All MCA Insight articles in April 2024 – Page 4
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Weekend Press
From chicken to bread: how wild price swings are affecting our food
Figures last week showed that the overall price of food dropped by 0.4% from December to January, yet food inflation was still 8%, with products such as chicken, eggs and butter becoming more expensive, reports The Sunday Times
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Weekend Press
Estrella Damm to invest £50m on British brewery
Amid surging demand for Spanish lager in the UK, the family-owned company is investing in a state-of-the-art brewery in Bedford
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Weekend Press
‘Work from pub’ is 40% cheaper than coworking space
A ‘work from pub’ deal for the day comes out at £13 on average across six major UK chains, according to a new analysis
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Interviews
Incipio Group: ‘Continual evolution is essential’
With 10 million annual visitors expected at London’s Olympia development, Incipio Group will draw inspiration from existing brands while creating entirely new concepts to cater to a wide range of drinking and dining experiences, CEO Edward Devenport tells MCA
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News
Five Points Brewing reports strong sales growth
The independent brewery has agreed terms on a new London pub to open this summer, as its latest crowdfund draws to a close
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News
UK-EU youth mobility would be ‘huge success’ for hospitality
The EU Commission has proposed negotiations to facilitate new youth mobility agreements, allowing young people from the EU and UK to study, work and live in each other’s countries
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News
Mac Plumpton joins Leon as MD
Plumpton, formerly of Rosa’s Thai and Tapas Revolution, will succeed Ashley Davis, who stepped up as interim MD after Glenn Edwards’ departure last year
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Opinion
Get real: Labour’s coming and we all need a plan
While hospitality-specific issues - like VAT and immigration policy - will make the headlines, the big concerns Peter Martin hears from bosses are around investment, especially on infrastructure, and long-term economic planning
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News
Openings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including Leon, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Fuller’s and Shake Shack
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News
Deliveroo: ‘More stable but still uncertain’ consumer environment
Order growth in the UK and Ireland remained flat year-on-year, albeit the delivery company reported ongoing signs of stabilisation in consumer behaviour
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News
WatchHouse launches crowdfunding campaign
The coffeehouse concept reported that trading in Q1 2024 was up 120% compared to 2022, as it encourages investors to support its ambitions for global expansion
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News
Loungers continues to go from strength to strength
The all-day concept has opened a new site every 10 days so far this year, bringing its estate to 257 as it looks to reach the 600-site mark
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Analysis & Insight
Sector like-for-likes up 5.2% in March
Trading was boosted by Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and an early Easter Bank Holiday, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker
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Interviews
Chestnut Group: ‘We want to build an iconic collection’
Founder Philip Turner speaks to MCA about achieving 14% like-for-like sales growth, investing in the accommodation business, and “constantly giving people reasons to come back”
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Interviews
San Carlo ‘well positioned’ for future growth
MD Marcello Distefano tells MCA the business is focused on expanding its Signor Sassi and Cicchetti brands abroad, and is “chomping at the bit” to bring fresh concepts to the market
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News
Wagamama aims for 200 restaurants
The Pan-Asian restaurant chain said it had clear visibility of a profitable openings programme with a healthy pipeline in place, including ten further sites lined up for FY25
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News
Clean Kitchen co-founder steps down as animal products added to menu
Verity Bowditch has announced she will step away from the formerly vegan restaurant, as the move does not align with her values on animal welfare
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News
Joe & The Juice strengthens board
Jeffrey Lawrence, formerly EVP and CFO at Domino’s, joins the brand’s board of directors as it accelerates its growth and expansion in international markets
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News
Hospitality inflation eases slightly
Data from the Office for National Statistic shows inflation continues to soften across the wider economy, as the Consumer Prices Index rose by 3.2% in March, down from 3.4% in February
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Opinion
Will reverse takeover give TGI that Friday feeling?
Dominic Walsh explores the background of the proposed Hostmore deal, and asks whether bulking up can arrest ailing consumer demand on both sides of the Atlantic