All Bella Italia articles – Page 2
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Analysis & InsightDelivery promiscuity in a fragmented market
Casual dining brands are becoming more promiscuous with delivery operators, MCA analysis has revealed.
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NewsAll’s fair in love and restaurants – how did the operators line up to fight for the Valentine’s share of wallet?
If French is the language of love, then presumably a French restaurant should be where I head with my true love on Valentine’s Day. Certainly, the leading French chains are using several seduction techniques to secure my custom – and for good reason. February is a slow trading month and an event where consumers might be more inclined to loosen the purse strings for fear of having their heart strings damaged, is well worth aiming to capitalise upon. So who offered what on the big day?
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NewsImbiba backs Wireless Social with £1m
Imbiba, the specialist leisure investor, has backed hospitality tech business Wireless Social with £1m of funding.
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Analysis & InsightBeating the January blues
There is an easy logic behind the third Monday in January being the most depressing day of the year, despite the underpinning research coming under question.
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NewsHow can tech ease the customer journey?
Greggs, Leon and Wagamama are just the latest to join the self-ordering revolution, with the latter’s new grab and go concept Mamago one of the most hotly discussed openings of last year. To share their early exeperiences and more, MCA brought together marketing, IT and digital leaders from across the sector to consider how new technology can help, and sometimes hinder, the customer experience
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NewsGunwharf Quays – Restaurant and retail therapy a plenty!
With more than 30 bars, cafés and restaurants (as well as over 90 shops) Gunwharf Quays offers an abundance of opportunities for plenty of remedial treatment. Supported by its impressive waterfront location, attractive design and assorted leisure-related reasons to visit, Gunwharf Quays is one of the UK’s finest outlet shopping centres. So amongst some Christmas shopping, I was keen to see how it is using its extensive assortment of Food & Beverage purveyors to both restore weary shoppers as well as to act as a footfall driver in its own right. But also, and more critically, I was keener to see some something new and surprising.
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NewsThe Highs and Lows of Promotions
In recent weeks I have looked into various elements of economising behaviour by consumers, including targeting low prices and more spending at weekends as opposed to weekdays, today’s focus is on the widely prevalent, yet potentially damaging, practice of promotional activity. Key questions asked include whether its usage is rising, who’s buying into the offers the most and what are the most popular promotion types. The core focus area is the key dinner day-part within the chain restaurant sector and the source of answers is MCA’s consumer tracking service, the Eating Out Panel.
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NewsGetting a taste for New Product Development
Regardless of their industry, innovation is widely recognised as the lifeblood of organisations. If we focus on new product development (NPD), then MCA’s Menu Tracker analysis for Spring/Summer 2019 shows that it is getting ever more prevalent. Looking at over 8,000 dishes across over 110 operators in the London region, over 600 were flagged as ‘new’ on menus. This equates to 8%, significantly higher than the 4% and 6% seen in previous years.
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OpinionWhy Pizza Express is worth saving
There are many theories why Pizza Express, the largest casual dining chain in the UK with 490 sites, has slid into such a massive pile of debt.
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News
CDG appoints trio of brand directors
Casual Dining Group (CDG) has appointed brand directors at Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and Café Rouge as it restructures its senior team formation.
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Analysis & InsightAll aboard the vegan express
MCA market insight director Steve Gotham looks at the rise and rise of veganism and its impact on menu development over the past two years.
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NewsNew menu round-up: Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s and Costa
This week has seen some of the biggest players in the sector launch new menus as they seek to capitalise on changing consumer trends and revitalise their brands. They included Bella Italia launching its biggest ever menu, Frankie & Benny’s targeting adult-only occasions and Costa launching its first new menu under new owners, Coca-Cola.
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OpinionA no-brainer of sorts
In his latest monthly column Dominic Walsh digests the news of Steve Richards’ departure from Casual Dining Group with mixed emotions although concluding, after some consideration, that it makes sense. He goes on to ponder the future of Fuller’s following its boardroom shake-up.
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NewsCDG lfls up 2.6% YTD
Casual Dining Group (CDG) has reported like-for-like sale (lfls) up 2.6% in the year to date, with a 4.2% rise in the 13 weeks since the New Year.
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NewsCDG to support Syrian refugees through training programme
Casual Dining Group (CDG) has completed a pilot programme that aims to support Syrian refugees gain the necessary skills and experience to transition into the world of work.
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Analysis & InsightInvestment is crucial to boost brand momentum
“The outperformers in the market are the ones who aren’t standing still,” Molly Johnson-Jones, head of customer and strategy at strategic consultants Stone & River told delegates at yesterday’s CGA Insight conference.
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Analysis & InsightBig no longer beautiful among casual restaurant brands?
Are the days of restaurant brands growing to 100+ sites really over? MCA’s market insight director, Steve Gotham, takes a look at what can be learnt from the chains that have already surpassed this milestone and who has the potential to be the next centurion of casual dining.
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News
BD Foods acquired by AAK
BD Foods, the UK foodservice company, has been acquired by AAK, the Swedish-Danish oil and fat producer.
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Analysis & InsightWe want to be together
With the wider issues facing the market, many believe the UK’s eating and drinking-out sector is ripe for consolidation. However, does it work for everyone involved and, in current conditions, is it a case of looking outside the box for the best partner for your business, asks AlixPartners’ Graeme Smith
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Analysis & Insight
Hybrid approach needed in challenging times
The divide between retail and eating out will continue to narrow in 2019 as operators search for new channels and growth opportunities.