All interviews – Page 52
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InterviewsJason Clark: ‘Delivery is now an essential channel for us’
McDonald’s scaled-up its delivery offer during the pandemic, with 15% of total customers now coming to the brand through the channel, said Jason Clark, senior vice president and chief operations officer at McDonald’s UK & Ireland.
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InterviewsRoger Whiteside: ‘No question’ transport hubs will recover
Transport hubs still present a great opportunity, even if only half as busy as at previous levels, CEO Roger Whiteside has said.
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InterviewsPret to launch consumer app
Pret CEO Pano Christou has revealed the launch of a consumer app is one the things he is looking forward to most at the business in 2021.
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InterviewsNando’s: ‘We had to adapt really quickly to the challenges of 2020’
No stranger to award wins, Nando’s was recognised for its constant innovation with the Best Company accolade at MCA’s Retailer’s Retailer Awards last week.
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InterviewsBrewDog: Never underestimate incredible people
Like much of the industry, BrewDog was faced with the biggest crisis it had ever experienced in March 2020.
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InterviewsScott Matthews: ‘Business in London is going to be slower to come back’
CG Restaurants is anticipating that it will take much longer for sales at its London sites to bounce back compared with its regional locations.
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InterviewsAlex Reilley calls for acceleration of reopening
Loungers chairman Alex Reilley is hopeful that with falling infection numbers, there will be growing calls for an acceleration of the reopening roadmap.
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InterviewsJon Lake: ‘The crisis has created opportunities for QSR’
The closure of dine-in throughout the pandemic has caused potential franchise partners to show enhanced interest in quick service restaurant operations, and created additional opportunities for businesses looking to expand, Chopstix managing director Jon Lake has said.
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InterviewsKris Gumbrell: ‘Our spend per head increased by £9’
Brewhouse & Kitchen saw spend per head increase by £9, on average, following the introduction of its mobile order and pay app.
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InterviewsKris Gumbrell: ‘People will churn the bottom of their estates for cash’
“I don’t foresee good quality managed houses becoming available any time in the near future,” Kris Gumbrell, chief executive, Brewhouse & Kitchen told listeners to MCA’s The Conversation.
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InterviewsNando’s: Tech is now fundamental to the customer experience
Nando’s is a company that has historically preferred to let its service do the talking.
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InterviewsSean Donkin: ‘Profit-seekers are running out of puff’
The Inn Collection Group saw a year of record growth in 2020. Throughout the year, the Alchemy-backed business acquired eight freehold properties, bringing its total estate to 19 sites, and managing director Sean Donkin tells MCA that it was able to grow so aggressively because of one major contributing factor: the pandemic. “It has enabled us to focus on acquiring new sites and made additional opportunities available,” he says. “But it’s not necessarily because of people going under, it’s people running out of puff and fight”.
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InterviewsMatt Snell: Furlough costs Gusto £50k a month
The furlough scheme is a benefit for employees, rather than businesses, and must be understood as such, MCA’s The Conversation has heard.
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InterviewsCamile Thai: ‘We’ll be the Domino’s of Thai food’
Camile Thai founder Brody Sweeney is looking to fill a very specific gap in the market.
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InterviewsNando’s: ‘We’ve seen our business fundamentally change’
When Nando’s head of platform Kate Boyle thinks about the future, she sees a business able to deliver its offer to customers wherever and whenever they want it.
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InterviewsHero Award: ‘The calmest head in the choppiest sea’
At the start of the pandemic, there was understandably lots of anxiety among staff at Giggling Squid, who were put on furlough.
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InterviewsPizzaExpress: Tech should enhance, not dictate experiences
Digital channels should enhance rather than replace traditional operating models, PizzaExpress IT director Siobhan Fagan has said.
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InterviewsHero Award: ‘It’s about taking leadership when few others could’
As part of the new Hero Award category at the Retailers’ Retailer Awards, MCA is profiling five senior managers who have gone above and beyond in steering their business through the crisis. Adelle Taylor of Cote Restaurants was awarded Highly Commended in the category following voting by a panel of judges.
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InterviewsDavid Fox: ‘Hospitality is a key employer of the marginalised, it must be protected’
Hospitality plays a key role in the employment and development of young people and marginalised groups, and this must be communicated in our lobbying efforts, Tampopo director David Fox has said.
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InterviewsHow Azzurri is mapping out its digital future
Joining Azzurri from Sainsbury’s in 2019, Joel Robinson was brought in to elevate the conversation around digital at the group. After the wild ride of 2020, the IT and tech director considers the value of partnerships, building solutions in-house, and the holy grail of creating a single customer view.