All interviews – Page 35
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InterviewsCaffè Nero: ‘Our partnerships show the demand for our brand’
Following £150m in sales in the half-year to November 2022, group CEO Gerry Ford speaks to MCA about expansion through other sales channels
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InterviewsHawksmoor: ‘Being sustainable is both a responsibility and an opportunity’
In the first of a series of articles profiling the finalists in the Sustainability category, sponsored by Pernod Ricard, at the Retailers’ Retailer Awards, MCA speaks to Hawksmoor about the importance of doing the right thing
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InterviewsKaleido Rolls aims for 25 sites in 2025
The salad roll concept will expand its UK estate by c20 sites within three years, and also launch internationally in Amsterdam, CEO Laura Mimoun tells MCA
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InterviewsChestnut Group ready for bigger transactions
The East Anglian operator has several opportunities in the pipeline with a strengthened finance team ready for growth, CEO Philip Turner tells MCA
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Interviews800° Degrees Pizza targets London neighbourhoods
The US pizzeria plans to open a further two sites in London within the next three months, with the aim of expanding its estate in neighbourhoods, CEO Tommy Lee tells MCA
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InterviewsCity Pub Company: 2023 to see 'return of the city'
Executive chairman Clive Watson speaks to MCA about strong Q4 trading, organic growth and selective acquisitions for controlled expansion
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InterviewsPapa Johns: ‘We are setting out the roadmap for the next five years’
Under a revamped management team and new business plan, the pizza brand is exploring new channels and formats including pizza by the slice, senior director of operations Lee Reed tells MCA
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InterviewsRevolution Bars: ‘We will look to expand when the time is right’
The pub and bar operator has a strong pipeline in place but remains focused on integrating Peach Pubs into the company in the short term, CEO Rob Pitcher tells MCA
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InterviewsOakman: ‘The pace of our growth is being restricted’
The group is keen to capitalise on the “best pipeline it’s ever had”, but is being hamstrung by the lack of availability of good equity or debt deals
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InterviewsCaffè Nero: ‘We need to remain focused on quality’
Despite a noticeable contraction in consumers’ disposable income, founder and group CEO Gerry Ford believes the coffee shop’s offering needs to be premium.
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InterviewsInception Group sees record Christmas trading
The experiential venue operator saw 2022 turnover pass 2019 levels, and is in negotiations to open further London sites, founder Charlie Gilkes tells MCA
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InterviewsGiggling Squid: ‘We’re trading way ahead of pre-Covid’
After reporting a turnover of £65.9m for the year to April 2022, trading has stayed resilient through a challenging environment, MD Andy Laurillard tells MCA
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InterviewsMcMullen’s: ‘There is a lot to look forward to in 2023’
The 130-strong brewer has built up its proposition post-pandemic, with sales hitting new records over the festive season, joint MD Heydon Mizon tells mMCA
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InterviewsJW Lees: ‘The cost of electricity is devastating our business’
William Lees-Jones, MD at the North West brewer, speaks to MCA about festive trading and his optimism despite a challenging year ahead
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InterviewsRaz Helalat: ‘I don’t like operating in safe mode’
The Brighton-based Black Rock Restaurants isn’t letting one of the bumpiest restaurant launches in recent memory interfere with its expansion plans
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InterviewsUber Eats ‘as strong as ever’
UK general manager Matthew Price says moves by Honest Burgers, Joe & The Juice and PizzaExpress’ to join Uber Eats is a “vote of confidence” in the platform.
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InterviewsLiberation/Cirrus merger gives group ‘critical scale’
CEO Jonathan Lawson tells MCA the deal has many strategic benefits for the combined group, and how it can flex its offering as it enters London
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InterviewsHawksmoor: ‘A bit of boring predictability wouldn’t go amiss’
The steakhouse restaurant group will look to follow up its New York City site with a second American outpost in 2024
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InterviewsInvestor view: ‘Moving into retail is not for the faint hearted’
For operators looking to expand into the retail channel it’s important to very clear about your proposition, “and don’t let people muck you around”, Robin Rowland, partner, TriSpan has warned.
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InterviewsHopes and reflections: Views from the top (part 5)
As the hospitality sector comes to the end of another year filled with unprecedented challenges, we asked sector leaders to share their highs and lows of 2022 and hopes for the New Year. Today’s fifth and final instalment features comment from Oakman and Hawksmoor