All Opinion articles – Page 23
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OpinionJust when you thought tech was the future
The hospitality sector is often characterised as lagging behind other industries when it comes to the adoption of technology. MCA’s contributing editor, Peter Martin, examines the issues behind this and also looks at pushback in the States on the thorny issue of going cashless.
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OpinionGeneration Next: Cin Cin
In the latest in our Generation Next series, we profile lawyer-turned-restaurateur David Toscano, founder Cin Cin, the Brighton based Italian restaurant concept. He talks to Joe Lutrario about his small plates business model, managing input price rises and his expansion plans
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OpinionTelltale signs point to the exit
After years of reporting on the eating and drinking out sector, Dominic Walsh has learnt to spot the signs of a company seeking an out, with attempts to spin the process becoming ever more convoluted. In his now monthly column, Walsh discusses the key processes in play and also asks when Luke Johnson is likely to return to the public eye.
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OpinionOakman Inns: ‘We want our pizzaiolos to be figureheads of the pizza world’
The pub group’s chef director Ross Pike talks to MCA’s sister title Food Spark about the evolution of its pizza offer, meat-free meals and the benefits of having a development kitchen.
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OpinionAnalysts corner: JP Morgan on TRG
On the back of The Restaurant Group’s full year results this morning, Alexander Mees at JP Morgan gives his views on what has been a busy few months for the operator.
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OpinionMark out of 10: KFC
Mark McCulloch – the brand and marketing guru behind Supersonic Inc – gives his latest take on a marketing campaign by a prominent operator. Today he looks at KFC’s offer to open 300 of its kitchens up to customers, issued via a sponsored tweet.
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Opinion'The banks are running scared of casual dining'
ThinCats, the alternative finance lender, has backed Flat Iron, Abokado and Wright & Bell. Dave Sherrington, regional head of sales, talks to MCA about how the sector is emerging from the worst of the downturn, and why the fintech company will continue to back hospitality concepts as traditional lenders have retreated.
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OpinionPrima doners
The team behind London’s Le Bab and Maison Bab are launching what is surely the world’s most ambitious kebab restaurant. Just don’t mention the word ‘posh’.
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OpinionHowZAt – PizzaExpress looking to score with ZA diversification
Last week saw the launch of PizzaExpress’ food-to-go spin-off, ZA, after the conversion of its Fenchurch Street restaurant. MCA’s market insight director Steve Gotham gives his view of the finished product, where it sits in the market and its chances of success.
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OpinionAnalysts corner: Just Eat
Just Eat may have reported a sales uplift of 44% in its full year results for 2018 yesterday, but for Hargreaves Lansdown the business is ‘delivering uncertainty’, with shares dipping 3% in early trading on the back of the trading update.
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OpinionMind the gap
Mental health support for employees has gone from being a rarity to an integral part of a company’s people culture in just a few short years. Jo Bruce looks at the different ways in which operators are focussing on the wellbeing of their employees. Including contributions from Wagamama, New World Trading Company, BrewDog and M Restaurants, among others
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OpinionTwists and turns
The casual dining sector was once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons yesterday with the confirmation from Boparan Restaurant Group that it was seeking a Company Voluntary Agreement for its Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner brands. James Wallin asks what the decline of the two brands says about the wider casual dining contraction. Meanwhile, with Steve Richards departure from CDG, the two biggest players in the casual dining market are now without long-term leadership. Who would be willing to take on these mantles, and what would their strategies be?
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OpinionInvesting in the next generation of the pub sector
At the Tenanted Pub Company Summit, Admiral Taverns’ chief executive, Kevin Georgel, gave his thoughts on the continued resurgence of wet-led community pubs and the innovation driving that. However, he also challenged the sector to match investment in property with an equal commitment to developing its people. The following is an extract from his speech.
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OpinionMark Out of 10: What’s the beef?
Mark McCulloch – the brand and marketing guru behind Supersonic Inc – gives his latest take on a marketing campaign by a prominent operator. Today, he looks at how Burger King capitalised on McDonald’s loss of its Big Mac trademark with a campaign, mocking up a Big Mac-inspired menu. Is BK’s bare-faced cheek to be admired or should the company be more focussed on promoting its own USP?
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OpinionPret: 'They've got so much credit in the bank'
Pret A Manger was voted most of admired brand by its peers in MCA’s Top of Mind for a tenth year in a row. Finn Scott-Delany finds out what makes it so appreciated by its peers.
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OpinionThe Golden Boy
In the final of our series of profiles on Retailers’ Retailer 2018 winners, James Wallin speaks to The Alchemist managing director, Simon Potts, about mastering regional expansion
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OpinionAllergic reaction
Leon’s John Vincent, who received criticism last month for the company’s approach to communicating allergen information, has now called on the industry to work together to find the way forward. James Wallin looks at what the likes of Leon and Pret are doing to tackle the issue and asks to what extent the sector can take responsibility for sufferers’ safety.
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OpinionA marriage of convenience
Sarah Fox, the former head of restaurants for Hammerson, looks at how the role of F&B in retail has changed over the years and how it has impacted on the relationship between tenants and landlords.
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OpinionMark’s Out of 10: Byron’s Jurassic Larks
In the first of a new regular series, Mark McCulloch – the brand and marketing guru behind Supersonic Inc – gives his take on a marketing campaign by a leading brand. Today, he takes a look at Byron’s interactive B-Rex re-launch, describing it as a “tactical jab rather than a knockout blow”, which highlights how far the brand has to go in re-discovering its position among the “Burgerati”
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Opinion
Creating culture clubs
If people are the common denominator in achieving organisational success and retaining them is the difference between relative success or failure, then operators must continually explore elements of the people puzzle that ‘they’ can control, influence and change, argues Fourth’s Karina Coen