All Innovation & Trends articles – Page 9
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Analysis & InsightRestaurant at-home sales flat in July as consumers head out in heatwaves
Britain’s top restaurant groups recorded fractional growth of 0.3% in delivery and takeaway sales in July, according to the latest NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker
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NewsSquare and OpenTable partnership looks to unify restaurant guest data
The expanded partnership aims to give restaurant operators a single view of reservations, payments and customer data, in order to improve guest engagement and operational decision-making.
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Interviews‘You’re never truly ready to open a restaurant’ - Brother Marcus on expansion
As the London-based Eastern Mediterranean restaurant group prepares to mark its tenth birthday, its founders say its focus is shifting towards refining the model and, potentially, expanding beyond the capital
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Analysis & InsightEating out participation sees notable drop in Q2
The porportion of consumers choosing to eat out fell by 6.2ppts, to 38.4%, in the 13 weeks to 28 June 2026, as consumers continued to be squeezed by the increasing cost of living, according to a new Lumina Intelligence report.
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NewsRise in NEETs fuelling ‘chicken wing economy’
Analysts at Baringa have drawn a link between the wide emergence of QSR chicken restaurants and rise in young people not in employment, education or training
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EventsNew sessions announced for MCA’s Innovation Conference
KFC UK&I, Subway, Wagamama, Wahaca, Coco di Mama and Ole & Steen among the brands added to the speaker line up on 8 October.
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NewsGail’s launches on Uber Eats to strengthen rapid delivery offer
The bakery chain, which until now has partnered exclusively with Deliveroo, says its tie-up with Uber Eats will enable it to expand its delivery footprint and make its artisan bakery offerings more easily accessible
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Analysis & InsightUp in smoke: what the closure of Bodean’s means for the wider BBQ sector
The apparent collapse of London’s best-known barbecue brand feels like the end of an era in which operators and investors believed US barbecue could become a major force in UK casual dining
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Analysis & InsightUK pubs and bars achieved strongest sales of the year in July
Total draught volumes increased by 3.9% in July 2026 compared with the same month last year, while average Rate of Sale rose by 5.2%, according to the latest Market Watch from The Oxford Partnership and Vianet’s BevMetrics.
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OpinionWhy KFC and Doritos want you to bring your own bag
The new collaboration will offer Doritos corn tortilla chips loaded with KFC’s freshly prepared Crispy Tenders, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños and Mexican-inspired sauces, served in a custom-designed bag that opens from the side
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NewsHarry Ramsden’s launches new compact format
Harry’s Hut has opened at The Tower Hotel, near Tower Bridge, and will give the brand a smaller, flexible footprint in which to operate in high footfall urban locations.
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Analysis & InsightFoodservice inflation continues in July as drought concerns mount
The latest Foodservice Price Index from NIQ and Prestige Purchasing reveals that growing concern over the impact of prolonged heatwaves is creating uncertainty for buyers in key food categories
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NewsWagamama teams up with Hyrox
The multi-year deal to become restaurant partner of the world’s largest fitness racing event marks a strategic expansion into the health, wellness, and active lifestyle space
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InterviewsSupply chain risk ‘higher than its ever been’
As repeated heatwaves and drought create a “food supply shock” in the UK, government support for farmers and menu agility in hospitality are vital, Prestige Purchasing founder David Read tells MCA
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Analysis & InsightFood for thought: the pub companies sharpening their menus
Rather than applying one offer across an entire estate, pub groups are using a distinctive food to differentiate sites, broaden trading occasions and give customers another reason to visit
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OpinionWhat is our positive vision for the high street?
It’s all very well targeting vape shops, gambling operators and ‘rogue operators’, but how do we create the conditions in which world-class destinations can thrive?
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NewsLondon casino boss urges joined-up vision for high streets and night-time economy
Simon Thomas said recent debates often overlooked a fundamental question: what should successful town and city centres actually look like in the future?
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Analysis & InsightGame plan: the pub companies betting big on sport
As fans demand more immersive experiences, pub companies are using sport to differentiate venues, increase visits and drive sales beyond the final whistle
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up some of the most anticipated new openigs, including a new concept from the founder of Milk Beach, a rooftop bar in Bloomsbury and a new private dining room from Nieves Barragán and JKS
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Analysis & InsightQSR expansion slows but chicken leads the pack
UK fast-food outlet expansion slowed to 1%, while chicken was the fastest-growing segment, increasing by 6.3% in H1 2026