Phoebe Fraser
Phoebe Fraser joined as news editor with extensive experience in B2B food journalism, covering all corners of the industry, from ingredient manufacturing to business strategy, trends, and sustainability. She has a specialist focus on cellular agriculture, having previously led The Cell Base, the first magazine dedicated to the sector.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 44 (0)1293 846570
- Email:
- phoebe.fraser@mca-insight.com
InterviewsActivate targets 30 sites as We Do Play eyes national expansion
We Do Play co-founder Richard Beese tells MCA the business is pushing for rapid expansion after the “phenomenal” response to its first UK location
NewsPatisserie Valerie owner posts full-year loss
Flour Power Group’s total sales held steady at £25.3m, with growth in online and wholesale helping to balance out higher costs
NewsVarious Eateries reports profit growth as new sites lift sales
Like-for-like sales during the period were flat, reflecting the later timing of Easter this year, but have since risen 1.3% in the five weeks of post-period trading
NewsIndian chefs to access UK hospitality roles under new trade deal
Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the deal includes “modest changes” to business mobility, with a cap of 1,800 professionals able to access the UK
NewsPopeyes UK appoints Jo Vaughton as CMO
Joining in June, Vaughton most recently worked at PizzaExpress as marketing director and has held senior roles at InterContinental Hotels Group and Celebrity Cruises
NewsJD Wetherspoon posts 5.6% LFL sales uplift
Total sales increased 5% in the quarter and 4.2% year to date, slightly behind LFLs due to a small number of disposals. The operator exited seven sites during the period but offset this with two openings and four additional pubs launched with Haven
NewsTasty returns to profit following site closures and restructuring
Revenue dropped 21.9% to £36.6m, largely due to the reduced estate and one fewer trading week, while LFL sales declined 4.5%
InterviewsBig Fang prepares for growth with streamlined model and site upgrades
The experiential leisure operator is focusing on brand consistency and operational refinement as it prepares for its next phase of growth, with no new site openings planned in 2025
InterviewsCRG targets 10 Mowchi sites by end of 2025
The Asian street food concept is set to reach 10 UK sites by the end of the year, with four to five openings planned in the near term
InterviewsHeineken to invest £40m in Star Pubs in 2025
The investment will support community pubs across rural and suburban locations, with 104 of the sites receiving large-scale refurbishments of £120k or more, in a bid to “make them more relevant to a broader number of consumers”, Chris Moore, Star Pubs property director, tells MCA
NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, including Wetherspoon, Dishoom, Knoops, and more
InterviewsAfrikana to reach 25 UK sites this summer, eyes international growth
The City Restaurants Group brand is set to open around ten sites a year going forward, managing director Matthew Wood tells MCA
NewsOakNorth backs Loungers growth with £30m
The funding will help accelerate Loungers’ site rollout strategy, with plans to open more than 30 new venues annually across the UK
NewsCUPP unveils Express format for rapid boba expansion
The compact grab-and-go units are aimed at convenience retail, gyms, service stations, restaurants, holiday parks and more and promise fast setup and return on investment
InterviewsSlice & Dice: ‘We could have ten sites by the year-end’
The EHG business is gearing up to expand its New York-style pizza concept following early signs of success and growing demand for pizza by the slice
NewsBoardwalk: hospitality’s new mentoring programme for future women board leaders
The initiative was unveiled on Wednesday at a packed industry event at The Fable, marking the opening of applications for the inaugural 12-month programme
NewsIntroducing episode 2 of The Takeaway, with Wingstop UK CEO Chris Sherriff
In our second episode, Wingstop UK CEO Chris Sherriff reflects on the brand’s ambitious growth and how it’s scaling with confidence through a flexible, multi-format model
Analysis & InsightHalal QSR is growing – but how are brands navigating the complexities?
While some operators are embracing the shift, others remain cautious, with challenges over operational complexity, consumer sentiment, and commercial strategy
NewsRoadchef appoints Tim Gittins as CEO
The appointment follows the departure of former chief executive Mark Fox, who announced the move in January
InterviewsWagamama surpasses 1m loyalty members as omnichannel grows
CEO Thomas Heier tells MCA the programme is already driving “positive movements to member visit frequency” since launching in 2024, with further functionality and features in the pipeline