All interviews
Interviews with the leading voices of the UK eating and drinking out industry
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InterviewsActivate targets 30 sites as We Do Play eyes national expansion
We Do Play co-founder Richard Beese tells MCA the business is pushing for rapid expansion after the “phenomenal” response to its first UK location
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InterviewsBig Fang prepares for growth with streamlined model and site upgrades
The experiential leisure operator is focusing on brand consistency and operational refinement as it prepares for its next phase of growth, with no new site openings planned in 2025
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InterviewsCRG targets 10 Mowchi sites by end of 2025
The Asian street food concept is set to reach 10 UK sites by the end of the year, with four to five openings planned in the near term
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InterviewsHeineken to invest £40m in Star Pubs in 2025
The investment will support community pubs across rural and suburban locations, with 104 of the sites receiving large-scale refurbishments of £120k or more, in a bid to “make them more relevant to a broader number of consumers”, Chris Moore, Star Pubs property director, tells MCA
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InterviewsPrezzo Italian: ‘We’re on a journey to invest’
Less than nine months into James Brown’s tenure, the casual dining group has unveiled a new brand identity, menu, and vision to create one of the industry’s most agile and dynamic businesses, he tells MCA
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InterviewsYoung’s: ‘We are achieving volume and value growth’
Investment in the pub company’s estate is driving a lot of its like-for-like sales growth, with volumes up and momentum continuing into the new financial year, CEO Simon Dodd tells MCA.
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InterviewsAfrikana to reach 25 UK sites this summer, eyes international growth
The City Restaurants Group brand is set to open around ten sites a year going forward, managing director Matthew Wood tells MCA
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InterviewsSlice & Dice: ‘We could have ten sites by the year-end’
The EHG business is gearing up to expand its New York-style pizza concept following early signs of success and growing demand for pizza by the slice
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InterviewsWagamama surpasses 1m loyalty members as omnichannel grows
CEO Thomas Heier tells MCA the programme is already driving “positive movements to member visit frequency” since launching in 2024, with further functionality and features in the pipeline
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InterviewsVelvet Taco to open at Broadgate Circle, targets 10 UK sites by 2030
The fast-casual taco brand’s first UK site is to open in July, followed by a Soho opening and two sites each year over the next five years
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InterviewsWhich Wich eyes travel hubs and multi-channel growth
The brand is preparing to open a second UK site in Fleet Street this June – a dual-floor location designed to support dine-in, delivery, and catering operations
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InterviewsPopeyes UK: ‘We see our use of tech as a point of difference’
The fast-growing QSR brand’s chief technology officer David Carey talks to MCA about AI, the development of its app and why the brand wants to “own the customer experience” through building its own tech stack
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InterviewsSides to appoint UK MD and target 14 UK stores
The QSR brand launched as a cloud kitchen concept in 2021, now operates six brick-and-mortar sites and aims to reach 14 by the end of the year, CEO Robin Mehta tells MCA
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InterviewsPhat Buns targets 20 UK sites
The fast-growing burger brand aims to operate 20 UK sites by the end of 2025 and has begun international expansion with two openings planned in the UAE
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InterviewsDong Hyun Kim: ‘A lot of people eat sushi, but the quality has gone down a lot’
The Wasabi founder is keen to avoid going down the well-worn route of high street sushi chains with his new venture Sushinoya – instead focusing on the quality of the fish, the variety on the menu, and the experience for the customer, he tells MCA.
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InterviewsMaki & Ramen: ‘We’d like to open in every major UK city’
The ten-strong Scottish restaurant company is targeting 30 sites by 2027 and has recently launched a franchise operation to help it grow at a faster rate, founder and CEO Teddy Lee tells MCA.
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InterviewsSalt Beer Factory focuses on pub refurbishments and hybrid models
The brewer and bar business is prioritising investment in its existing pub estate with a focus on site refurbishments, hybrid models and collaboration with street food vendors, MD Edd Simpson tells MCA
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InterviewsBrucan explores experiential concept and university town expansion
The five-strong pub group is considering the launch of a new experiential leisure concept, alongside its existing premium pub portfolio, group director James Lyon-Shaw tells MCA
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InterviewsCheshire Cat Pubs eyes ‘bolt-on’ growth through rooms and events
The pub group and recent Publican Awards winner is driving operational performance through steady reinvestment, enhanced training, and careful expansion of its accommodation and events businesses
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InterviewsYard Sale Pizza: ‘We want to be bigger and better’
The Piper-backed pizza delivery brand will look to accelerate investment in digital and tech to enhance customer retention following its recent acquisition, co-founder Johnnie Tate tells MCA