All The Big Table Group articles
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NewsFrankie & Benny’s brings back ‘Kids Eat Free’ deal
TGI Fridays, Greene King, Whitbread, Azzurri Group and Burger King also have offers for childrens’ meals
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NewsSoy sauce ice cream? Banana Tree dips into umami dessert trend
Banana Tree has launched a Bangkok-inspired dessert, billed as the ‘most adventurous scoop you’ll try all summer’
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NewsThe Big Table Group tops £300m sales
Despite persistent inflation and cost of living challenges, a diversified portfolio and geographic spread have supported the group in driving sales and profitability while mitigating costs
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InterviewsBig Table turns to AI for sales forecasting and labour deployment
Speakers from The Big Table Group and Heartwood Collection discussed how tech can support functions beyond sales forecasting and labour scheduling at MCA’s Hostech
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NewsBig Table MD steps down
Leisure division managing director Debbie Husband is stepping down after 18 months at the group
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Event NewsHospitality leaders embrace loyalty integration, kiosk innovation and AI
Representatives from over 20 operators convened for MCA’s roundtable at Hostech 2025, with a wide-ranging discussion spanning loyalty integration, back-of-house AI, and customer-centric kiosk strategy
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EventsOperators share digital investment strategies at Hostech 2025
At this year’s Hostech, MCA contributing editor Peter Martin will head a panel of senior leaders from across the sector to examine the digital strategies that are helping operators stay competitive
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EventsFuture trends, AI, robotics and loyalty at Hostech 2025
Leading hospitality brands reveal the strategies, technologies and investment priorities shaping the future of guest experience next month
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NewsHostech boasts bumper line-up for 2025
Costa Coffee, Pizza Pilgrims, Pho, Turtle Bay, Comptoir and 200 Degrees join the line-up of panellists at MCA’s Hostech Conference next month
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Analysis & InsightFresh twists on festive feasting
MCA looks at the restaurant groups breaking the shackles to introduce their own takes on holiday dining, incorporating British traditions with flavours from afar
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NewsBig Table uses CRM to finetune portfolio
The Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s operator has consolidated its CRM platform to capitalise on cross-brand synergies and optimize its estate, MCA’s Hostech conference heard
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NewsBella Italia returns to expansion trail
The Bristol location, its fourth in the city, is believed to be a former Frankie & Benny’s, part of a trial to test how well it performs at locations previously inhabited by its Italian-American stablemate
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Analysis & InsightA fresh start for Frankie & Benny’s
MCA visits the Italian American concept’s newly revamped outpost at The Strand to explore whether the new direction and brunch can re-energise the legacy brand
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NewsBella Italia launches first loyalty app
The Italian restaurant chain will use the app to showcase new dishes, competitions and offers, with users eligible for a weekly £100 voucher giveaway in its ‘spin the wheel’ section
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InterviewsFrankie & Benny’s sales ‘much higher’ than wider market
Big Table Group is trialling a refreshed proposition at three sites and conversions to Bella Italia at a further two after discovering the Italian American brand is still making “massive average weekly sales”, CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA
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NewsBig Table Group sees turnover surpass £223m
The operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Banana Tree, and Café Rouge has identified material growth opportunities for the 75 sites it acquired from The Restaurant Group last year, along with testing several conversions
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NewsNew operations director at Bella Italia
The Big Table Group has appointed Andy Felton, who joins from PizzaExpress, as operations director for Bella Italia
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up the week’s biggest openings stories, including McDonald’s, Slim Chickens, Banana Tree, Taco Bell, and more
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NewsAnne Chow to step down as Banana Tree MD
She is stepping down after a “whirlwind 18 months” since the brand’s acquisitoin by Big Table Group, and will be replaced by Kate Wilton, formerly of Stonegate, Spirit and Whitbread
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NewsLarger chains report rebound this festive season
Smaller operators are braced for a difficult new year while bigger chains, such as Rare Restaurants and Hawksmoor, have seen bookings up by as much as 30%