All articles by Finn Scott-Delany – Page 14
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NewsPrezzo vacated 30 sites after pre-pack
The majority of the business was sold in February 2021 to a vehicle owned by Cain International for £5.04m in a pre-pack administration
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InterviewsRudy’s pushes on with expansion
The Mission Mars pizzeria brand has completed on a further two sites, in Division Street in Sheffield, and Portland Street in Manchester, where it will also open a training academy for chefs
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InterviewsCaffe Nero: Customers love delivery
Speaking at MCA’s Food to Go Conference, Caffe Nero’s UK UK CEO Will Stratton-Morris said a major positive to come out of the pandemic was its embrace of new sales channels
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NewsLeader of KFC UK departs
Paula Mackenzie is understood to have left the brand to pursue a new opportunity outside the organisation. She was manager director of KFC UK & Ireland for five years, overseeing a major turnaround at the business
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NewsMcDonald’s Starbucks and Pizza Hut withdraw from Russia
KFC has suspended its company owned operations, but has yet to announce any action on its c1,000 franchisee-run restaurant estate
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NewsTasty EBITDA positive
The Wildwood restaurant operator plans to open five or six new units this year
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NewsGreggs a ‘stronger and better business’
The brand is targeting 150 net new shop openings in 2022, and sees potential for at least 3,000 shops in the UK long term. The bakery business grew sales by 5.3% in 2021 to reach £1.2bn vs 2019
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NewsFulham Shore: ‘Its no secret we’ve done extremely well during the pandemic’
Managing director Nabil Mankarious talks to MCA about the slow and steady growth of cash-generative The Real Greek, which has supported the faster, high street expansion of the simpler Franco Manca
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NewsWatchHouse builds pipeline
The speciality coffee shop operator will add a new cafe off Bond Street, on top of forthcoming sites in Marlybone and Covent Garden, founder Roland Horne told MCA
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NewsWendy’s outlines UK plans for 2022
The QSR brand is planning to build 10 physical restaurants and as many as 50 delivery-only kitchens in the year ahead. Chief executive Todd Penegor told analysts the UK estate was producing “some nice sales growth”.
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NewsBoparan to rollout Restaurant Hub with Sainsbury’s
The supermarket has announced plans to shake-up its eat-in, takeaway and home delivery offer, with 200 own-brand cafes to close, but 30 Boparan Restaurant Hubs and 30 Starbucks cafes to open
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NewsRevolution demonstrates ‘renewed confidence’
The bars group achieved EBITDA of £12.2m in the 26 weeks to 1 January 2022, just shy of the £12.8m it achieved two years previously
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NewsArc Inspirations boycotts Russian vodka
Indian restaurant and craft beer bar Bundobust also urged operators to stop serving Russian products over the invasion of Ukraine
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InterviewsPizzaExpress: ‘People thought we were boring and out of date’
MCA speaks to chief customer officer Shadi Halliwell about standing out in the Italian casual dining market, and taking back control of the customer from third-party discounters
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NewsPunch JV will ‘double in size very quickly’
The partnership with Big Smoke Brew Co has grown rapidly, with eight pubs opening under the JV in the last year, the Morning Advertiser’s MA Leaders event heard
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NewsLane7 plans six new sites a year
Boutique bowling concept Lane7 has “big expansion plans” with 18 sites in legals across the UK and Ireland, chief operating officer Graeme Smith has told MCA
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Analysis & InsightPizzaExpress rebrand: Hit or miss?
As the casual dining stalwart unveils its new brand identity, MCA asks strategy experts to weigh in on how successful the campaign is in its pitch to a younger, more diverse consumer
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InterviewsInn Collection Group: ‘We’re not going to sit still’
Following the company’s reported £300m acquisition last week, MCA speaks to MD Sean Donkin about how the investment gives Inn Collection Group the financial firepower for group acquisitions, as well as a deep level of expertise in the leisure sector from its new investors
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InterviewsWingstop to ‘significantly grow estate’ in 2022
Wingstop UK co-founder Tom Grogan speaks to MCA about the brand’s new store opening pipeline, its focus on dark kitchens, and how it has successfully aligned itself with Generation Z to distinguish itself from its peers
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Analysis & InsightInflation: ‘Inevitable’ costs will be passed on to consumer
As inflation reaches a new 30-year high, MCA examines the situation within hospitality, and asks how a squeezed consumer is likely to react to rising prices in restaurants and bars