All MCA Insight articles in October 2019 – Page 6
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Analysis & InsightCoffer Peach Tracker up 1.2% in September
Managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales grow 1.2% last month, according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.
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OpinionWhy Pizza Express is worth saving
There are many theories why Pizza Express, the largest casual dining chain in the UK with 490 sites, has slid into such a massive pile of debt.
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OpinionAlixPartners: Cause for cautious optimism
The M&A market for UK restaurant operators remains cautious, with distressed situations making up the majority of activity. However, several high-profile transactions completed in 2019, with investors still willing to pay a premium price in certain circumstances, says AlixPartners’ Graeme Smith
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Analysis & Insight
Fish prices rise after quota changes
Fish prices have risen again following changes to quotas, CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index reveals.
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NewsChick-fil-A makes UK debut in Reading
Chick-fil-A has made its UK debut in Reading’s The Oracle, taking on the former Miami Burger unit.
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News
Senor Cerviche sells Fitzrovia site
Senor Cerviche has sold its Fitzrovia site to Mediterranean concept Ampἑli.
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NewsWasabi appoints Birts CEO
Wasabi, the sushi and bento chain, has appointed Henry Birts, formerly of Pizza Hut, as its new CEO.
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NewsBlack Sheep Coffee posts losses of £5.3m
Black Sheep coffee made losses of £5.3m in 2018, an increase from £2.8m in 2017, as the group invests in scaling up and adding new sites.
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NewsBile-ridden, rude and downright nasty
I have previously used this column to express my astonishment at the extraordinary level of abuse aimed at Jamie Oliver over the failure of his UK restaurant business.
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NewsWhy is alcohol down and soft drink up?
There are plenty of caustic comments in existence about the merits of statistics. One of my personal favourites is: “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp posts, for support rather than for illumination”. For this reason, I am wary of noting that consumer research findings for the first ...
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NewsPizza Express: someone has got to take a hit somewhere
The appointment of financial advisors this week shone a fresh spotlight on the precarious situation at Pizza Express. The celebrity figureheads at Jamie’s Italian and Carluccio’s had already put their crises into the public consciousness, yet the prospect of Pizza Express facing the same woes is an even bigger moment. The brand is credited with creating the concept of casual dining and is the UK’s biggest and most enduringly popular restaurant brand with 490 sites.
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NewsSimply Fresh to open two more food halls
Simply Fresh, the upmarket grocery retailer, is launching two new food halls, following a debut of the concept in Stretford, Greater Manchester.
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NewsManchester: a star to emulate
So Manchester has it’s first Michelin star, after a wait of over 40 years. Does it matter? Well, it sort of does. For many in the city, it’s the final piece of the jigsaw. Manchester has over the years cemented its reputation for vibrant night-life, music, sport and even tourism. Only a few weeks ago it overtook Edinburgh as the most visited tourist spot outside of London, according to figures from Expedia Group. It already has a thriving eating and drinking-out culture. Going-out is in the North West’s DNA.
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NewsProfits down at Pret A Manger but sales up
Pre-tax profits at Pret fell from £64.9m to £48.8m for the year ending 3 January 2019, a drop of 25%. However, sales were up 12% to £710m compared to £636.7m the year before. The business said Pret planned to continue delivering consistent like for like growth by focusing on innovating its menu, growth of day-parts, increased brand awareness, operations and expansion.
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News
Walter departs Various Eateries
Various Eateries CEO Sue Walter has left the Coppa Club and Strada operator, MCA understands.
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NewsCalorie cap is impractical and unfair says UK Hospitality
UK Hospitality has said any proposed calorie cap for out-of-home eating and drinking is a “knee-jerk, impractical and unfair measure”. It follows a report by the chief medical officer which contains proposals aimed at tackling childhood obesity, including a calorie cap per serving of food and drink and a review of VAT rates on food and drink. “A blanket cap on calories for all portions of food and drink consumed out-of-home sounds like a knee-jerk, impractical and unfair measure,” said UK Hospitality CEO Kate Nicholls.
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NewsBranded restaurant market – green shoots of recovery?
Turning tables is a long-established practice in the restaurant market, albeit perhaps one more commonly associated with times of more buoyant trading than those currently prevailing. Highlighting just how fast the fortune tables can turn in this market, I was fascinated by some recent MCA analysis looking at physical growth by branded restaurant chains across different portfolio sizes. This year, the estate bracket sub-category that is anticipated to add the most net new sites will be ‘small’ operators.
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NewsBlack Sheep investors join the board
Black Sheep Coffee investors Jacob Schram and Bill Schultz have joined the board of the group’s parent company Conilon, MCA understands.
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NewsAlbert Bartlett to save Spudulike
Albert Bartlett has reopened eight Spudulike outlets and slashed prices. The potato giant moved in to revive the Spudulike brand in Livingston, Manchester, York, Glasgow, Greenhithe, Norwich, Bridgend and Leeds. A total of 37 stores originally closed down in August. A statement on its website read: “We’re excited to announce that Spudulike is back. If you’d been missing your favourite baked potato fix, you can now find us again at selected shopping centres across the UK.
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NewsMeat Liquor and Franco Manca set to take over the former Jamie Oliver site in Piccadilly
Meat Liquor and Franco Manca are in advanced talks to take over the former Jamie Oliver site in London’s Piccadilly, according to Big Hospitality. Franco Manca is set to take the ground floor while Meat Liquor will open on the two floors above, with 90 covers in total, plus a 60-cover cocktail bar. It will also operate a covered rooftop bar.