All MCA Insight articles in June 2020 – Page 2
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InterviewsHonest Burgers co-founder Phillip Eeles: 'Let’s innovate, let’s be nimble, and let’s crack on'
For countless operators across the sector, the extent of their ambition through the coronavirus crisis amounts to one thing – surviving. And rightly so. Faced with a three-month closure and a complete collapse in like-for-likes overnight, even to survive this period would be no mean feat for many businesses. But as co-founder Philip Eeles tells MCA, Honest Burgers isn’t one of them.
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NewsHospitality Leaders Poll: only 50% of operators plan to reopen on 4 July
With just eight days to go, only half of the hospitality industry plans to reopen on 4 July, according to the latest weekly Hospitality Leaders Poll by MCA Insight/HIM. Exactly 50% of respondents to this week’s poll said they would reopen on the 4 July after the date was confirmed on Tuesday by the PM, with 20% still unsure and 30% saying they would not reopen.
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NewsMarston’s focused on the future
Marston’s has said the impact of coronavirus hit sales by £40m. Announcing its interim results, it said sales for the 26 weeks to 28 March dropped to £510.5m compared to £553.1m the year before. Pre-tax profits also dived from £34.2m to £9.4m. However, although it acknowledged that under the circumstance its “initial revenue and earnings profile” was uncertain it was upbeat in its outlook, saying it had “plans in place for pubs to reopen from 4 July, its JV with Carlsberg “significantly” strengthened its balance sheet and of its predominantly freehold pub estate, located outside city centres, 90% has outside space.
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NewsIntu warns administration is “likely”
Intu has said it is likely to appoint administrators. In a statement it said “On 23 June 2020, Intu properties plc provided an update on discussions with key stakeholders to progress its standstill strategy ahead of the revolving credit facility covenant waiver expiry at 11:59 p.m. this evening, 26 June 2020.
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NewsJW Lees launches safety campaign
JW Lees has launched a ‘JW Lees C-19 safe’ campaign to reassure employees and customers that it will provide a safe environment for everyone when it reopens. It said that it was planning to reopen its pubs with “one metre plus” distancing measures which will take place from 4 July to 5 August with “all pubs being individually risk-assessed and applying the ‘JW Lees C-19 safe’ guidelines which we have been busy developing over the last three months.”
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NewsStonegate weighs in with additional support
The Stonegate Pub Company has added further support to its existing package to help its leased and tenanted pubs – known as the Ei Publican Partnerships – to reopen. Now totalling £28m, Stonegate said the package includes rent credit equivalent to 75% for July and 50% for August for “all tied publicans on substantive agreements”. It also said credits have also been applied to “Tie Release Fees and Fixtures & Fittings rental charges and to assist with future cashflow over the next 12 months” and all rent invoices will now be produced weekly instead of monthly or quarterly.
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NewsPlans to promote outdoor dining will boost recovery
The Great British weather permitting, moves to push outdoor dining will be a boost for the beleaguered eating and drinking out industry, UK Hospitality has said. The government has revealed plans to allow more pubs, restaurants and cafes to be able to serve customers outdoors, including a simplification of the licensing process. “Businesses will need all the help they can get to return to healthy trading and protecting jobs, so simplifying the licensing process and reducing red tape will be a great help,” said UK Hospitality CEO Kate Nicholls.
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NewsReopening safely? There is an app for that…
The BBPA has endorsed an app to help pubs carry out the risk assessments contained in the government’s guidance that sets out how they can reopen safely from 4 July. The free app, called iAuditor, should speed up the process of complying with the checklist of guidelines released this week.
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NewsGreene King to open two-thirds of managed estate on 6 July
Greene King is to re-open 1,294 of its managed pubs from Monday 6 July, with the remaining third of the managed estate following in a second phase, the date to be confirmed.
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NewsCrushh appoints former Brakes director as CEO
Crussh, the healthy eating brand and juice bar, has appointed Simon Foster as CEO to lead its re-start and navigate the next stage of development.
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NewsAmazon investment in Deliveroo 'should not have a negative impact on customers'
Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo should be provisionally cleared, because it is not expected to damage competition in either restaurant delivery or online convenience grocery delivery, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found.
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NewsFlight Club to reopen all sites in August
Flight Club will reopen its six sites – four in London, and one in both Birmingham and Manchester – on 1 August.
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NewsOperating guidance: ‘This is exactly what was needed’
As 4 July got closer and closer, there was a sense of mounting nervousness over how the licensed trade was expected to successfully bounce back, if it did not yet know the rules it was supposed to play by.
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InterviewsBoxpark founder Roger Wade: ‘The rent code of practice isn’t worth the paper it’s written on’
After three months of forced closure, to say that a confirmed industry reopening date is a relief would be a severe understatement. But for Boxpark founder Roger Wade, without a resolution on rent, for many operators this relief could be painfully short-lived.
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InterviewsLuke Johnson: ‘This lockdown has been incredibly harmful. We can’t allow it to happen again’
As restaurants, pubs and cafes set about preparing to reopen on 4 July, entrepreneur and investor Luke Johnson discusses what the future of the hospitality sector may look like.
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NewsLegislation planned to relax al fresco dining licensing
Ministers are expected to introduce a new bill in parliament today to temporarily change licensing laws on al fresco dining.
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NewsBrewdog co-founder James Watt: ‘I didn’t think we were going to make it through’
Brewdog co-founder James Watt has revealed that, at the start of the coronavirus crisis, he “simply did not think we were going to make it through.”
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NewsCorbin & King to reopen five restaurants on 4 July
Corbin & King will reopen five of its sites for dinner on 4 July.
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NewsShepherd Neame to reopen two-thirds of estate next month
Shepherd Neame plans to reopen “at least two thirds” of its estate by the end of next month.
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NewsDiageo launches $100m recovery fund
Drinks giant Diageo has launched a $100m fund to help pubs and bars across the globe recover from the coronavirus crisis.