All MCA Insight articles in August 2019
View all stories from this issue.
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News
Costa Coffee launches commuter-concept store
Costa Coffee has opened a ‘commuter-focused’ concept store in Lewisham. Located in what used to be the station managers office, the scaled down outlet is one eight mini-Costa’s that the coffee operator plans to open within the next six months.
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Analysis & Insight
Good value of greater importance to pub customers
The value of food and drink is of much greater importance to visitors of pubs than other of operators in the eating out market, across all three day-parts, according to the latest MCA Pub Brand Monitor.
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News
Muffin Break adds to estate
Muffin Break has added two new sites to its estate, opening in Lion Walk, Colchester and Priory Meadow Centre in Hastings yesterday (29 August).
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News
Inception Group launches new Cahoots bar
The Inception Group is opening a second Cahoots bar opposite its original Cahoots site, growing the size of the overall group to 11 venues. Themed along the lines of a 1940s train station and named Cahoots: The Ticket Hall & Control Room, the new venue will open on Kingly Street in Soho in November. It will add to Inception’s other venues which include five Mr Fogg’s venues, which all have a Phileas Fogg theme, two Bunga Bunga supper clubs, a Bart’s speakeasy and 80’s themed club Maggie’s.
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News
Chopstix secures £5m debt facility from Metro Bank
Asian QSR chain Chopstix has secured a new £5m debt facility from Metro Bank, to aid its expansion in shopping centres, high streets and travel hubs.
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News
Lewis Hamilton to launch plant-based Neat Burger chain
Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton will launch Neat Burger, a new plant-based burger chain, on 2 September. The first outlet will open in London just off Regent Street and Neat is targeting 14 franchises around the world inside two years.
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News
Ego Restaurants lines up two further sites
Ego Restaurants, the joint venture between 3Sixty Restaurants and Mitchells & Butlers, has lined up two further openings, taking it to 20 sites in total.
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Analysis & Insight
Is grocery retail disruption of foodservice fake news?
The news that Sainsbury’s is the first UK supermarket to offer customers hot takeaways via Deliveroo struck me as further indication of the perseverance of the supermarkets to claim more of the foodservice pound.
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Opinion
Loungers sets sights on premium coffee and drinks
As an all-day operator promising something for everyone, Loungers has never had any problem going toe to toe with high street coffee shops.
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News
Pizza Express to focus on upgrading sites as EBITDA falls 7.7%
Pizza Express is to focus its capital investment on upgrading its existing estate in the UK & Ireland, rather than adding new sites, as sales remained flat in the first half of the year.
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News
Former Domino’s NED joins board at Intu
Steve Barber, a former non-executive director (NED) at Domino’s Pizza Group has joined the board at Intu in the same role.
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News
SushiDog widens reach with virtual kitchens
Fusion brand SushiDog has launched a second virtual kitchen, in partnership with Deliveroo and Kitopi, MCA understands.
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Analysis & Insight
Social media influencers least reliable for food health info
Consumers rely on food brands as their leading source of health information, while social media influencers are the least relied upon, a KPMG survey reveals.
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News
Kooks-backed sushi brand liquidated
Australian-style sushi concept Inigo, backed by The Kooks’ Luke Pritchard, has been liquidated, MCA understands.
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News
TA Associates invests in global bubble tea brand
Global private equity firm TA Associates has announced it is to invest in Taiwanese bubble tea operator Gong Cha Group, as it looks to expand internationally.
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Analysis & Insight
Shelley Sandzer on food halls: The new face of casual dining
Leo Feldman, partner at leisure property agents Shelley Sandzer believes the revival of the food hall concept is a benefit for operators, consumers and landlords.
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Analysis & Insight
BDO: Whose round is it next?
As M&A activity continues at a pace in the pub sector, BDO’s M&A director Tom Barnard and M&A manager Hugh Ripley look at the common themes being seen across the pub market and who might be on the receiving end of a bid next.
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Analysis & Insight
Analysts’ verdict: Peel Hunt and Liberum on Loungers
Analysts’ verdict: Peel Hunt and Liberum give their view on Loungers’ full year trading figures.
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News
The Real Greek revenues ’slightly down’
The Real Greek’s like for like revenues are “slightly down” on last year, due to the heatwave comparative of last year, the restaurant’s chairman will tell its annual general meeting today.