All MCA Insight articles in January 2020

View all stories from this issue.

  • Coco-di-Mama
    Interviews

    Steve Holmes: ‘We have scenarios coming out of our ears’

    2021-01-28T08:35:00Z

    The inability to effectively plan for the long-term is an issue that has blighted restaurant operators during the pandemic, but an Easter reopening makes the most sense to work to, says Steve Holmes, CEO at Azzurri Group.

  • Loungers
    Interviews

    Nick Collins: ‘Opportunities won’t sway our strategy’

    2021-01-28T08:33:00Z

    The inevitable increase in high-footfall site opportunities following the pandemic will not change Loungers’ established property strategy, CEO Nick Collins has said.

  • British pub
    News

    Demand for rural and coastal pubs on the up

    2021-01-27T08:32:00Z

    Investor appetite for pubs remains healthy with many buyers undeterred by the impact of the pandemic, according to Christie & Co’s Outlook 2021 report.

  • Pizza Express
    Interviews

    Zoe Bowley: ‘We are fully energised to seize opportunities’

    2021-01-27T08:31:00Z

    Following what can only be described as a transformational 2020, Pizza Express is primed and ready for the next stage of its growth, according to MD Zoe Bowley.

  • Hawksmoor Edinburgh
    Interviews

    Will Beckett: ‘We have tried to do optimistic realism’

    2021-01-27T08:31:00Z

    Hawksmoor CEO Will Becket has described a decision to lay of staff as the pandemic worsened as “the worst day of my professional life”.

  • GettyImages-1014227772
    News

    Freehold pub values down 35%

    2021-01-27T08:30:00Z

    Average freehold pub prices have fallen by 34.7% post-coronavirus, according to Fleurets’ Survey of Pub Prices 2020.

  • Cosmo interior
    News

    Cosmo secures three new sites

    2020-01-31T08:06:00Z

    Cosmo, the all-you-can eat buffet concept, has secured three new sites, MCA understands.

  • Vita Mojo
    News

    Houghton consulting with Vita Mojo and City Pantry

    2020-01-31T08:05:00Z

    Chilango co-founder Dan Houghton is working with Vita Mojo and City Pantry on a consultant basis after stepping down from co-leading the burrito brand.

  • Dirty Vegan
    News

    Dirty Bones launches Dirty Vegan at Westfield London

    2020-01-31T08:05:00Z

    Dirty Bones, the NYC comfort food concept known for its meat-centric menu, has launched a spin-off vegan restaurant.

  • All Star Lanes
    News

    Cook made CEO of All Star Lanes

    2020-01-31T08:05:00Z

    All Star Lanes managing director Graham Cook has been promoted to CEO of the boutique bowling concept.

  • News

    Searcys festive sales up 2.5%

    2020-01-31T08:04:00Z

    Restaurant operator and events caterer Searcys has reported festive sales up 2.5% year on year.

  • Hostech-home
    News

    Côte proposes industry-wide order-and-pay solution

    2020-01-31T08:03:00Z

    Côte CFO Strahan Wilson proposed an industry-wide open-access solution to the problems faced by in-restaurant payment and ordering apps at MCA’s HOSTECH event this week.

  • Bababoom
    News

    Bababoom: ‘People aren’t rebelling against chains, they’re rebelling against bad value’

    2020-01-31T08:03:00Z

    Having established two profitable restaurants, and raised close to a million pounds in crowdfunded investment, Eve Bugler is ready to take Bababoom to a prime site London. 

  • Hickory's Gresty Green
    News

    Hickory’s to accelerate roll out as sales grow

    2020-01-31T08:03:00Z

    Hickory’s Smokehouse has reported a substantial sales uplift for the year ended 30 April 2019.

  • Boulters Lock on the River Thames in Berkshire, Peach Pubs
    News

    Peach sells four freeholds

    2020-01-30T11:16:00Z

    The Peach Pub Company has sold the freeholds of four of its pubs.

  • Vegan food
    News

    The rising tide of responsible consumption

    2020-01-30T08:49:00Z

    Having spent at least part of my formative years in the 1980s, I remember being struck by one descriptor of this largely buoyant and aspirational period as a time of ‘conspicuous consumption’. Rising materialism and displays of wealth were very much in vogue for those who could afford to flaunt it. Fast forwarding to the 2020s, however, and things are very different. A strong early tip for a decade defining label must be ‘responsible consumption’. This has of course, many guises, including rising plant-based diets, reducing alcohol intakes and adopting more sustainable behaviours. All of these are being tracked within MCA’s Hot Topics consumer research programme.

  • Fullers
    News

    Fullers hails “Year of Change”

    2020-01-30T08:34:00Z

    Fullers has said sales were up 4.3% for the six weeks over Christmas and New Year, and 2.5% for the 42 weeks to 18 January 2020. Food, drink and accommodation all delivered like for like growth. However, tenanted like for like profits were down 3%.

  • Yumpingo
    News

    Yumpingo raises $10m

    2020-01-30T08:30:00Z

    Yumpingo has raised $10m in a Series A investment with London-based VC Smedvig Capital. At the same time, Keith Taylor, CFO of Equinix, and Mike Ryan, CEO of Bullet Point Network, and previously partner and head of global equity products at Goldman Sachs, will join the Yumpingo board.

  • Everards
    News

    Everards sales up 3.5%

    2020-01-30T08:26:00Z

    Everards has reported sales are up 3.5% on last year, for the year ending 30 September 2019. It also said group EBITDA of £5.9m was 1% ahead of the previous year reflecting “good trading performance and a reduction in overheads”. It also said pre-tax profits and non-recurring items of £2.1m was behind the prior year “primarily as a result of an increase in interest charges associated with the Group’s refinancing”.

  • McDonald’s
    News

    McDonald’s plans 60 new openings in 2020

    2020-01-30T08:17:00Z

    McDonald’s UK CEO Paul Pomroy has committed to investing £1 billion in McDonald’s UK estate over the next three years, including opening 60 new restaurants in 2020. Speaking after global sales rose 5.9%, Pomroy said 2019 was a “successful year for the UK and Ireland business, and it is testament to our people and franchisees that we have delivered continued strong growth during a tough time for the retail sector. In 2020 we remain committed to continuing investment in the areas driving our growth - our supply chain, our people and our restaurant experience, so over the next three years £1 billion will be invested to ensure we can continue to focus on what matters most - customers, food, value, service and convenience.