All MCA Insight articles in February 2020 – Page 3
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NewsA damaging development? Or just political posturing?
Whatever your thoughts on Priti Patel, and I imagine you currently have some thoughts, the new immigration plan is a damaging development in the ongoing battle for hospitality to recruit and retain talent. On Wednesday the home secretary revealed the government’s new points and salary based immigration system, which says unless you speak English and have the offer of a job that pays over £25,600, you aren’t coming in.
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NewsIsland Poke: ‘We want to become the global poke brand’
Island Poke wants to become the definitive poke brand in the world with its new international expansion plan, backer Chris Miller has told MCA.
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NewsGreggs and Wingstop to share former Giraffe Bluewater site
Greggs has been lined up to share a former Giraffe unit with Wingstop in Kent’s Bluewater shopping centre.
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NewsNew immigration legislation will add “fuel to the fire” over recruitment
Hospitality will be hammered by the government’s new immigration plan according to data released by Fourth. The new plan, revealed yesterday by home secretary Priti Patel, will see the salary threshold for skilled workers entering the UK lowered from £30,000 to £25,600. As 42% of employees in the hospitality industry come from the EU and are paid an average full-time salary of £18,400 (or average of £8.44 per hour) and 11% from the Rest of the World earn an average equivalent full-time salary of £19,500, the legislation will have a significant impact on the sector.
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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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NewsBallie Ballerson eyes regional growth
Ballie Ballerson, the Imbiba-backed ball pit and cocktail bar concept, is looking at Manchester and Birmingham for its next move, with potential for one more venue in London.
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NewsHawksmoor responds to immigration plan
I think the ‘low-skilled’ news is poor for a number of reasons, but not least because it is so inaccurate about hospitality and demonstrates how little the government is interested in our industry. I also think there’s a useful challenge to hospitality.
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NewsGiraffe co-founder Russel Joffe dies
Giraffe co-founder Russel Joffe has died aged 62, his family has confirmed.
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NewsMigrant plan will cause ‘severe suffering’ in industry
Further reaction has come in to the government’s post-Brexit immigration plans, which will see “low skilled” workers denied entry to the UK.
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NewsProposed immigration system will “cut off growth and expansion” – UK Hospitality
The Government’s proposed immigration system will be “disastrous” for the hospitality sector, Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality CEO has warned.
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News
Triple Two Coffee moves north
Triple Two Coffee, the 12-strong franchise-led business, is set to open its first northern site this month in Manchester’s City Tower building.
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NewsNeat Burger reveals expansion plans
Neat Burger, the plant-based restaurant brand backed by Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, is planning to open a further five UK sites this year and expand overseas.
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NewsBundobust eyes wet-led crowd with on-site brewery
Bundobust co-founder Marko Husak has tipped the brand’s forthcoming Manchester site to go against the grain of the existing estate with a more wet-led offering.
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NewsPressure, power and positivity
Not to be overly optimistic, and perhaps it’s just the inevitable emergence from a lengthy and brutal period of rationalisation and consolidation, but things appear to be looking up. Admittedly the upticks predicted for 2020 are tiny, like 1% growth for casual dining and a 0.3% acceleration for food to go. But after the carnage of the last couple of years, positive news, however slight, will come as welcome news for the operators that skilfully navigated their way through it.
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NewsA Novel Idea: Beyond the Negative
Old wisdom is a thing. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius knew a thing or two, which he recorded in a series of personal writings that became his book ‘Meditations’ around 180 AD. The writings built on ideas found in the Stoic philosophy of early 3rd century BC Hellenistic-era Greece. Old wisdom indeed.
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NewsSlim Chickens accelerates South Coast expansion
Slim Chickens, the Boparan Restaurant Group’s fast-casual chicken brand, is looking to expand across the South Coast following a franchise development agreement with JRK Restaurants.
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NewsShoreditch Bar Group acquires The Hoxton Pony
Shoreditch Bar Group has further strengthened its London portfolio after taking on The Hoxton Pony.
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NewsNicholson’s to launch ‘traditional’ pub at London’s O2
Nicholson’s, Mitchell and Butlers ‘real pub’ brand, is to open its 79th site this month in London’s O2.
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NewsPret: ‘When it comes to innovation, we don’t have set rules’
Pret’s head of global innovation Hannah Dolan talks to Food Spark about food innovation sprints, the future of Veggie Pret and why the chain prides itself so much on the colour of its food.
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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?