All MCA Insight articles in September 2019
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsGove admits likelihood of food price rises
Michael Gove has admitted that there is the potential for food price rises in the event of a no deal Brexit, The Times has reported.
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NewsAlchemist pushes forward with plans for international expansion
The Alchemist is well underway with its plans to expand overseas and anticipates having its first international site open by 2021, managing director Simon Potts has told MCA.
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NewsCrosstown Doughnuts picks up new contract with Harrods
Artisan doughnut and coffee concept Crosstown Doughnuts has boosted the wholesale arm of its business, with a new deal to supply Harrods with its products.
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OpinionAnalysts’ verdict: Goodbody on The Restaurant Group
In advance of The Restaurant Group’s H1 trading update tomorrow, analyst Goodbody says it’s expecting strong growth from Wagamama and evidence of stabilisation within its leisure division.
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NewsRestaurant Group writes off £125m amid ‘structurally unattractive’ leisure estate review
The Restaurant Group has written off £125m - nearly £100m related to its leisure restaurant business - as it faces continued retail decline and saturated local markets.
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NewsChopstix open to multi-site or corporate acquisitions
Chopstix’s new £5m debt facility will give the Asian QSR brand a bit of “long-term visibility” and set them up for the next two to three years, managing director Jon Lake has told MCA.
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NewsIncipio takes former Mahiki site in Kensington
Incipio Group is set to open a new venue at the former Mahiki site on Kensington High Street.
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NewsSlim Chickens adds to London estate with fifth site
Boparan Restaurant Group is to add a fifth site to its estate of Slim Chickens outlets, with a new opening in the capital this autumn.
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NewsIppudo takes Kua ’Aina site on Goodge St
International ramen concept Ippudo has secured its fourth London site, on the former Kua ’Aina site on 40 Goodge Street.
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NewsBermondsey Pubs teams up with student jobs app
Bermondsey Pubs is using the Stint app to make sure it has enough staff to handle busy periods. The Stint app pairs students looking for work with hospitality shifts on an on-demand basis, using its algorithm to ping shifts to the best suited student after taking into account factors like their location and their ‘Stint rating’, which is based on a number of skills and competencies.
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NewsStar Pubs offers free training to boost chef retention
Star Pubs & Bars has launched a series of free chef training courses in order to try and help licensees with recruitment and retention issues.
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NewsPret promotes Clough to UK MD
Pret A Manger has promoted Clare Clough to UK managing director and chief food and coffee officer.
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Analysis & InsightM&B – Much ado about branding
MCA market insight director Steve Gotham analyses data from MCA’s Eating Out Panel to pinpoint potential areas for improvement for some of Mitchells & Butlers’ key brands.
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Analysis & InsightPubs and restaurants outperform wider consumer spending
Pubs and restaurants saw spending growth of 10.9% and 8.6% respectively, as wider consumer spending grew at a real terms decline of 1.3%.
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Analysis & InsightMixed wag: TRG leisure estate continues to drag
Former HBOS boss Andy Hornby might have hoped for a smooth introduction to the sector yesterday after joining The Restaurant Group as CEO in August.
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NewsLendlease signs up three new operators to Elephant Park scheme
Three new concepts have signed to open on Sayer Street at Elephant Park. The new restaurants, one brand new concept and two established local operators, have joined the £2.3 billion regeneration project being delivered by Lendlease and Southwark Council in the heart of the capital.
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OpinionJP Morgan and Goodbody on The Restaurant Group
The Restaurant Group’s (TRG) H1 results yesterday revealed a strong performance from Wagamama and plans to rationalise the Leisure estate. Analysts at JP Morgan and Goodbody give their take on the numbers.
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NewsAlchemist to trial grab and go offer at Canary Wharf
The Alchemist is to trial a bagel-based grab and go offer at its upcoming site in Canary Wharf, MCA can reveal.
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NewsHow does the brain read a menu?
The saying goes that we eat with our eyes and there’s definitely truth in that. A summary of research published in the Elsevier Journal of Brain and Cognition in 2016 goes as far back as Apicius, a 1st Century Roman gourmand, who first noted the concept. Scientists attribute the idea to evolutionary development – meaning the sight of food brings instant comfort, knowing as a race that we’re going to survive at least into the immediate future.
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NewsFuller’s updates on trading, capital return and departures
Fuller’s has revealed like for like sales in managed pubs and hotels are up 2.5%, in the 22 weeks to 31 August 2019.