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All articles by Shwetali Sapte – Page 9
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NewsGlobal Brands founder joins publicans in banning Labour MPs from premises
Steve Perez, who also operates pubs and hotels in the Midlands, said the prime minister “lied to his face” about business rates
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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