All Las Iguanas articles – Page 2
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NewsCasual Dining Group appoints administrators
Casual Dining Group, which operates brands including Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge, has appointed administrators. It said 91 sites would close with immediate effect causing a number of redundancies. The business said in today’s “extreme operating environment it is in the best interests of all stakeholders for the Group to enter administration, to enable the Group to conclude negotiations with landlords regarding the estate.”
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NewsCDG in sales talks having received “strong expressions of interest”
Casual Dining Group is in preliminary sales talks with multiple parties having “received strong expressions of interest.”
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NewsCDG in restructuring talks
Causal Dining Group is in talks with advisory firm Alixpartners about a financial restructuring to secure the business through the coronavirus crisis.
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Analysis & InsightSteve Gotham: Turning up the heat and other NPD delights
New product development (NPD) is rightly recognised as a lifeblood for the eating out industry, and MCA’s Menu Tracker offers insights into the latest menu trends and influences across 150 leading operators. This review only serve as a taster, but the three courses have each been accompanied with three key summary insights.
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NewsBababoom: ‘People aren’t rebelling against chains, they’re rebelling against bad value’
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.
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NewsHow can tech ease the customer journey?
Greggs, Leon and Wagamama are just the latest to join the self-ordering revolution, with the latter’s new grab and go concept Mamago one of the most hotly discussed openings of last year. To share their early exeperiences and more, MCA brought together marketing, IT and digital leaders from across the sector to consider how new technology can help, and sometimes hinder, the customer experience
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NewsLas Iguanas scoops employees’ choice award
Las Iguanas has won Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognising the Best Places to Work in 2020.
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NewsGunwharf Quays – Restaurant and retail therapy a plenty!
With more than 30 bars, cafés and restaurants (as well as over 90 shops) Gunwharf Quays offers an abundance of opportunities for plenty of remedial treatment. Supported by its impressive waterfront location, attractive design and assorted leisure-related reasons to visit, Gunwharf Quays is one of the UK’s finest outlet shopping centres. So amongst some Christmas shopping, I was keen to see how it is using its extensive assortment of Food & Beverage purveyors to both restore weary shoppers as well as to act as a footfall driver in its own right. But also, and more critically, I was keener to see some something new and surprising.
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NewsLas Iguanas to push forward with UK expansion
Up to five new UK sites per year could be on the cards for Las Iguanas, as it looks to expand despite rising costs and stiff competition, according to The Times.
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OpinionTurtle Bay: ‘We keep away from industry noise’
Turtle Bay has had a quiet two years, but with reinforcements to the senior team and turnover approaching £70m, the Caribbean social concept looks to be making moves for a sale. In a rare interview, founder Ajith Jayawickrema explains how the bar and restaurant brand has the potential for 100 sites – but not necessarily under his stewardship.
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News
CDG appoints trio of brand directors
Casual Dining Group (CDG) has appointed brand directors at Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and Café Rouge as it restructures its senior team formation.
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Analysis & InsightBrandwatch: Turtle Bay
The Piper-backed Caribbean restaurant operator has arguably flown under the radar for longer than other casual dining brands. Now, having grown to 42 sites in the UK, MCA’s Georgi Gyton takes a look at the performance of the group and examines current consumer sentiment.
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NewsMos Shamel steps down as Las Iguanas MD
Casual Dining Group (CDG) has confirmed that Mos Shamel is to step down as managing director of Las Iguanas after 16 years at the helm.
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NewsLevi Roots closes single Westfield Stratford site
Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse, the casual dining concept fronted by the Dragon’s Den star, has closed its single site in Westfield Stratford.
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News
'Are you strong enough to withstand an unbranded attack? I hope so.'
Operators concerned about delivery platforms using their data to create their own virtual restaurants should focus instead on ensuring they have a strong enough brand to compete, Chilango co-founder Dan Houghton has told MCA.
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NewsLas Iguanas reduces level of complimentary meals by 25%
Las Iguanas has reduced the number of fully complimentary meals by 25% over a two-year period, by using feedback software.
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OpinionCoronation street
For any company succession planning is an absolute priority but for founder-led businesses it can present particular challenges. How can you ever replace a founder and how should they be involved in the process? MCA editor James Wallin talks to recruitment experts to get their view on the pitfalls of managing succession. They discuss what the sector can learn from examples such as Loungers as well as examining a high-profile internal promotion yesterday, in James Spragg’s succession to chief executive at Casual Dining Group.
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OpinionA no-brainer of sorts
In his latest monthly column Dominic Walsh digests the news of Steve Richards’ departure from Casual Dining Group with mixed emotions although concluding, after some consideration, that it makes sense. He goes on to ponder the future of Fuller’s following its boardroom shake-up.
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Analysis & Insight'Don’t label your plant-based dishes as meat-free'
An increasing number of consumers are opting for vegetarian and vegan dishes, with operators following the trend and adding them to menus across the sector. But how do you ensure they have broad ranging appeal, and don’t just appear as part of a tick-box exercise? MCA’s sister title Food Spark took a look at the research around what actually sells.
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Analysis & InsightBig no longer beautiful among casual restaurant brands?
Are the days of restaurant brands growing to 100+ sites really over? MCA’s market insight director, Steve Gotham, takes a look at what can be learnt from the chains that have already surpassed this milestone and who has the potential to be the next centurion of casual dining.