All Opinion articles – Page 5
-
OpinionThe Great British Pub still has some way to go
Despite hundreds of years of providing hospitality, not all pubs get it right - and too many think they’re gastropubs when they don’t have the necessary kitchen skills, writes Dominic Walsh
-
OpinionOpportunity beckons for hospitality
The sector has displayed amazing resilience since the pandemic, but is is now entering a new era where it can be a critical part of the nation’s recovery, providing employment, stronger communities, growth for the economy and restabilised public finances, writes David Read, chairman of Prestige Purchasing
-
OpinionThe Transatlantic Transfer
Richard Samarasinghe, head of strategy at Harrison, discusses the key considerations and pitfalls when bringing a brand from the US to the UK (and vice versa)
-
OpinionFor the love of loyalty
Tom Gatehouse of Egg Soliders examines the contrasting approaches to loyalty at Greggs and Pret - and asks whether the fast-moving world of web3, decentralization and virtual reality could inform the next generation of consumer apps
-
OpinionPeter Martin: Handle with care
Upon his return from a trip to Nashville, MCA’s contributing editor reflects on creating and nurturing a strong hospitality culture, and how London can strengthen its own hospitality ecosystem
-
OpinionWhitbread’s restaurant conundrum
Whitbread is very good at throwing cash at its hotels, but very bad at chucking money at its pub-restaurants, Dominic Walsh argues as the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre operator embarks on an overhaul of its estate
-
OpinionAre we responsible for what our diners choose to eat?
Hospitality operators are still reluctant to be seen to intervene when it comes to the foods and other ‘edible substances’ they serve customers, argues Prestige Purchasing chairman David Read
-
OpinionThe visionary beer bro whose mercurial tendencies became a distraction
Outgoing BrewDog CEO James Watt created a global craft beer powerhouse which revelled in its outsider status, but his reluctance to grow up gracefully meant he was no longer the right man to lead an increasingly corporate company eyeing an IPO
-
OpinionGet real: Labour’s coming and we all need a plan
While hospitality-specific issues - like VAT and immigration policy - will make the headlines, the big concerns Peter Martin hears from bosses are around investment, especially on infrastructure, and long-term economic planning
-
OpinionWill reverse takeover give TGI that Friday feeling?
Dominic Walsh explores the background of the proposed Hostmore deal, and asks whether bulking up can arrest ailing consumer demand on both sides of the Atlantic
-
OpinionThe race for Scope 3 outcomes
David Read, chairman of Prestige Purchasing, argues that hospitality operators need to get up close with farming if they are to hit their sustainability goals
-
OpinionThe writing’s on the wall, literally
Peter Martin considers how wine in the on-trade can recapture the attention of younger customers amid a trend of falling consumption among millenialls and Gen Zs
-
OpinionFrom coffeehouse to community hub: The Caffè Nero story
Founder Gerry Ford is more than a businessman - he’s also a family man, coffee aficionado, book lover and sponsor of culture and the arts, which reflects in his vision for Caffè Nero, writes Dominic Walsh
-
OpinionIf you think restaurants and pubs are having a tough time, try being a farmer
At the heart of the problem is the balance between food security and environmental protection, writes Peter Martin
-
OpinionWhose role is menu design?
David Read, founder and chairman of Prestige Purchasing, suggests that operators need a more collaborative approach to menu development to maintain future profitability
-
OpinionBidding wars return at prime city sites
Ted Schama of Shelley Sandzer sees a polarized sector imbued with renewed confidence but tempered by cash flow issues
-
OpinionChancellor must overhaul rates regime
Writing exclusively for MCA ahead of the Spring Budget next week, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls urges Jeremy Hunt to provide urgently needed support on business rates, VAT, and planning
-
OpinionCare and attention: there’s no silver bullet
People don’t come cheap any more - so you’d better pay attention and look after them, Peter Martin writes
-
OpinionHipster coffee shops – a global brand of individual operators
Philip Harrison, chairman at design agency Harrison, reflects on the global ‘hipster café’ phenomenon and considers whether Pinterest-inspired style trends are killing off individuality in the sector
-
OpinionIs Diageo restless enough to return to its full potential?
Dominic Walsh speculates on what’s in store for Diageo following an underwhelming set of results and how boss Debra Crew can get the business back up and running at its full potential