All articles by Shwetali Sapte – Page 20
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NewsPub chiefs call for 30% business rates relief after emergency summit
The BBPA has demanded pub-specific business rates relief following a summit of industry leaders this week, warning that the industry faces further closures and job losses
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NewsRoss Warnes joins Pret as UK & Ireland president
Warnes brings a wealth of experience from roles at Kraft Heinz, Unilever, and Nestle, and will oversee Pret’s UK & Ireland estate of more than 500 stores
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NewsCaffè Nero achieves another record with £338m sales
The Nero Group has posted record sales of £338m in the first half of FY26, with strong performance driven by successful menu innovation including matcha drinks and pistachio croissants
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including new sites from Loungers, Mulligans, Honest Greens, and more
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Analysis & InsightChristmas hospitality bookings see slight dip year-on-year
Insights from Dojo, based on bookings data across hospitality venues in the UK, suggest a difficult economic backdrop is impacting discretionary spend during the festive period
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Analysis & InsightFood price inflation forecast to average 4.6% in 2026
Food price inflation is expected to keep accelerating, with operators urged to focus on strategic procurement and supply chain optimisation to mitigate rising costs, according to Prestige Purchasing
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Analysis & InsightHospitality profit margins squeezed as costs outpace sales growth
Food purchasing prices have risen 50% since 2020 while operators have increase menu prices by 7.6% every year on average, squeezing margins across the sector, according to CGA
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Interviews6 of 1 Group: ‘There’s always room for excellence’
Frank Yeung and Abhinav Malde, the operators behind Mr Bao, speak to MCA about their next venture - a Hong Kong-inspired eatery combined with a wonton noodle soup bar
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NewsNick Mackenzie: ‘This isn’t the relief or reform we were promised’
Many publicans are questioning how they will stay in the business over the coming years, the Greene King CEO has said
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NewsDiageo gears up to open London’s Guinness Open Gate Brewery
The £73m, 54,000ft space opens in Covent Garden tomorrow, encompassing a microbrewery - albeit the Guinness will continue to be brewed in Dublin
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InterviewsXP Factory reflects on ‘remarkable’ year despite tough market
Richard Harpham, CEO of the listed experiential leisure business, tells MCA that Escape Hunt will continue to work towards the 100-site mark as rapidly as possible
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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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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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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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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