All articles by Georgi Gyton – Page 3
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InterviewsStick’n’Sushi: ‘If you focus on quality, that brings great results’
The Danish-Japanese restaurant group has seen sales improve over the last three months and remains focused on growing its estate in the UK and overseas, CEO Andreas Karlsson tells MCA.
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Analysis & InsightNew openings slow in 2025
Openings across all fast-food segments have slowed, with the exception of the burger segment, which maintained +2.6% growth, according to new data from Meaningful Vision.
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NewsTortilla achieves 5% rise in like-for-likes
The fast-casual Mexican restaurant group achieved a £3.9m increase in revenue for the half-year, to £35.4m, with strong sales momentum continuing into H2
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NewsKFC UK sales up 5% in Q2
Owner Yum! Brands said the UK KFC business, which accounts for 6% of KFC’s system sales worldwide, had also achieved 5% sales growth in the year-to-date.
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NewsDirectional Pizza appoints new CEO
The owner of the Pizza Hut Restaurants UK business has appointed Gino Casciani as chief executive officer of its European operations.
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NewsButcombe Group delivers 9.8% growth in like-for-likes
Sales were up across all areas of the managed business, with drinks seeing the strongest lfl growth of +13% - boosted by the favourable weather, while food sales were up 8%, in the first half of the year
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NewsGreene King Pub Partners to invest £27m this year
It follows capital investment of £23m in both 2023 and 2024 and will fund internal and external refurbishments across its leased, tenanted and franchise pub estate in England and Scotland
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Analysis & InsightFrom pub sector darling to dismantlement – the story of Oakman’s unfolding
With an “inherently complex” funding structure, the pub and restaurant company founded by Peter Borg-Neal found itself with a limited ability to absorb trading shocks and generate sustainable profits
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Analysis & InsightConsumers planning to spend less on eating out
More than a third (39%) of consumers expect to spend less on eating out over the next 12 months, according to new data from PwC, with 14% stating they expect to spend more.
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InterviewsUpham Inns: ‘We have always aspired to grow the business’
The acquisition of 14 sites out of administration from Oakman doubles the size of the business overnight, but director Ian Dunstall is confident of a smooth integration process and is open to further opportunities
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NewsFive Guys secures £185m refinancing deal
The new debt agreement will provide financial headroom for the better burger chain until 2030, and will enable it to expand its estate, with a larger number of drive-thru restaurants understood to be part of the strategy, Sky News reports.
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NewsJD Wetherspoon achieves 5.1% uplift in like-for-likes
Chairman Tim Martin said sales volumes had recently overtaken pre-pandemic levels, and revealed plans to open 15 new managed pubs and a similar number of franchised sites in the next financial year.
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NewsMarta Pogroszewska steps into NED role at Gail’s owner Bread Holdings
The former Gail’s MD told MCA it was a ”pleasure and privilege to lead the team for nearly nine years” and that she looked forward to working with them in her new role
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NewsIndividual Restaurants remains committed to expansion plans
Chief executive Andrew Garton said the business was looking to grow further with the launch of new concepts, and entering new markets, both in the UK and internationally
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NewsCreative Restaurant Group appoints managing director
The Mischa Zelman-chaired restaurant group has promoted Milena Floyd from her role as operations director
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NewsJKS Restaurants sells stake in BAO
JKS Restaurants has sold its stake in BAO London, with Singaporean hospitality business The & Behold Group (TLBG) to support the brand in the next phase of its growth.
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InterviewsThe Alchemist: ‘We made some mistakes with Berlin’
The bar and restaurant business initially took the wrong approach from a people and culture perspective when opening its first international site, Hannah Plumb, talent and culture director at The Alchemist, shared at MCA’s Pub Conference
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Analysis & InsightThe growth of the third space: How pubs and restaurants can benefit from hybrid working
Coffee shops have traditionally been the go-to place for digital nomads with a desire for caffeine and community, but pubs and restaurants are developing ‘third spaces’ in their venues to capitalise on the number of hybrid workers. MCA takes a deeper look at the trend
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InterviewsChestnut Group: ‘We are looking to double the size of our business’
The East of England hospitality group is looking to increase its rate of expansion, as well as grow its burgeoning direct-to-consumer wholesale businesses, founder and managing director Philip Turner tells MCA
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InterviewsNightcap: ‘Last year was the hardest, but things are picking up’
In her 30 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham said 2024 was the hardest by far, but that the landscape for the late night bar group was now improving.