All interviews – Page 47
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InterviewsGerry Ford: ‘A black cloud has been lifted from Caffè Nero’
“We were literally held hostage,” Gerry Ford said of the Issa brothers’ takeover bid, after Caffè Nero refinanced all of its debt, marking a new chapter for the group.
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InterviewsTortilla: ‘We have got a very good pipeline for this year’
The fast-casual Mexican brand has got “a lot of very exciting sites” lined up to open in 2022 and is already building its pipeline for 2023, chief executive Richard Morris has told MCA.
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InterviewsNick Taplin on rolling out brand Marco
Black & White Hospitality has just opened its most ambitious site to date – a 600-cover ‘steak, pizza and gin house’ on London’s Leicester Square. And it’s not stopping there.
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InterviewsPho has ‘ton of whitespace’ for expansion
Managing director Patrick Marrinan told MCA the Vietnamese-inspired brand would up the pace of expansion under TriSpan, but at “sensible numbers”
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InterviewsReal Eating Co: ‘We can cherry-pick some of the better sites’
The Real Eating Company has opened a third London site as it continues to “take a punt” on the capital, MD Helena Hudson told MCA
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InterviewsShaftesbury: ‘You’ll change your mind as I lead you through the streets of London’
The boss of West End landlord Shaftesbury says it is well placed to survive the ravages of the pandemic, The Sunday Times reports
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InterviewsRed Engine: ‘It is like Christmas every day’
The business’ Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venues have experienced “a level of excitement like we have never seen before”, since reopening after lockdown, CEO Steve Moore has told MCA.
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InterviewsUber Eats: ‘We have the best tech and the best team’
Newly appointed UK general manager Matthew Price tells MCA his number one priority is to bring more restaurants onto the platform
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InterviewsFulham Shore: ‘20% pay rise made a massive difference’
The business, which operates Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurants, had “a big issue” with recruitment over the summer months, but an uplift in pay has seen the problem largely disappear, chairman David Page told MCA.
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InterviewsSticks ‘n’ Sushi: ‘Our focus is on bricks and mortar’
The Danish restaurant group is currently looking to add a handful of additional restaurants to its UK estate, CEO Andreas Karlsson told MCA.
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InterviewsJoe & the Juice bids for growth despite the Covid squeeze
The Nordic cafe chain is planning ambitious expansion in the UK and perhaps an IPO – if it can find the staff
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InterviewsKate Nicholls: the woman trying to protect pubs and clubs in a pandemic
As the representative for an industry battered by Covid, she has fought for businesses ‘running on fumes’ – and now Omicron looms
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InterviewsLoungers on elevating Cosy Club
Following Loungers’ half year results, CEO Nick Collins talks to MCA about price elasticity, mobile ordering and elevating the Cosy Club
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InterviewsMarston’s: ‘We’re overexposed to the value market’
Marston’s CEO Andrew Andrea talks to MCA about the omicron variant, the pub company’s strategy to shift its food offer, and the more nimble executive team
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InterviewsPizzaLuxe looking to conquer the travel space
With his PizzaLuxe brand Paul Goodale wants to ‘shift the stigma’ around what restaurants in the travel space can offer, with expansion planned across the UK’s motorway, airport and train network
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InterviewsAdam Stokes: ‘Birmingham is thriving right now’
In the final installment in our Birmingham series, the Adam’s chef-patron talks about the city’s “bold and beautiful” restaurant scene
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InterviewsM&B: ‘There is a lot of scope to expand our delivery offer’
Mitchells & Butlers has explored the launch of virtual brands, but for CEO Phil Urban, “the value will be in the known brands”
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InterviewsArc Inspirations: ‘We are trading our socks off’
In the latest in our Birmingham series, Martin Wolstencroft, CEO, Arc Inspirations, talks to MCA about the company’s recent Manahatta opening and plans for a cluster of sites in the city
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InterviewsNightcap: ‘Margaritas and tacos – what’s not to love?’
CEO Sarah Willingham talks to MCA about the appeal of tequila, and other consumer trends in the late-night space
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InterviewsMission Mars: ‘We are so excited by Birmingham’
In the latest installment of MCA’s series on Birmingham, Mission Mars director Neil Macleod talks about bringing Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza and Albert’s Schloss to the city