All articles by Georgi Gyton
-
NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the latest openings stories, including Wagamama’s first motorway services restaurant, Dishoom’s new Borough location and Flight Club’s Exeter site.
-
InterviewsMarket Taverns: ‘It’s about making a great business even better’
Following a period of strategic review, new CEO Miles Slade tells MCA that the business has several transformational capex projects on the horizon
-
NewsBread Ahead Borough told ‘you’ve become too successful’
Founder Matthew Jones says Borough Market landlords have declined to renew the lease on Bread Ahead’s flagship bakery and baking school as the business is now seen as international and a chain
-
NewsJoe & The Juice: ‘People don’t think of us as a morning destination’
The brand is launching a new expanded breakfast menu across its 80 UK stores, as it seeks to capitalise on a ‘missed opportunity’ to become a morning destination
-
NewsStonegate earmarks further collection of managed pubs for L&T conversion
The transition of around additional 100 sites to its leased and tenanted model will reduce Stonegate’s managed estate to around 215 pubs, as part of its ongoing transformation strategy
-
NewsAuntie Anne’s reaches 50 sites
The soft pretzel and food go franchise has added 25 new sites over the past five years – growing at a CAGR of 12% – and is targeting 100 sites by 2030
-
InterviewsJuices4Life targets 20 openings in 2027
Juices4Life has grown from an ambitious concept into an established and increasingly scalable franchise brand, with the next 18-24 months set to be “transformational”, founder Hassan Alshaiba tells MCA
-
Analysis & InsightInappropriate and unacceptable behaviour still commonplace in hospitality
More than half of hospitality workers polled in a new survey have experienced inappropriate, unsafe or unacceptable behaviour within the past year, according to independent hospitality standard VERiFAIR.
-
NewsThe Gym Group achieves strong H1 revenue uplift
The 10% increase in revenue and group adjusted EBITDA achieved for the period was boosted by an increased in average members by 5% to one million
-
NewsItsu achieved group revenue of more than £200m last year
The group said it achieved an “impressive performance” within its grocery business, but growth in its high street sites was moderate, reflecting ongoing cost pressures on the consumer and high street footfall levels
-
NewsKnoops achieves 68% increase in revenue
The premium hot chocolate café and retailer said it had continued to focused on the development of its UK shop portfolio but that there has been increasing interest its model from international markets
-
NewsLoungers opens first London Cosy Club
The new site opened in the former TGI Fridays at Westfield Stratford City last week, and is the fifth Cosy Club to showcase the brand’s evolving new look, with a further opening in Swansea set to follow in November
-
NewsWestminster Council says proposals to stop drinkers standing outside pubs were ‘misinterpreted’
Tim Barnes, deputy leader at the Conversative council, has now said that people’s ability to stand outside pubs with a pint remained “sacrosanct”
-
NewsFuller’s acquires collection of 10 'outstanding' pubs
The sites, acquired via a transaction with Stonegate Group and a simultaneous separate transaction with an institutional property investment company, are “iconic” pub operations, said Fuller’s, with nine of them located in prime London postcodes and the remaining site in the centre of Bath.
-
NewsPret debuts new bundle offer alongside autumn menu launch
The new £4.99 offer is rolling out following a successful trial and allows customers to mix and match two selected half sandwiches, baguettes or flatbreads, side soups, side salads or protein pots.
-
NewsBread Ahead to launch new owner-operator bakery model
Founder Matthew Jones believes the new model will pave the way for a new generation of owner-operated bakeries across the UK’s regional and market towns.
-
Analysis & InsightPubs and bars see lower beer sales over bank holiday
Venues were busier over the recent August bank holiday weekend than a year previously, yet greater customer volumes failed to materialise in stronger sales for draught beer and cider, according to the latest data from The Oxford Partnership and Vianet.
-
NewsPopeyes launches debut rewards programme
Developed in-house, Popeyes Rewards will allow registered customers to earn 100 points for every £1 spent on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed against menu items.
-
NewsToby Carvery launches retail range in Iceland
Iceland said the range was “inspired by the iconic flavours and traditions of Toby Carvery”, with products including mini battered sausages in blankets and a sausage and mash filled Yorkshire pudding
-
NewsDiageo drops responsible drinking and diversity targets from execs’ bonus
Under the new policy, CEO Sir Dave Lewis and his fellow executives will have their long-term rewards tied entirely to financial performance, rather than environmental, social and governance targets