All articles by Finn Scott-Delany
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InterviewsMowgli: Lots of whitespace to grow in UK
Founder and CEO Nisha Katona talks to MCA about growing her Indian restaurant group – and the potential to go global under backer TriSpan
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Interviews
Stonegate: ‘It’s our job to be restless and stay at the leading edge’
In his first major interview since joining Stonegate as CEO, David McDowall sits down with MCA to share his own bar to boardroom journey, his plans for innovating and refreshing across the estate, and why he remains optimistic despite the sector enduring a “bloody hard time”
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News
David McDowall: Stonegate to become ‘more focussed’
The new CEO told MCA under an evolved strategy, the wet-led pub company needed to adapt to movements in the market and listen to customer demands
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Interviews
Liberation Group: ‘Drink is really coming back’
CEO Jonathan Lawson speaks to MCA about a return to pre-Covid drinking behaviours, driving higher EBITDA per pub, and enhancing the food and drink offer at the Cirrus Inns estate
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Interviews
Andy Hornby: We let our trading do the talking
The Restaurant Group CEO shrugged off shareholder interventions and pointed to encouraging trading momentum across its four divisions, including its beleaguered Leisure division
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Analysis & Insight
Prezzo’s painful decline
As the Italian casual dining chain axes another 46 restaurants, MCA examines how the once leading player on the high street has fallen victim to changing consumer tastes and a middle market squeezed by rising costs and inflation
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News
Prezzo to close 46 restaurants
The latest restrcuture at the Italian causual dining chain will leave it with 97 restaurants, and more than 800 staff affected
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News
Camile Thai UK enters liquidation
Sites in Battersea, Balham, Epsom, Barnes and Romford have closed, with only Clapham remaining open on the UK mainland
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Interviews
City Pub Group gears up for economic uptick
The premium pub company sees “good opportunities” in the market for pub acquisitions, but is primarily focussed on organic growth within the existing estate, CFO Holly Elliott tells MCA
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Analysis & Insight
Bug burgers – coming to a bar near you?
As BrewDog considers serving cricket burgers in its bars, MCA explores the potential for insects to appear on more restaurant menus, hears about the health and environmental benefits, and asks whether customers can overcome their squeamishness and enjoy eating bugs
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News
Puccino’s targets 125 sites in five years
The railway coffee shop franchise, which is owned by the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, recently opened in East Croydon, with a target of five new sites this year
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News
Tasty selling two sites, considering further closures
The group is also considering converting further Wildwood restaurants to its dim t brand following a successful rebrand in Loughton
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Interviews
Baton Berisha: ‘I’d love to open an Asian restaurant’
The Wolseley Hospitality Group CEO is considering multiple expansion opportunities, including a pan-Asian concept in Mayfair, a London rollout of The Bellanger, and taking The Wolseley and Brasserie Zédel international
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Analysis & Insight
Shelley Sandzer: More sites will be coming to the market
MD Ted Schama told the R200 conference how operators have been quietly restructuring their portfolios in informal CVA-type processes
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News
Stonegate delivers ‘creditable’ performance
Britain’s biggest pub and bar group grew revenues to £1.6bn in the full year to September 2022, with adjusted profit before tax of £66m. The business said disposals of non-core pubs was a strategic option to drive value
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News
Small Batch Coffee closes three sites
The Stefan Allesch-Taylor-backed brand has faced increased competition in Brighton & Hove from Flour Pot Bakery, Trading Post Coffee and Wolfox
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Analysis & Insight
Shift to electric cars ‘biggest transformation in 100 years’
Moto CEO Ken McMeikan tells MCA’s Food to Go Confernece how EV drivers stop more often, dwell longer at motorway service areas and spend more money on average
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Analysis & Insight
Demand concentrated in choice locations
Footfall recovery in the capital has been uneven, with lots of supply based in the wrong locations, Rob Meadows of DCL told the Food to Go conference
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Interviews
Honest Burger ready to grow in the regions
CEO Frank Hayes tells MCA the brand has the right management team in place to operate well in excess of its current 44 locations, and will pursue an evolved property strategy with regional openings
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Interviews
Des Gunewardena: London still a great place to own restaurants
The former D&D London CEO tells MCA why he is confident in the capital, what the cost of living squeeze means for the sector, and when M&A activity and valuations might pick up
