All articles by Shwetali Sapte – Page 14
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InterviewsOttolenghi explores expansion outside central London
The premium restaurant group will open a site in Richmond and another in partnership with Mandarin Oriental Hotels, while growing its wholesale business and partnership with Waitrose
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InterviewsMarston’s: ‘2024 was a seminal year’
The pub group does not see pricing as its primary tool to mitigate labour cost increases, instead focusing on driving visit frequency and revenue, according to CEO Justin Platt
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Analysis & Insight
Early festive socialising fuels hospitality in run-up to Christmas
The hospitality & leisure category was up 4.7% in November, with bars, pubs, and clubs seeing their highest growth since July, according to Barclays
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InterviewsThunderbird to take first steps outside London
The fried chicken brand has seen “incredibly strong” like-for-like sales and is working on securing new franchisees - as well as a new concept, CEO Paul Gilchrist tells MCA
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InterviewsTortilla pushes ahead with dual-partnership delivery approach
CFO Maria Denny told MCA’s Restaurant Conference that the group has seen an expected decline in delivery volumes but is building a more “aligned approach” to drive profitability
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NewsNando’s reveals next expansion push
The restaurant group increased revenue to £1.4bn in the year to February 2024, and will open 14 new restaurants across the UK in the current financial year
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NewsWendy’s UK launches new app
The loyalty scheme comes as the American QSR chain continues its expansion push across the UK, having recently signed up new franchisee Khidmat
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Analysis & InsightHigh quality, accessible offers drive restaurant market growth
Brands like Dishoom, The Ivy, and Miller & Carter are expected to continue robust growth, while legacy brands struggle to recover to pre-Covid levels, according to Lumina Intelligence
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, featuring Fulham Shore’s Super Club Roma, Loungers’ newest Brightside, and more
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NewsETM Group achieves double-digit turnover growth
The premium bar and restaurant group achieved turnover of £43.5m and secured new investment to support its growth, as well as new funding for the Ludo venture with St Austell
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Analysis & InsightLoungers buyout makes ‘perfect sense’ for management and shareholders
The all-day operator is the latest in a growing list of hospitality groups to exit the public markets, with a share price that has failed to reflect the real value and potential of the business, analysts and commentators tell MCA
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Analysis & InsightDelivery volumes continue to grow
While at-home revenue growth is partly driven by increased prices, CGA’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows an uptick in the volume of orders
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NewsPizzaExpress launches new Pod concept
The PizzaExpress Pod has opened at Tesco Extra in Southampton, offering customers their favourites on the go as well as a chance to redeem Tesco Clubcard points
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NewsWingstop appoints first CMO
Dirujan Sabesan has been appointed chief marketing officer as the QSR chain seeks to reinforce its position as a leader in youth culture and creative marketing
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NewsLoungers H1 revenue soars to £178m
The Lounge and Cosy Club operator grew revenue by 19.2%, supported by like-for-like growth of 4.7% and 17 new sites. CEO Nick Collins cited the quality and flexibility of the offering, along with the resilience of the UK consumer
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NewsLoungers to be acquired by Fortress Investment Group
The cash offer values Loungers at an enterprise value of approximately £350.5m, with Fortress saying the hospitality group holds a strong and differentiated position in its industry
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InterviewsJeremy King: ‘You must open restaurants you want to go to yourself’
The grandee of restaurants shared advice, anecdotes from learnings from a life in hospitality, including what made Le Caprice special
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InterviewsMitchells & Butlers toasts strong start to FY25
The group is cautiously optimistic amid the festive trading period, and will make pricing decisions to mitigate the impact of the Budget in the new year, CEO Phil Urban tells MCA
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NewsGail’s turnover rises to £179m
The premium bakery chain increased turnover by 32%, and has budgeted 35 new openings for the current financial year as it continues to build its presence outside the Southeast
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NewsGroucho Club has licence suspended
The Soho private members club has been forced to temporarily close following reports of a ’serious criminal offence’ at the venue