All articles by Shwetali Sapte – Page 4
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Analysis & InsightPub bookings surge nearly 300% ahead of England’s World Cup kick-off
England group games during the Euro 2024 tournament delivered a 42% sales increase for the sector, with UKHospitality predicting a similar boost during the World Cup
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NewsClive Chesser steps down from PureGym
The global gym operator has appointed former CFO Alex Wood as CEO, as Chesser leaves his role after two years with the company
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NewsJonathan Downey’s Town looks to raise £400k in new equity
The London restaurant, opened last year by Downey and chef Stevie Parle, is looking to raise £20,000 each from 20 shareholders to help “consolidate and grow”
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InterviewsYum! Brands: ‘There are untapped opportunities in unified systems’
Jatin Chandwani, chief product and growth officer for the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, told delegates at MCA’s Hostech that Byte by Yum! was developed to remove the need to integrate different tech solutions
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InterviewsMitchells & Butlers: ‘We’ve had great feedback on our guest-facing virtual assistant’
Emma Hills, senior product manager at the Toby Carvery and All Bar One operator, acknowledged operators are often cautious with new guest-facing tech - but emphasised that M&B has had extremely positive results.
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Analysis & Insight‘This is not the end of the traditional night out’: How consumers are socialising around wellness
Two-fifths of UK adults reported going on fewer nights out in 2025, while spending at bars, pubs and clubs grew just 0.8% year-on-year. Where, then, are consumers choosing to socialise instead? MCA takes a look at the wellness boom and how it decentres alcohol as an essential element of group socialising
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, featuring new venues from Coppa Collective, Burger & Beyond, and more
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NewsPopeyes partners with Applegreen to expand in Ireland
The QSR chain has entered a partnership that will see Applegreen invest €6m to open Popeyes restaurants in roadside locations across the Republic of Ireland
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NewsFuller’s: ‘Staycation boost is also a consequence of our own investment’
CEO Simon Emeny tells MCA that growth in domestic tourism may be caused by the geopolitical situation, but believes high levels of investment are driving hotel bookings and other revenue for Fuller’s
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NewsClub Prezzo surpasses 500,000 sign-ups
Prezzo Italian is celebrating the first anniversary of its app, which launched as part of its brand refresh and has since become a core part of the guest experience
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NewsPopeyes launches new Cajun Crunch range
Amid growing competition in the chicken category, Popeyes has leaned into its New Orleans heritage to introduce a “louder, deeper” take on its signature shatter crunch
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NewsGreene King invests £3m into pubs ahead of busy summer
The pubco has refreshed outdoor areas and improved HD screens and sound systems, in a bid to set up its venues ahead of the FIFA World Cup and other sports tournaments this summer
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NewsCreams signs deal for US expansion
The dessert café chain expects to open its first US store in Scottsdale, Arizona early next year, after recently announcing its first overseas expansion agreement for Greece and Cyprus
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NewsMB Chicken seeks master franchisee for England and Wales
The Canadian QSR chain, which launched in the UK in 2024, is looking for multi-unit and multi-brand operators as it accelerates its growth plans
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NewsDomino’s NED steps down
Mitesh Patel has stepped down from his role as an independent non-executive director after joining the Domino’s board in June 2024
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NewsAnother successful year for Fuller’s
The pubco has reported revenue of £397.8m for the year to 28 March 2026 - up 5.7% on the previous year - with strong staycation demand and advance bookings for the World Cup
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NewsLas Iguanas restructuring plan will secure ‘more sustainable’ future
A spokesperson for The Big Table Group told MCA that Las Iguanas continues to trade as normal, after the High Court approved a plan that would save it from entering into administration
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InterviewsRoss Shonhan: ‘Lilibet’s is an attempt at genuine hospitality’
The restaurateur speaks to MCA about founding and exiting Bone Daddies, opening Japanese steakhouses in the Middle East, and his latest venture in Mayfair
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NewsCaprinos and Zinglet secure 50-site agreement to launch in Spain
The franchised pizza chain and hot chicken brand, both founded by Khalil Rehman and Gul Nawaz, will open their first sites in Barcelona this August
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Analysis & InsightConsumer confidence rebounds in May
Spending in the hospitality & leisure category remained flat, but accommodation and leisure saw growth as consumer confidence returned to levels seen at the beginning of the year, according to Barclays