All MCA Insight articles in October 2022
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsBoston Tea Party FD steps down
Julie Centracchio has stepped down as finance director at the 25-strong cafe group
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NewsMCA’s Omnichannel Conference to take place on 7 December
Speakers include Leon MD Glenn Edwards, Itsu UK CEO Ganan Kanagathurai and PizzaExpress MD Zoe Bowley.
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InterviewsSessions: ‘We don’t identify as a food hall business’
Speaking at MCA and BigHospitality’s Generation Next event, Sessions food director Olivia Reid spoke about the future of food halls and claiming the intersection between brand and operator
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NewsChopstix partners with Butlin’s
The Asian QSR brand has teamed up with UK holiday resort operator Butlin’s to open a site at Bognor Regis next year, with further openings planned.
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NewsPaul UK looking to introduce café format
The French bakery chain is looking at converting some of its traditional format sites to the Paul le Café format, CEO Mark Hilton told MCA.
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NewsThird of UK hospitality firms risk going out of business
The joint survey by hospitality trade bodies showed that 35% of hospitality members were expecting to operate at a loss or be unviable by the end of the year with 96% experiencing higher energy costs
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OpinionWhere will the government draw the line on energy support?
Businesses looking to the government for support beyond April will need to put forward a compelling, evidence-based case, Mary Starks, partner at business consultants Flint Global writes for MCA
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NewsNeat Burger to expand in Middle East
The vegan burger brand, supported by Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio, will open a franchise location in The Dubai Mall later this week.
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NewsThai Leisure looking to the future ‘with confidence’
The group exited its CVA in June 2022 – three months earlier than anticipated and has seen strong trading in the current financial year.
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NewsUKH makes energy guidance available to all
The trade body has made the guidance, previously only available to members, public, in the wake of the “extraordinary high prices” hospitality businesses are facing this winter.
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NewsFranco Manca appoints new marketing director
Sorrel Ward joined the Fulham Shore owned pizza restaurant operator this month, from her previous role as head of marketing at The City Pub Group.
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Analysis & InsightLondon’s best restaurants are embracing ugly food
From brown stews to beef tongue, the best thing you eat this winter might be the least photogenic, according to GQ
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NewsRail misery even on no-strike days as driver shortage bites
Lives are blighted and the economy is suffering while union disputes and the Covid fallout drive cancellations, The Sunday Times reports
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Analysis & Insight'It was more than a pub'
Squeezed by the pandemic, staff shortages, redevelopment and a cost of living crisis, pubs across the country are shutting in droves. The Guardian speaks to five landlords who have recently had to call time for good,
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Analysis & InsightTaxes must rise to plug £40bn black hole in budget
There’s limited scope for further spending cuts so the PM and chancellor must surely look to higher taxation to repair damage done by the mini-budget, the Observer reports
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OpinionDine out at 6pm? I’d rather not, thank you
Restaurants are buzzing earlier and earlier. The FT’s Tim Hayward makes a principled case for the late boozy dinner
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Analysis & InsightAverage lunch spend drops 20% year-on-year
Average spend at lunch and dinner dropped by 20% and 12% respectively, while visit frequency is down 3%, according to Lumina Intelligence’s new Restaurant Market Report
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InterviewsMarugame Udon: ‘We want to get to everyone in the UK’
As the Japanese udon specialist scales up European expansion plans, CEO Keith Bird speaks to MCA about opening 150 stores by 2027 and bringing udon to all
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NewsBattersea Power Station aims to offer something for everyone
The new venue has a curated F&B offer to balance all price points and palates, head of leasing Sam Cotton tells MCA
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ArticleNovember 2022
MCA’s November edition features in-depth analysis and commentary on the eating and drinking out sector, including how operators are dealing with current cost pressures, and commentary on Greene King’s acquisition of Hickory’s – and what the deal could mean for both sides. There are big interviews with Alasdair Murdoch, CEO, Burger King UK and Marston’s CEO Andrew Andrea, as well as Wimpy, Banana Tree and Cooks Coffee Company. The edition also features extensive coverage of MCA’s recent Restaurant Conference, which featured former PizzaExpress CEO David Campbell, McDonald’s COO Gareth Pearson and Caravan founder group CEO Laura Harper-Hinton on the bill. There is insight from Lumina Intelligence on the clever menu hacks operators are using to mitigate ingredient price rises and opinion from MCA’s regular industry commentators: Peter Martin, Dominic Walsh and David Read, covering the continued lure of London as a place for brands to invest, a critique of Revolution Bar Group’s acquisition of Peach Pubs and the importance of leadership and innovation. To view the November edition, please click here.