All articles by Shwetali Sapte – Page 2
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NewsExultant Group acquires Pret franchise
The Pret franchisee has acquired Chesterford Group subsidiary Joy Brands, encompassing seven Pret A Manger sites across Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex
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InterviewsPizza Pilgrims: ‘We focus on belonging’
When team members can be themselves at work, everything else a brand is trying to achieve should follow, people director Hayley Whitfield tells MCA for our latest spotlight article on EDI, sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic
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InterviewsKaspa’s Desserts: ‘We feel we turned a corner’
The dessert franchise says its overall turnover volumes are over £100m as it targets greater expansion in the Midlands, Ireland and Scotland.
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NewsBill’s Restaurants: ‘This will be our third record year in a row’
Managing director Tom James discusses Bill’s turnaround plan and reveals the chain has seen the “best numbers we’ve had all year” since its menu overhaul
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InterviewsIRO Sushi aims for 100 by 2030
The 30-strong QSR chain has announced plans to open 10 new stores within the next year, and also reported sales growth of 56%
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NewsWetherspoon to make overseas debut in Alicante
The pubco will open at the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport in Spain in January next year, offering Wetherspoon favourites as well as local dishes
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, featuring new details from Poolhouse, Flat Iron’s return to central London, and Flight Club’s foray into Reading
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NewsKaspa’s Desserts delivers 12% like-for-like growth
The dessert franchise said it had “witnessed a turnaround in trading trends” in the first half of 2025, driven by NPD, marketing, operational initiatives, tech investment, and price optimisation
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NewsXi Home Dumplings Bay gears up to launch new concepts
Speaking at MCA’s Restaurant Conference, founder Wenjun Xiang discussed plans for Xi Home Maza – a premium, immersive dining experience – and Dumami, a grab-and-go dumpling concept
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NewsAccommodation sales drive strong second quarter for RedCat Hospitality
The pub group has reported total sales of £34.6m in Q2 2025, supported by strategic investment and accommodation sales contributing £10.7m
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Analysis & InsightLate-night economy contracts 4.6% in 12 months
Venue numbers are now 28% below March 2020 levels as operators face mounting financial and regulatory pressures, according to the Night Time Economy Market Monitor from CGA and NTIA
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NewsTopgolf sold for $1.1bn
The figure is just over half of what Callaway paid to acquire the business in a $2bn deal in 2020, with Leonard Green Partners now taking over
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NewsTGI Fridays strengthens management team to take UK business to ‘new heights’
Sugarloaf, the owner of TGI Fridays UK, has appointed Giles Fry as chief operating officer after acquiring the business last month
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NewsKERB launches campaign to support independents
KERB’s Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden will offer meals priced at the amount that each trader takes home as profit to spotlight the pressure on operators’ margins
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Analysis & InsightHospitality trading remains flat ahead of Budget
Hospitality groups recorded minimal like-for-like sales growth of 0.1% in October, albeit pubs outperformed restaurants and bars, according to the CGA RSM tracker
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Analysis & InsightHospitality spend rises 8.5% despite consumer caution
Consumer spend on hospitality remained resilient in October with an 8.5% year-on-year increase, albeit Gen Z continue to shift from restaurants to bars, according to Access Hospitality
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InterviewsDal Fiorentino looks to speed up pace of expansion
The four-strong sandwich business, founded by a husband-wife duo from Florence, is building its footprint across London, with plans to continue expanding
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InterviewsShree Krishna Vada Pav pushes towards 50-site target
The 22-strong Indian QSR concept is seeking to become a national brand, with opportunity for around 100 locations in the UK - and global ambitions to follow, co-owner Mahesh Raikar tells MCA
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Analysis & InsightDrinks innovation can help restaurants win back Gen Z
Restaurants may have lost share to QSR and pubs, but Lumina Intelligence’s Flora Zwolinski set out how the sector can re-engage younger customers at MCA’s Restaurant Conference last week
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NewsPopeyes UK marks 100-site milestone
The company remains on track to open nearly 50 sites this year, with its 100th location set to open at London Bridge station next week