All MCA Insight articles in September 2019 – Page 4
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Analysis & Insight‘TRG now has a future’
The legacy of Andy McCue’s truncated time as chief executive of The Restaurant Group is, as well all know, the £559m acquisition of Wagamama. When the deal squeaked through last year, there was widespread scepticism over the longevity of its stellar like-for-like sales growth.
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Analysis & InsightFish and chip supper anyone?
Call me old-fashioned and a tad unadventurous if you will, but I am rather quite partial to the long-established delights of fish and chips. A moist and slightly sweet tasting cod fillet in light but crunchy batter, with some nicely seasoned thick-cut chips, minty mushy peas and chunky tartare sauce – delightful! One of the things about go-to products though, is that they become something of a KVI – a Known Value Item.
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News
Qatari restaurant concept eyes five for London
A Qatari restaurant concept called Apple Butter is looking to open five sites in London, with the first secured in Covent Garden for a launch later this year. The business, which was established in Qatar’s capital Doha, is based around homemade desserts with a twist and speciality coffee, alongside gourmet ...
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NewsGerry Carroll to step down as CEO of Hawthorn Leisure
Hawthorn Leisure’s chief executive Gerry Carroll has decided to step down from his role, with effect from 1 October 2019, with Mark Davies, executive chairman of Hawthorn Leisure to take on the position.
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NewsJDW sees lfls up 6.8% for full year
JD Wetherspoons (JDW) has reported a like-for-like sales (lfls) increase, before exceptional items, of 6.8% for the full year to 28 July 2019.
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NewsShareholders approve Ei/Stonegate deal
Shareholders of Ei Group have voted in favour of the pubco’s takeover by Stonegate by 96.57%.
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NewsCall for clearer allergen labelling after Byron burger death
There have been calls for all restaurant menus to feature a “red A” next to dishes that contain allergens, following the death of a teenager who died after eating a burger he was unaware had been coated in buttermilk.
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NewsPub visits decline in year to July 2019
The number of pub visits are down 1.2% for the year ended July 2019, according to the latest NPD Pub Tracker data.
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NewsBird was “starved of cash” in lead up to administration
Fried chicken and waffle concept Bird was “starved of cash” according to administrators’ proposals from BM Advisory filed at Companies House this week.
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InterviewsCoqfighter: chicken for grown-ups
In the early days of Coqfighter, a senior industry peer predicted that soon enough, they would be forced to ditch the vodka from their chicken batter due to mounting costs. The addition was inspired by Heston Blumenthal, with Coqfighter’s executive chef and ‘mad scientist’ Troy Sawyer using it to make the batter lighter and more crispy.
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OpinionYellowhammer documents confirm no-deal supply risks
On Monday, MPs backed a motion calling for the disclosure of all documents relating to Operation Yellowhammer, the government’s contingency plan for a no-deal Brexit. These documents had previously been leaked by the Sunday Times and are identical, except for a difference in headline from “base case” to “reasonable worst-case scenario”, suggesting perhaps the whole thing got a hasty rebrand prior to publication.
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NewsRestaurant insolvencies up by 25%
More than 1,400 UK restaurants collapsed in the year in the year to end of June 2019 – signifying a 25% increase on the previous year, according to the latest figures from accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.
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NewsFuller’s develops new all-day dining concept
Fuller’s has invested c.£2million in a new all-day dining concept at The Chamberlain Hotel in the City.
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NewsNo further EU product swaps planned for Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is not planning to make any additional product swaps to non-EU sourced alternatives, following the introduction of several new lines last year.
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OpinionProperty, partnerships, people
The surprise £2.7bn bid for Greene King from Hong Kong-based property developer CK Asset Holdings certainly woke up August – not least because it immediately set off excited speculation about who might be next.
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OpinionJP Morgan on JD Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) profit outlook does not justify its current multiple, according to the latest analysts note on the operator from JP Morgan.
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Analysis & InsightMenu price inflation slower than CPI
Menu prices increased by 1.8% in Spring/Summer 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, MCA’s Menu Tracker reveals.
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Analysis & InsightBricks and mortar adds ‘significant value’ despite drop in footfall
High street bricks and mortar retail adds “significant value” to consumers, and is “far from dead”, according to a report by CACI property consulting group.
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Analysis & InsightBrandwatch: TGI Friday’s
It’s not immune to the struggles in the casual dining market but TGI Friday’s has ploughed on with a steady programme of openings. So what is the the journey of the brand in the UK, how it is performing against the wider market and what does it have planned for the future?
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Analysis & InsightHospitality productivity outperforms wider economy
Productivity in the hospitality is on the rise, as revenues rise faster than employment levels, CGA and UKHospitality’s Future Shock report reveals.