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All The Big Table Group articles
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Analysis & InsightFresh twists on festive feasting
MCA looks at the restaurant groups breaking the shackles to introduce their own takes on holiday dining, incorporating British traditions with flavours from afar
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NewsBig Table uses CRM to finetune portfolio
The Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s operator has consolidated its CRM platform to capitalise on cross-brand synergies and optimize its estate, MCA’s Hostech conference heard
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NewsBella Italia returns to expansion trail
The Bristol location, its fourth in the city, is believed to be a former Frankie & Benny’s, part of a trial to test how well it performs at locations previously inhabited by its Italian-American stablemate
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Analysis & InsightA fresh start for Frankie & Benny’s
MCA visits the Italian American concept’s newly revamped outpost at The Strand to explore whether the new direction and brunch can re-energise the legacy brand
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NewsBella Italia launches first loyalty app
The Italian restaurant chain will use the app to showcase new dishes, competitions and offers, with users eligible for a weekly £100 voucher giveaway in its ‘spin the wheel’ section
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InterviewsFrankie & Benny’s sales ‘much higher’ than wider market
Big Table Group is trialling a refreshed proposition at three sites and conversions to Bella Italia at a further two after discovering the Italian American brand is still making “massive average weekly sales”, CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA
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NewsBig Table Group sees turnover surpass £223m
The operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Banana Tree, and Café Rouge has identified material growth opportunities for the 75 sites it acquired from The Restaurant Group last year, along with testing several conversions
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NewsNew operations director at Bella Italia
The Big Table Group has appointed Andy Felton, who joins from PizzaExpress, as operations director for Bella Italia
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including McDonald’s, Slim Chickens, Banana Tree, Taco Bell, and more
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NewsAnne Chow to step down as Banana Tree MD
She is stepping down after a “whirlwind 18 months” since the brand’s acquisitoin by Big Table Group, and will be replaced by Kate Wilton, formerly of Stonegate, Spirit and Whitbread
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NewsLarger chains report rebound this festive season
Smaller operators are braced for a difficult new year while bigger chains, such as Rare Restaurants and Hawksmoor, have seen bookings up by as much as 30%
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InterviewsBanana Tree: ‘There’s potential to grow the brand significantly’
The Big Table Group brand is on track to double its estate in less than a year and is exploring expansion outside the Southeast, MD Anne Chow tells MCA
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NewsBig Table appoints Leisure MD
Debbie Husband most recently held the position of managing director at the Rank Group, and before that spent 15 years at Travelodge
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NewsBig Table Group appoints head of concept development
Johanna Selin, previously of M&S, Wagamama, and Pret, has been appointed to the role as the group takes on TRG’s Leisure brands
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Analysis & InsightBig Table takes on ‘substantial risk’ with TRG Leisure estate
Following the payment of a £7.5m ‘dowry’ to take on The Restaurant Group’s Leisure business, MCA explores the challenges facing The Big Table Group as it’s tasked with turning around the loss-making estate
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Analysis & InsightTRG’s leisure disposal ‘removes poison pill’
The Restaurant Group’s offloading of its leisure business was hailed for its “strong strategic rationale”, while the sites “may do better” under The Big Table Group, according to analysts
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InterviewsBig Table to drive ‘strong improvements and synergies’ with Leisure acquisition
The group will find savings in the supply chain, overheads, and culture in its newly acquired business, CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA
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NewsTRG announces sale of Leisure business to Big Table Group
The Big Table Group will take over the division, principally consisting of the Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito brands, in a deal expected to complete in October - with TRG paying a cash contribution of £7.5m as part of the transaction
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NewsLas Iguanas MD appointed
The Big Table Group has appointed Lisa Gibbons to the position following a review of internal and external candidates
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InterviewsBig Table Group: ‘We’re the best capitalised restaurant group in the UK’
CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA about plans to invest in new sites, roll out Super Nonna and explore conversions for Banana Tree