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. From starting as a news editor on the then M&C Report in February 2006, via a three-year gap in the property world, to becoming editor at the end of 2011, it is safe to say the last near 12 years has been one of unprecedented change for the UK’s eating and drinking-out sector. But has it all been for good?
Rewinding to February 2006 and the industry was facing and coming to terms with two key pieces of legislation, the smoking ban and changes to the licensing laws. It was working out whether the former would offer greater commercial opportunities for both restaurants and pubs (yes, very much so), whilst the sector as whole was learning to operate in a more health-conscious world.
As my boss at the time, Mark Stretton said: “But in 10 years’ time these challenges will have been met, the industry will have evolved to face new ones. And we can be certain that in this environment of permanent change, there will be no lack of flair, innovation and ingenuity separating the best from the rest.”
A month later, Tony Hughes, then managing director of Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) restaurant division, was named as the Retailers’ Retailer of the Year at the eighth Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards, whilst Strada and Wagamama were named joint best concept at the ceremony. Mitchells & Butlers was also named best company and Punch Taverns was named as Investor of the Year, following its £2.7bn acquisition of Spirit Group. The award for Best Emerging Concept went to Project S, Mitchells & Butlers’ new country pub dining concept, developed in partnership with entrepreneurs and Paul Hales and Paul Salisbury. The Rising Star award, new that year, went to John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby of Leon.
I suppose as a microcosm of the changes that have happened to the sector over the last 12 years, you could do worse than study that previous paragraph and what has happened to the majority of the company winners since that evening.
Over the period, all have seen their fortunes fluctuate, some in line with the market, some by design and others have gone backwards despite their best intentions – and that is whether they have been restaurant or pub, leased or managed.
Today, we find Wagamama again leading the eating-out market, but only after a period of drift; Strada has contracted, and now in line with the wider casual dining sector is faced with an identity crisis and an uncertain future impacted by street food, delivery and a more fickle and transient consumer.
The market leader of the day, was undoubtedly M&B, but a decade of boardroom machinations dulled the group’s innovation and growth prospects, two pillars it is only now returning to. Over the same time, Punch became the poster boy, along with Enterprise Inns, for what was good and then bad about the tenanted pub model. If today it can probably be called a draw between those two stools, it says something about the recent renaissance in the pub sector, the virtues of a good management team and the still enduring British love for as good pub. As for Leon, world domination awaits, as its combination of health and fast-casual credentials plays expertly to today’s increasingly time-poor consumer.
As in 2006, the sector finds itself battling against tough legislation and uncertainly in the wider world. That combination of flair, innovation and ingenuity will be needed more than ever to overcome these turbulent times.
I have been extremely honoured to have been editor of MCA, it is a role I have never taken lightly and cannot thank enough the support, guidance and hospitality I received from across the sector. The title has never been stronger or more read, and therefore I believe more vital. The job to take it forward through its next stage of growth, now falls to James Wallin, an extremely talented journalist, who as deputy editor, has played a more than vital role in the success MCA has had over the last three years. I am sure he will receive the same level of support I have.
Although this is the end of my time as editor of MCA, it is not end of my time working for the wider brand. Under my new title (editor at large – may be more lunches then) I will still be overseeing some parts of MCA, whilst also working on aspects of our sister titles Restaurant and the MA events portfolios. So, although maybe not as regularly, still expect the phone calls looking for news, but as always, with the caveat that I have never met you!
