All Opinion articles – Page 33
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OpinionJust popping out for a while
You are always told to never push your luck, or as my dad used to say “don’t kick the arse out of it”, so after seven years in the privileged position of editor of MCA, it is time make sure I heed that advice and move onwards and upwards in the wider William Reed family.
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Opinion
The generation game - how to win with Centennials
Are you ready to win the hearts of the new, digital-first, value-focused and brand-disloyal generation? Just when you thought you’d successfully navigated the Millennial minefield and emerged unscathed, in marches a new breed of digital natives. Is your business ready to take them on? Asks Vodafone through its Your Ready Business forum
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OpinionSteering in a new direction
The shock exit of Gaucho Group’s long-serving CEO Zeev Godik yesterday, hot on the heels of a change of chairman, has left a number of questions unanswered. Dominic Walsh looks back at Godik’s long tenure and asks what the news means for the sector.
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Opinion
A year in tech disruption
What are the key technological advancements impacting on the sector and which ones should you be watching in the year to come? Flypay’s Tom Weaver gives MCA a rundown of everything operators need to know – from AI to AR
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OpinionRed Mist ascends
Red Mist Leisure, the Surrey-based pub group, is about to reach the landmark of 10 sites and take on its biggest project yet. James Wallin met co-founder Mark Robson to discuss the group’s guiding principles and the challenges and opportunities it sees ahead
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OpinionAnalysts corner: Survival of the fittest
Leading analyst Douglas Jack, at Peel Hunt, says the story of investing in the leisure sector is “survival of the fittest”.
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Opinion
Customer loyalty: A relationship, not just a scheme
In its latest Consumer Review study, Deloitte looked at the challenges businesses face in delivering a positive customer experience. The study focused in particular on customer loyalty and why it believes traditional loyalty schemes need a rethink. Securing customers’ loyalty goes beyond having a loyalty programme argues Deloitte’s Ben Perkins and Nick Turner
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OpinionThe morning after the bar brawl
After several months of twists and turns, the pursuit of Revolution Bars Group came to an end yesterday….. for now. With no real winner from this situation, what lies in store for the three main protagonists in this saga and what does that mean for M&A activity in the sector? James Wallin investigates, as well as showing that this story did ultimately have one happy ending.
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OpinionAssured Azzurri
While the majority of the casual dining sector, especially Italian-focused concepts, are coming under increasing pressure, the Azzurri Group, the operator of ASK Italian, Zizzi and Coco di Mama, continues to grow and outperform the market. On the back of its full-year results, Mark Wingett has a closer look at the business and talks to chief executive Steve Holmes
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Opinion
Timing at the bar
It’s a buyer’s market out there at the moment, or so we are told, so why is one of the sector’s most influential and successful investors currently looking to sale his stake not one, but two, of his investments?
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OpinionThe shape of things to come
Operators are constantly looking for innovative ways to grow their estate, footfall and offering. Benoit Broch, at Livingbridge, looks at trends that may shape hospitality businesses of the future.
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OpinionBuilding the next generation of branded operators
Building the next generation of restaurant brands was the theme for a reflection on the future of the industry at our recent Restaurant Conference. Operators of and investors in emerging brands talked about efforts to establish themselves and to grow in a challenging marketplace
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OpinionOliver decides to twist
As of this morning, the man who did more than most to build Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire can finally take a break from the constant scrutiny and let others worry about where the business is headed
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OpinionGet Carter
There was an oversight at MCA’s annual Restaurant Conference, which took place last month. It was an oversight that some of the leading operators quietly pointed out to me; we had forgotten to mention a growing brand that was having an impact on the performance of parts of their estates – Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) premium steakhouse concept, Miller & Carter
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Opinion
From beer house to booze bunker
The great British pub has undergone countless changes over the past century – from community hubs to gastropub, via brewhouses, wine bars and theme pubs. Beer writers Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey have chronicled the journey of the modern day boozer, in their new book 20th Century Pub. The following is an exclusive extract for MCA readers
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OpinionFor better or worse
After a few months of searching, Hutton Collins, the backer of better burger chain Byron, has decided to stick with what it knows, in appointing Simon Cope as its new chief executive. It will now be down to Cope to plot a steady course to take the brand back to where it was – one of the sector’s key growth brands
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OpinionTime is not on your side
Time is one of the most precious commodities for customers and loyalty will stay with those operators who don’t waste it. Flypay’s Tom Weaver discusses the pitfalls of not taking time to save customers’ time
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Opinion
Why so Sirieix?
The Galvin at Windows GM, star of the small screen, industry champion and prolific fundraiser has a new book, Secret Service, out next month. With so many plates spinning, how does the country’s most recognisable front-of-house man manage to prevent it all from crashing down, asks Sophie Witts
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OpinionHow food delivery services are moving into airports
Queues at airport restaurants and food outlets are a common sight, especially at peak travel times, as transport hubs around the world deal with surging numbers of travelers. In response, a new batch of pick-up and delivery services has arrived on the scene to offer time-poor passengers an alternative to holding out for on-board plane food
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Opinion
Sector Snapshot: Leaving the herd behind
With two new openings in Southbank Tower and Principal Place this week, Black Sheep Coffee shows no signs of slowing down. But growth is not at the expense of watering down the operator’s speciality offer, head of coffee Tony Knauf says.