Georgi Gyton
Georgi joined MCA as deputy editor in 2017 and has written extensively about all areas of the eating and drinking out sector. She has previously held senior roles at People Management and Event at Haymarket Media Group. Prior to that she spent seven years at William Reed, beginning her career at British Baker, before moving across to Meat Trades Journal and GlobalMeatNews.com.
Contact info
- Tel:
- +44 (0)1293 846519
- Email:
- georgi.gyton@mca-insight.com
- Analysis & Insight
itsu: ‘Revenue through our app is up 200% this year’
By tweaking the loyalty mechanic to make it more engaging to customers, the healthy Asian brand has seen a huge uplift in transactions via its app, chief customer officer Neil Miller told MCA’s Hostech conference
- Analysis & Insight
Loyalty: ‘People expect an immediate reward’
The introduction of Tesco’s Clubcard membership pricing brought a ‘different level of thinking to the mass market’ and is likely to be something consumers come to expect outside retail, Hostech heard
- Interviews
Simmons: ‘The market is challenging but we are trading well’
The London-based bar group is to open its debut regional location in Manchester this week, and is capitalising on consumer demand for affordable nights out, CEO Nick Campbell tells MCA
- Analysis & Insight
KFC: AI will have a big role to play in future of restaurants
With 70% of all orders now digital, the QSR chain has been testing AI chatbots for ordering and has found rising ticket values, UK&I CTO Jatin Chandwani told MCA’s Hostech conference
- Interviews
Mental health in hospitality: ‘There is still a long way to go’
People are the backbone of hospitality businesses, so supporting their mental health needs is essential, Kelly’s Cause founder Tobie-Anna Durk tells MCA
- News
Blacklock in talks with investors
The chop house restaurant group, founded by Gordon Ker, is understood to be working with advisers at BDO to explore options, The Telegraph has reported.
- News
Breal and Calveton acquired TGI’s for £9.55m
As a result of poor trading performance in 2024, Hostmore and Thursdays (UK) began to experience significant cash pressures, with administrators called in earlier this month
- News
Hospitality leaders urge government action on quadrupling of business rates
CEOs from the UK’s largest pub and restaurant groups have signed an open letter to the Chancellor, calling for action on business rates, which would quadruple in April if current relief ends as planned.
- News
McDonald’s UK reports significant drop in profit after tax
Profit after tax at McDonald’s Restaurants Limited was £35m in 2023, down from £129m the previous year, despite an increase in turnover
- News
Openings of the week
MCA rounds-up the biggest openings stories from the past week, featuring Pizza Pilgrims, Wagamama, Boojum, Wingstop, Lena Lu and more
- News
GDK makes senior leadership appointments
Tommy Edmond joins the company as chief financial officer (CFO), while Amit Pancholi steps into the role of UK franchise development director
- News
Valiant Pubs reaches 70-site milestone
The community-focused pub group is looking to grow its foothold in the south of England, as part of its ongoing strategy to strengthen its market position across the UK.
- Interviews
Giggling Squid: ‘Bigger sites offer us better economies of scale’
With labour costs continuing to soar, the BGF-backed Thai restaurant group is actively looking to open larger footprint sites where appropriate, CEO Andy Laurillard tells MCA
- News
Marston’s to set out pure-play hospitality strategy
Chief executive Justin Platt said Marston’s was ”embarking on a new and exciting chapter” and would lay out its five pillar strategy at a Capital Markets Day later today.
- News
Chipotle UK records significant uplift in turnover
The fast-casual Mexican restaurant operator reported a 147% increase in revenue for the full year to 31 December 2023, from £17.9m to £26.3m.
- News
BrewDog co-founder attacks government over planned tax rise
James Watt said hiking up capital gains tax would “destroy entrepreneurial spirit” and which would, in turn, severely damage the UK economy.
- News
Just Eat reports positive momentum in UK delivery market
Orders at its UK and Ireland business decreased by 1%, from 60.8m in Q3 2023 to 60.1m in Q4 2024, but Gross Transaction Values were up 6%, to €1,764m, over the period.
- News
Whitbread accepts offers on 51 F&B sites
The accepted offers amount to a total consideration of £56m, and form part of the Premier Inn operator’s plans to exit 126 restaurants and convert 112 others into hotel rooms as it rationalises its F&B estate
- News
Increasing National Insurance would risk hospitality jobs
Reports the government could increase employer’s National Insurance Contributions would be “a tax on jobs”, UKHospitality has warned.
- News
Azzurri Group appoints new tech director
Jim Hingston has joined as its new digital and technology director, replacing Joel Robinson who will continue in his role as founder and CTO of the group’s data platform Openr.