector to emerge – that of fast fine outlets
-
OpinionBeing frank about café growth
Apostrophe managing director Richard Franks is out to make the café an everyday venue rather than just a trip for a treat. Ruth Williams reports
-
Opinion
Shifting Sands
John Sands’ retirement is not going well. Eleven years after leaving the industry, his love of pubs has drawn him back into a leading role. Phil Mellows meets the new chairman of Admiral Taverns
-
OpinionBodean’s breaks out
After a five-year hiatus and a shrinking estate, barbecue brand Bodean’s is back on the expansion trail. Founder Andre Blais discusses why he won’t be getting his fingers burnt this time round. Stefan Chomka reports
-
OpinionComing full circle
After more than 11 years writing about the pub industry, M&C Report’s departing deputy editor John Harrington presents his valedictory on a sector that has been through the mill and come out stronger the other side
-
Opinion
Unbranded managed pubs – the ‘Cinderella Segment’
At the ‘Pub Ball’ there has been one ‘Cinderella’ not yet invited. One whose attributes have yet to be fully appreciated but who may achieve recognition and success after a period of obscurity and neglect. This is the area of the smaller, unbranded managed pub, argues advisory firm CBRE
-
OpinionTalent spotting
Over the next 18 months the industry is set to experience a sustained level of M&A activity, including a number of big ticket deals, but it is mining for “investment gold” at the other end of the business lifecycle that is increasingly moving to the top of the agenda for sector investors in the rush for the next big thing
-
Opinion
Mine’s a Pint (Shop)
Richard Holmes, former ops manager at Leon and co-owner of Pint Shop in Cambridge talks expansion, staff training and inspiring concepts
-
OpinionDeal of the decade?
What lies behind Greene King’s approach for Spirit Pub Company, what complications does it bring and what does it tell us about the current state of the pub market? John Harrington speaks to the experts
-
OpinionBrewer troops colour of change
Frederic Robinsons famously tied up a deal with rock band Iron Maiden last year, and that energy to do something a little out of the ordinary is still prevalent in its bid to make major changes to its tenanted estate. John Harrington finds out more