All MCA Insight articles in December 2025
View all stories from this issue.
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OpinionCrisp Pizza on relocating pubs
Carl McCluskey points the finger at the landlord of his family Hammersmith pub; and a flamboyant former pub tycoon joins forces with a former PM for a private members’ club wheeze
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InterviewsTom Kerridge: Business rates rises will make it harder to ‘keep our doors open’
The Michelin-starred chef has said he still supports the Labour Party, but criticised the government for failing to reform business rates
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NewsKFC: ‘Hospitality can help close the employment gap’
Chelsea Hamlyn, chief people and culture officer at KFC UK & Ireland, has called for greater investment in youth employability programmes to help more young people find work
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NewsGlobal Brands founder joins publicans in banning Labour MPs from premises
Steve Perez, who also operates pubs and hotels in the Midlands, said the prime minister “lied to his face” about business rates
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NewsPub chiefs call for 30% business rates relief after emergency summit
The BBPA has demanded pub-specific business rates relief following a summit of industry leaders this week, warning that the industry faces further closures and job losses
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NewsRoss Warnes joins Pret as UK & Ireland president
Warnes brings a wealth of experience from roles at Kraft Heinz, Unilever, and Nestle, and will oversee Pret’s UK & Ireland estate of more than 500 stores
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OpinionDeeper risks in the food system
Food supply risks are increasing, and hospitality businesses are in danger of being blindsided by day-to-day challenges, David Read, chairman and founder of Prestige Purchasing writes for MCA
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NewsCaffè Nero achieves another record with £338m sales
The Nero Group has posted record sales of £338m in the first half of FY26, with strong performance driven by successful menu innovation including matcha drinks and pistachio croissants
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including new sites from Loungers, Mulligans, Honest Greens, and more
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![Burger King Swindon_20_web[52]](https://d36hgjhwuw81py.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/8/0/6/379806_burgerkingswindon_20_web52_81140.jpg)
NewsBKUK to expand into Ireland
Burger King UK his signed a c20-year master franchise agreement with Burger King Europe GmbH, extending its master franchise rights to the Republic of Ireland for the first time
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Analysis & InsightConsumers approach 2026 with caution over spending
Younger diners and higher-income groups remain comparatively resilient, with more than 70% of under-35s expecting to maintain or grow their spending on eating and drinking out, according to AlixPartners
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NewsPret to contribute compensation over Celia Marsh allergy death
The mother of five died in 2017 after eating a Super-Veg Rainbow Flatbread that had been labelled as a vegan product, but was later found to contain traces of dairy
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NewsDomino’s appoints NED
Annie Murphy has held senior roles at PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Associated British Foods
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Analysis & InsightChristmas hospitality bookings see slight dip year-on-year
Insights from Dojo, based on bookings data across hospitality venues in the UK, suggest a difficult economic backdrop is impacting discretionary spend during the festive period
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Analysis & InsightFood price inflation forecast to average 4.6% in 2026
Food price inflation is expected to keep accelerating, with operators urged to focus on strategic procurement and supply chain optimisation to mitigate rising costs, according to Prestige Purchasing
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Analysis & InsightM&B and the Quiet Man of pubs
During ten years at the helm, Mitchells & Butlers under CEO Phil Urban has continued to outperform sector. CBRE’s Simon Johnson pays tribute to the well-run business, which has the best freehold property esate in the managed sector
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Analysis & InsightHospitality profit margins squeezed as costs outpace sales growth
Food purchasing prices have risen 50% since 2020 while operators have increase menu prices by 7.6% every year on average, squeezing margins across the sector, according to CGA
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NewsLeon to appoint administrators and exit loss-making sites
After acquiring the healthy fast food brand last month, co-founder John Vincent said his immediate priority is to reduce the number of loss-making restaurants, with 20 out of its 70-strong estate believed to be at risk
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Interviews6 of 1 Group: ‘There’s always room for excellence’
Frank Yeung and Abhinav Malde, the operators behind Mr Bao, speak to MCA about their next venture - a Hong Kong-inspired eatery combined with a wonton noodle soup bar
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NewsNick Mackenzie: ‘This isn’t the relief or reform we were promised’
Many publicans are questioning how they will stay in the business over the coming years, the Greene King CEO has said