All articles by Georgi Gyton – Page 5
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NewsTortilla achieves 5% rise in UK like-for-likes; appoints new CFO
Despite strong growth in UK sales, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant’s UK business reported a loss before tax of £2.3m in the 26 weeks to 29 June 2025
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NewsBow Street Group sees £7.5m loss prior to restructure
The operator of Wildwood and dim t restaurants – formerly known as Tasty – saw revenue fall by 21% in the 26 weeks to 30 June 2025, to £15.1m – primarily due to the impact of five site closures last year
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NewsHonest Burgers to acquire 12 GBK sites
The deal will see Honest Burgers’ portfolio expand to more than 50 restaurants. For Boparan, the deal represents a “strategic opportunity” for Gourmet Burger Kitchen to focus on its core growth area of delivery.
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NewsJollibee looking to restart UK expansion from 2026
The Filipino fast food chain – which operates 12 restaurants in the UK – has reported a loss after tax of £4.6m in 2024, but is still planning to “significantly increase” its number of UK openings
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NewsCooks Coffee: ‘We are ahead of our openings target’
The operator of the Esquires franchise opened 11 sites during the first half of 2025, with enough sites already in the pipeline to “double that again before the end of the financial year”, CEO Aiden Keegan told MCA.
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InterviewsGreene King: ‘We want our pubs to be relevant and welcoming to all’
The pub group has been a driver of change on equity, diversity and inclusion in recent years. MCA speaks to its chief experience officer Andrew Bush on the progress to date, challenges around targets and why these issues matter, in the first of a spotlight series on EDI, sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic
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NewsActivist investor pushing for SSP takeover
Irenic Capital Management has been trying to drum up interest in a take-over deal for the food to go operator, after it increased its stake to around 3%.
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NewsPizzaExpress planning 50 more restaurant revamps in 2025
On the back of 74 restaurant refurbishments last year, “our remodel programme is track”, chief executive Paula MacKenzie told MCA, ”and we’ve already opened seven new pizzerias this year, with more to come”.
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NewsPizza Hut launches £5 portion format
The Crafted Flatzz range will be available across Pizza Hut’s restaurants in the UK & Ireland, and features four topping options on top of a lighter, hand-stretched crust.
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NewsHeavitree exec director moving into NED role
Former managing director and finance director Graham Crocker will be retiring from his current executive director role on 30 April 2026, and will step into a non-executive director position, as deputy chairman
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NewsSessions expands partnership with Mikos Gyros
The Greek food brand launched within 11 of Session’s delivery kitchens earlier this year, and will now roll out to a further 75+ locations in the coming weeks
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NewsBleecker appoints new director of operations
Tom Jennings has joined the better burger business which recently opened its 10th location, in Soho
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NewsMowgli founder dismisses weight-loss portion size trend as ‘gimmick’
Nisha Katona said fears the hospitality sector will be significantly impacted by consumers use of drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic were overdone, and that eating out would remain a big part of people’s lives.
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NewsThe Clink’s Brixton Prison restaurant facing possible closure
Opened in 2014, the restaurant, which serves food cooked and served by prisoners who are working towards hospitality qualifications, has been forced to reapply for its contract
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NewsCosta Coffee attracts smaller number of bids than expected
Stonegate Group and Popeyes owner TDR Capital is said to be among the reported bidders, however insiders diclosed the sale could fetch as little as £1.5bn
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Analysis & InsightWet-led occasions rose despite gloomy end to summer
Pubs and bars grew their share of occasions by 2.5ppts during the four weeks to 31 August 2025, versus the previous year, despite the gloomy and wet end to the summer, according to Lumina Intelligence
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NewsNotto to launch to-go concept at Broadgate Central
Chef Phil Howard’s pasta restaurant Notto is to launch in a new grab and go format at the new 1 Broadgate development, with Sandwich Sandwich and Sushinoya also taking space
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Analysis & InsightThe QSR spin-off: a potted history of fast-food extensions
With the QSR sector booming, Prezzo is the latest casual dining restaurant operator looking to cash in on its growth. But like that difficult second album, it’s not always easy to pull off, Georgi Gyton reports
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NewsHospitality job losses could total 111,000 by November Budget
UKHospitality is urging the government to reverse some of the damage done in the last Budget, by lowering business rates, fixing NICs and cutting VAT
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NewsStarbucks appoints new UK marketing director
Vic Robertson will oversee campaign and digital strategy as well as product innovation, including the Starbucks Rewards program and its brand partnerships for the UK.