All Opinion articles
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OpinionPizza Hut Restaurants’ slow slide into irrelevance
Shifting consumer preferences, increased competition, and an uninspiring product were no doubt factors in the brand’s latest round of closures, even if being fashionable was never part of Pizza Hut’s ambition
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OpinionRestaurants need to start seeing service charge the same way diners do
Gaucho insists broadening its tronc scheme to cover a wider breadth of staff will offer an ‘equitable distribution’ of service payments, but diners aren’t going to see it that way
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OpinionGaming mogul follows in late mentor’s footsteps
Dominic Walsh charts the parallels between former Scottish & Newcastle director Trevor Hemmings, and new Preston North End chairman Ian Penrose, as well as Sir Tim Martin’s international franchise plans for Wetherspoons
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OpinionTransforming Côte is going to require a little je ne sais quoi
Karali Group has built a solid footing in the QSR and fast casual space, but taking on high street brassiere brand Côte is a whole new challenge
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OpinionNo longer cheap as chips – QSR embraces the £5 meal deal
Amid a clamour for customers, more and more QSR operators are introducing their own meal deals all pitched around the same price point in a hopeful bid to demonstrate value
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OpinionMeat and two veg: the changing face of our food
Despite environmental arguments, the move away from meat-based diets is not a straight forward one for many consumers. David Read, founder of Prestige Purchasing examines the changing role of animal protein in the UK and what the future could look like
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OpinionWill Velvet Taco’s move into the UK be a smooth one?
The US brand, known for its vast range of globally inspired tacos, is landing soon on these shores. But its success is far from a given
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OpinionFrom farm to fork: why provenance is the next frontier for London dining
For restaurants and other food operators, there is a growing opportunity to meet consumer demand for sustainable dining, while at the same time contributing to the wider net zero journey and building a more resilient food system
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OpinionValue strikes back: the new era of restaurant discounts
Discounting once defined UK casual dining before largely being phased out in the 2010s. Now, with affordability in focus, value-led offers are returning in new and more targeted forms
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OpinionMore room at the inn: observations on current pub sector M&A
Prospective buyers in the UK’s pub sector are increasingly focused on what the transaction can do for their existing business, AlixPartners’ director Craig Rachel writes in MCA
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OpinionFruity bonuses at ’Spoons
MCA columnist Dominic Walsh delves into the enhanced fruit machine takings in pubs, the ordeal of dealing with charmless CEOs, and the late former Four Seasons MD Ramon Pajares
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OpinionThe Ozempic effect: why smaller portions are reshaping London’s menus
‘Small appetite menus’ may soon become as common as gluten-free or plant-based options, offered without stigma and embraced as a standard part of menu design, Ted Schama, founder of One Voice Hospitality writes for MCA
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OpinionTechnology will transform every hospitality business – and sooner than you think
AI, robotics and biotechnology will soon deliver vast and profound change in the hospitality sector, David Read, founder and chairman of Prestige Purchasing, writes
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OpinionThe Pizza Pilgrims deal is an exciting move for the industry’s much-loved journeymen
The acquisition of Pizza Pilgrims by McWin-backed brand L’Osteria is a huge deal for founders James and Thom Elliot. All eyes will be on what it does next
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OpinionRates and VAT reform needed now to stem 'staggering' job losses
The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington laments hospitality job losses since the Budget, and calls for a much needed shot in the arm for the sector
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OpinionEmotional intelligence: The new frontier in guest experiences
Increasingly, the most memorable guest experiences are not defined by luxury amenities or flawless execution, but by emotional resonance, moments of empathy, recognition, and genuine human connection
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OpinionDynamic David Page scouts around for acquisition targets
MCA columnist Dominic Walsh hears the incoming Bow Street Group chairman is looking at Algarve grilled chicken concept Casa do Frango; a “cooler version” of Gail’s bakeries called Lockdown Bakehouse; and Pasture, a small chain of upmarket steak houses
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OpinionThe race to the bottom in the retail sector, and how it’s harming your business
It’s not just the government that’s squeezing the life out of hospitality, David Read, founder and chairman of Prestige Purchasing suggests
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OpinionIt’s not woke to worry about well-being
Companies looking to grow rather than contract are increasingly focussing on hanging onto the people they have, with staff retention becoming a proven indicator of corporate health, Peter Martin writes
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OpinionStylish Busaba lives to fight another day
The 26-year-old restaurant group has been bought out of administration at a time of heightened interest for Thai cuisine, Stefan Chomka writes