All articles by Finn Scott-Delany – Page 3
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NewsCraft Union shakes up operator-managed model
The Stonegate-owned community pub company has introduced extra incentives, additional profit share and uncapped earning potential for its managed operators as it opens its 600th site, CEO Frazer Grimbleby tells MCA
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InterviewsTim Martin: My £100m mistake
Wetherspoon’s chairman shares his latest wheeze in the pubco around chilled bottle beer and branded pint glasses; how he plans to reach 1,000 sites; and his multimillion-pound investment blunder at MCA’s Pub Conference
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NewsCrosstown made losses of £3m in last two years
The doughnut brand saw a drop-off in demand for its premium products, and was impacted by supply side cost inflation, before being acquired by Karali Group in a pre-pack administration for £500,000
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NewsZuber Issa to take on forecourt franchises
As part of his £228m exit from EG Group, co-founder Zuber Issa will take on foodservice outlets at 30+ forecourt locations, which includes franchise sites for Starbucks, Greggs, Subway, Cinnabon, Sbarro and Chaiiwala
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NewsEG Group sells off parts of foodservice business in £228m deal
EG Group has agreed to sell its remaining UK forecourt business and certain standalone foodservice locations to co-founder Zuber Issa. EG will retain Cooplands and its Starbucks franchise business. Meanwhile TDR Capital has acquired Zuber’s shares in Asda, taking its ownership to 67.5%
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NewsAdmiral Taverns acquires 37 pubs from Fuller’s
The portfolio of freehold, community, wet-led sites from Fuller’s Tenanted estate span London, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, and were sold for £18.3m
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OpinionThe visionary beer bro whose mercurial tendencies became a distraction
Outgoing BrewDog CEO James Watt created a global craft beer powerhouse which revelled in its outsider status, but his reluctance to grow up gracefully meant he was no longer the right man to lead an increasingly corporate company eyeing an IPO
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InterviewsStar Pubs & Bars: 'We want to attract 18-100 year olds'
The Heineken-owned operator is investing £39m in a quarter of its estate, which it will use to broaden its pubs’ appeal to a wider selection of customers and occasions, property director Chris Moore tells MCA
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NewsSunday mobile payment app levies ‘checkout fee’
The payment app from the founders of Big Mamma Group is facing complaints from customers after introducing an additional charge on bills paid via mobile
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InterviewsHeart with Smart: ‘We’ve digested the damage and can now start to rebuild’
Following the successful refinance of its debt, CEO Jens Hofma tells MCA the Pizza Hut Restaurants operator is looking to fire up innovation and reignite unit growth in 2025
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NewsHeart with Smart extends senior debt until 2027
The operator of Pizza Hut Restaurants and itsu franchises has also appointed Steve Packer, an existing member of the management team, as CFO, as Andy Platt steps into semi-retirement
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InterviewsShepherd Neame: Normal patterns of demand and investment are returning
CEO Jonathan Neame discusses improving footfall and dwell time in London, the dampening impact of inclement weather on coastal towns, and when falling inflation might boost net disposable income among consumers
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NewsStonegate reports strong trading momentum
The group achieved 12% like-for-like sales growth in its pubs over Christmas, while late night and branded bars were up 10%, according to CEO David McDowall
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InterviewsAzzurri: ‘2024 will get stronger as the headwinds dissipate’
CEO Steve Holmes discusses the ASK and Zizzi operator’s full year results and prospects for the year ahead, with growth from Coco di Mama and Boojum
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InterviewsHawksmoor’s Rising Star is ‘constantly ready to reinvent’
During her ten-year tenure at the steakhouse group, Louisa Richards has been critical player in setting the tone for culture and standards at new openings in London and beyond, CEO Will Beckett explains
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InterviewsGail’s Bakery: ‘We can provide a better alternative’
Founder and CEO Tom Molnar discusses the craft bakery’s three-pronged approach to sustainability and how its progressive ethos has been baked in since day one
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Analysis & Insight‘Who would have thought it, a kebab for breakfast?’
MCA examines German Doner Kebab’s controversial new breakfast offering, a doner egg brioche, and a wrap laden with doner meat, onion, melted cheese and garlic sauce
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NewsItsu snaps up Jason Cotta
The former Ole & Steen CEO joins itsu as chief growth officer, as the healthy eating brand plans to open 20 new locations in 2024
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InterviewsM&B: ‘All parts of the market are recovering’
CEO Phil Urban speaks to MCA about making 20-30 conversions to Ego, why Nicholson’s is the top-performing wet-led brand in the stable, and how its new smokehouse concepts is inspired by Old Orleans
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InterviewsDavid Page: ‘I haven’t done any work since 1986’
Following his successful exit from Fulham Shore, which saw him bank £16m, serial entrepreneur David Page insists he has not managed any of his exits successfully and reveals more about why he wants to make it fourth time lucky with another restaurant investment vehicle