All Opinion articles – Page 22
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OpinionPizza pioneer
The inventor of the UK’s casual dining industry, an inspiration to a generation of restaurant entrepreneurs and the founder of what today is the country’s biggest restaurant brand, PizzaExpress, Peter Boizot, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 89, can lay claim to all of those descriptions and more. Here was a life, truly well lived, and one that shaped the industry as we know it, arguably more than most. Mark Wingett talks to those he inspired and worked with, including Ian Neill, Luke Johnson, Hugh Osmond and Harvey Smyth.
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OpinionBrewDog-bound Lockwood optimistic for UK on-trade
Mitchells & Butlers’ beer and cider procurement manager Ben Lockwood is about to step into a new role as international marketing director for BrewDog. He spoke to Nicholas Robinson of MCA’s sister title, the Morning Advertiser about his thoughts on the trade and the beer scene
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OpinionLines from a legend
With 50 years’ experience in the UK’s hospitality sector, primarily in the development of multiple successful branded restaurant concepts, Ian Neill was quite rightly honoured earlier this year with the inaugural lifetime achievement award at MCA’s Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards in March. The driving force behind the formative years of PizzaExpress and the growth of Wagamama from one site to 110 worldwide, recently sat down with Mark Wingett to discuss the current state of the market, delivery, the pub sector and of course a certain deal.
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Opinion
The original start-up
Clive Chesser took the helm at the slimmed down and privatised Punch this summer. Here, he talks to James Wallin about the tied and Retail models, joint ventures, acquisitions and investment
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OpinionGeneration Next: The Vurger Co
The Vurger Co founders Rachel Hugh and Neil Potts discuss building a loyal following, proving the vegan doubters wrong, and navigating an unfamiliar industry.
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Opinion
Crafting success in the wet-led sector
Ei Group’s Craft Union model has grown to more than 250 sites in under four years, and now has its sights set on London, where it expects to have 40 pubs by the end of next year. James Wallin speaks to operations director Frazer Grimbleby about further expansion, managing the balance between EiG’s tenanted and managed estates and the potential for a food offer within the Craft Union model.
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OpinionFinding the perfect PE bedfellow
Seeking a partnership with private equity can be a daunting and complex challenge for operators. There are a number of variables to consider before choosing the right partner, according to AlixPartners’ Graeme Smith. Includes the experiences of operators and investors, including Flat iron’s Jo Fleet and Daniel Smith of Livingbridge
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OpinionYoung’s: Levers for growth; bolt-on acquisitions and cannabis cocktails
Young’s chief executive Patrick Dardis spoke to MCA after yesterday’s H1 trading update. He discussed further levers for growth, why Young’s has turned down several pub groups on the market, his anger with politicians, why he doesn’t pay attention to what his peers are doing and why cannabis-infused mocktails may be the next big trend.
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OpinionKiller concept hits the bullseye
Flight Club is fusing technology, food and beverage and the unstoppable rise of the experiential to create a concept that can be rolled out across the country, and even the globe. Mel Flaherty meets co-founder Steve Moore to discuss the art of the oche.
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Opinion
Analysts corner: Peel Hunt on TRG
Peel Hunt analysts Douglas Jack and Ivor Jones have updated their comments on The Restaurant Group’s bid for Wagamama, saying yesterday’s rights issue announcement failed to address the key issues. They set out some of the questions they believe investors should be asking of the group.
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OpinionThe end of an era
Yesterday’s announcement that Greene King chief executive, Rooney Anand, would be stepping down from his role in April marks the end of a remarkable 14-year tenure for the first non-family member to run the company in its 220-year history. James Wallin assesses Anand’s legacy and asks where the company goes next.
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OpinionDiary: Bingo calling
The buzz around social entertainment venues is certainly not subsiding. We’ve had tech-fuelled darts, ping pong and crazy golf, and now bingo is looking to increase its foothold in the space.
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OpinionIt’s all White now
Earlier this year, Nick White, former MD of Bella Italia, Chiquito and Garfunkels, was named as new chief executive of Bistrot Pierre. White and co-founder Robert Beacham speak to Mark Wingett about how the business is evolving and how it is cutting its cloth in more austere trading conditions
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OpinionA crescendo of coffee
Following a successful fundraise on Crowdcube this summer, coffee shop and wine bar Notes is looking to double its estate over the next two years. Georgi Gyton finds out more about its growth plans, which include a move into travel hubs, starting with train stations
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OpinionSolving a Chinese puzzle
Kym’s, the Andrew Wong-fronted restaurant in Bloomberg Arcade, is White Rabbit Fund’s most high- profile opening to date. Finn Scott-Delany talks to founder Chris Miller about finding the magic spot in mid-market Chinese cuisine, and the potential to spin out diffusion brands from the flagship site.
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Opinion
Craic-ing the market
The Irish pub is a global brand but over the past decade the segment appears to have fallen out of step with fashions. This appears to be changing as a new generation of operators give their twist to the classic Irish pub model. Jo Bruce reports
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Opinion
Living in the new world
On a day when the sector’s main trade association, UKHospitality was at the Houses of Parliament to discuss how the Government can support hospitality businesses, it was poignant that one of its traditionally strongest operators, Living Ventures, was announcing that it was reluctantly placing two of its businesses into administration. A key pillar of the northern powerhouse that Manchester has become, the company has rightfully and tirelessly built its reputation on being a career creator, a concept builder, a prudent and shrewd operator. In many ways, and alongside the wider sector issues, the respective failure of both Manchester House and Artisan, is down to the continued vibrancy of the F&B scene in the city that Living Ventures did more than most to create, argues Mark Wingett.
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Opinion
Translating digital dreams into operational reality
Much of the innovation at the top end of the sector in recent years has been focussed on or driven by technology, but large swathes of the industry still remain relatively untouched by this digital revolution. Simon Stenning assesses the areas in which technology can have a tangible impact for operators, including the rapid development of electric cars.
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Opinion
If Amazon ran a restaurant group, how would it differ to yours?
Yumpingo chief executive Gary Goodman says customer data can be as transformative in our sector as it has been in retail - but it must be a force for good which enhances the guest experience rather than a disruption.
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OpinionThe tip that became a shove
The brief announcement at the foot of the Conservative Party conference yesterday that the Government would finally push forward legislation on tipping, was met with carefully worded statements of support from several high-profile brands. Off-the-record, however, operators were seething at the manner in which this has been announced and the lack of detail provided. James Wallin rounds up some of the sector’s concerns about this tipping point.