All Opinion articles – Page 20
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OpinionMarston’s: ‘It’s been tougher this year.’
Marston’s had a strong start to the year, but-like-for like growth has been hampered in recent weeks by the freak comparative of last year. Following a trading update CEO Ralph Findlay talks to MCA about why the pubco is putting its £70m new-build programme on ice, investing in its premium and wet-led estate, and what he calls a lager summer.
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OpinionAnalysts corner: Marston’s
Following Marston’s trading update for the 42 weeks to 20 July 2019, leading analysts from JP Morgan, Peel Hunt, Liberum and Goodbody share their reactions to the figures, which have been described as “slightly disappointing” in Q3.
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OpinionStonegate: ‘It’s a great story for the high street’
Stonegate’s latest acquisition sees it become the UK’s biggest pub operator with the £3bn takeover of Ei Group. CEO Simon Longbottom speaks to MCA about its track record of acquisitions and investment, experience in leased and tenanted pubs, and why the deal is a vote of confidence in a pub sector.
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OpinionLearning from the principles of Japanese interior design
David Chenery of Object Space Place, delves into the deeper principles in Japanese interior design and how this thinking can translate into design for hospitality.
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OpinionShored up: Franco Manca bounces back
Italian casual dining is still dangerously overexposed, but Franco Manca has bucked the trend of consolidation and CVAs with its razor-sharp focus on food, service and value. After posting a year of growth and promising a new expansion drive, MCA’s Finn Scott-Delany speaks to Fulham Shore chairman David Page.
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OpinionIndustry ’needs to do more’ on obesity
At last month’s Directors Club, held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, Duncan Selbie sparked off a lively discussion by calling on the the UK eating out sector to do more to help the public tackle the obesity epidemic. In this open letter to MCA readers, he explains why.
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OpinionDeliveroo exclusive: What’s in it for Pret?
An exclusive partnership between Pret and Deliveroo will see delivery available from an initial 120 stores in the UK, ahead of a wider rollout. MCA’s Finn Scott-Delany looks into the motivations behind the deal and asks what it says about Pret’s strategy.
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OpinionDominic Walsh: A tale of three leaders
In the latest of his monthly columns, Dominic Walsh takes a look at the conduct, successes and failures of several high-profile figures in the sector, and shares a story of an unfortunate seating arrangement at the tennis.
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OpinionLiving subculture
Going from a gazebo on Soho’s Berwick Street to a bricks and mortar site in the City, Sub Cult founders Ben Chancellor and Gareth Phillips reflect on their brand’s burgeoning popularity. James McAllister reports.
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OpinionPatty & Bun: 'Complacency is death'
Joe Grossman’s London-centric chain Patty & Bun is responding to challenges in the premium burger market with two new concepts and the launch of several vegan dishes, as Restaurant magazine’s Joe Lutrario finds out.
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OpinionLeap of faith
The difference between punk idealists BrewDog and Chapel Down’s Curious Brewery is not quite as vast as one might believe. Gareth Bath explains what’s happening with his new calling. The Morning Advertiser’s Stuart Stone reports.
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OpinionAnalysts corner: Greene King
Following the brewer and pub operator’s full year results announcement yesterday, leading analysts from Liberum, Peel Hunt and Hargreaves Lansdown give their views on what the results mean.
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OpinionYour next deal: five ways to prepare from Day 1
After completing a private equity deal, going back to day to day business as usual would be a mistake. Founders should start preparing for a profitable exit from day one, writes Paul Morris, head of growth advisory at BDO
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OpinionHarts Group: madmen or visionaries?
Last year Harts Group opened four venues at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. Despite lower than expected footfall at the development, the group has doubled down with a fifth, Parrillan. So are the trio behind it madmen or visionaries? Restaurant magazine editor Stefan Chomka reports.
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OpinionNorthern soul
Liverpool has a hot new destination for eating out with the opening of Duke Street Food & Drink Market this week in a 100-year-old refurbished warehouse.
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Opinion
OK computer
Labelled by some as the flat white economy, the growth of freelance work culture, particular in the Millennial-dominated digital industries, has led to a familiar site in coffee shops – heads buried in laptops, eking out cups of coffee.
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Opinion
Creating a buzz
Kenny Blair, managing director of Buzzworks Holdings, which features in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2019, talks to Jo Bruce about people power, expansion plans and being a family business while still striving to value every voice.
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OpinionDispensing with tradition
Having shaken up the stuffy wine bar industry with its innovative sample-based concept, Vagabond is readying V2.0 for regional expansion. A year on from securing backing from Imbiba, founder Stephen Finch talks to MCA’s Finn Scott-Delany about why the concept is so tricky to mimic.
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OpinionAnalysts corner: M&B and Ei Group
Berenberg shares its latest thoughts on the performance of M&B and Ei Group, and how it’s affected their ratings.
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OpinionAllergen shake-up could be 'hammer blow' to operators
If the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DeFRA) approves the FSA’s recommendations around allergens, it will be a hammer blow to the thousands of operators across the UK, writes Jon Shayler, chief operating officer at Erudus.