Sector sales flatten in October as cost pressures mount: Britain’s top managed hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 0.6% in October 2024, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows. It marks … view

Exclusive – TDR Capital founding partner backs The Beefy Boys: Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, the backer of Stonegate Group and Popeyes UK, has become an investor in and director of The Beefy Boys, the Herefordshire bette … view

Licensed premises numbers increase for second successive quarter but Budget jeopardises recovery optimism: Britain’s number of licensed premises has increased for a second successive quarter, according to the new Hospitality Market Moni … view

Pizza Hut Restaurants UK operator seeks buyer amid Budget tax hike: Pizza Hut's biggest UK franchisee has begun approaching potential bidders as it scrambles to mitigate the looming impact of tax hikes announced in last month's Budget. He … view

Propel to launch definitive guide to the UK’s 500 largest hospitality companies: Propel is to launch a new and comprehensive guide to the top 500 hospitality companies in the sector, offering insights into the forces driving growth, inn … view

Exclusive – Gavin Adair to step down as Rosa’s Thai CEO, to be succeeded by Sarah Hills: Gavin Adair is to step down as chief executive of Rosa’s Thai, the TriSpan-backed business, at the end of this year, after seven and a half yea … view

Young’s – Budget will cost us £11m annually but will try not to pass on all the costs, managed house lfl revenue up 6% in last eight weeks accelerating to 9.2% in last three: Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd has said he expects t … view

Caffe Nero – we’ve been approached by a number of coffee businesses seeking investment: Gerry Ford, founder and chief executive of the Nero Group, the owner of Caffe Nero and Coffee#1, has said the company has been approached by a num … view

Exclusive – BGF acquires minority stake in Blacklock: Chophouse group Blacklock has sold a stake in its business to the Business Growth Fund (BGF). Filings at Companies House confirm the investment firm, which backs the likes of Mission … view

At the Propel Multi-Club Conference on 30 October, a day that was also notable for chancellor Rachel Reeves’ new Budget, I had the pleasure of diving into the evolving lan … view

Fuller’s reports strong current trading with lfl sales up 5.4% this year and Christmas bookings up 15%, ‘positive and optimistic’ despite Budget ‘challenges’: Fuller’s has reported strong current trading, with like-for- … view

Ole & Steen chair – we are getting more out of the existing business, past five weeks in the UK have been the best ever: David Campbell, chair of Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen, has said the company is getting more out its existing UK … view

BrewDog’s bars business narrows losses as turnover increases to almost £70m: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog’s bars business narrowed its losses in the year to 31 December 2023 as its turnover increased to almost £70m. BrewDog … view

Wendy’s UK MD – we’ll look to take on more franchisees here next year, and where we can’t, we’ll open more company stores: Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy’s UK and Europe, has said the brand will look to take on mor … view

Exclusive – Stonegate to launch two new formats into managed estate: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, is launching two new pub formats – Heritage Pubs and Pubsmiths – within its managed estate. Stonegate said the str … view

Exclusive – Spanish restaurant group Iberica placed on market: Iberica, the Spanish restaurant business, which currently operates four London sites and one in Leeds, has been placed on the market, Propel has learned. Iberica, which was … view

Various Eateries reports strong second half, company in a ‘strong position’ to mitigate effects of the Budget: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business, has reported a strong second half of the year following the return of to … view

TRG boss – golden rule is not to over-expand Wagamama, US is the classic curate’s egg: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has said the golden rule for the business is not to over-expand Wagamama and it is “d … view

Sector warns government of ‘business closures and job losses within a year’ due to Budget tax hikes: Many of the UK hospitality sectors leading companies have signed a letter to the chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning of the unprecedent … view

Papa John’s CEO – I’m proud of the work we have done in the UK over the past year, business set up for long-term success: Todd Penegor, president and chief executive at Papa John’s, has said he is “incredibly proud” of the wor … view

Exclusive – Angus Steakhouse plans return to expansion trail with new look as it targets younger demographic: Noble Hospitality Group – the group behind Japanese concept Chotto Matte, Steak and Company and Alley Cats Pizza – is to r … view

JDW – Q1 lfls sales up 5.9%, cost inflation has jumped substantially again following the budget: JD Wetherspoon has reported that its like-for-like sales in the first 14 weeks of its financial year to 3 November were 5.9% higher than t … view

Foodservice inflation eases for the 15th month but underlying pressures remain: Year-on-year inflation in the hospitality sector continued its downward trend in September, falling to 2.4%, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index r … view

Plans to ban smoking in pub gardens are scrapped: Pubs and bars have welcomed news that the government has formally scrapped plans to ban smoking in pub gardens. The government will today (5 November) introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill … view

Bosses rail at business secretary over ‘avalanche of costs’: Business leaders expressed frustration with ministers on Monday (4 November) amid a growing budget backlash that bosses said would trigger an “avalanche of costs” and … view

Hospitality no-shows back to record high: The number of consumers not showing up for their reservations in pubs, bars and restaurants is back to a record high, with 14% not honouring reservations or informing venues in advance. New figure … view

Australian doughnut brand targets nationwide UK expansion, ‘actively developing robust pipeline of future opportunities’: Australian doughnut brand Lena Lu Donuts has told Propel it is targeting nationwide UK expansion and “actively … view

Authors: Anthony Pender, < … view

Hakkasan sees UK revenue climb to $87m and losses widen to $6.9m in first year under new ownership: Hakkasan saw its revenue climb to $87m and losses widen to $6.9m in its first year under new ownership. The global restaurant group, origi … view

Exclusive – Our Yummy Collection founder warns prime minister – a regular at one of his pubs – that his Budget will punish small businesses, with ‘far reaching impacts’: Our Yummy Collection founder Anthony Pender has warned the … view

Deliveries rise and takeaways stabilise as restaurants grow at-home sales by 6% in September: Britain’s leading restaurant groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 6.0% in delivery and takeaway sales in September, according to CGA … view

Wingstop CEO – UK average unit volumes now exceeding $3m: Michael Skipworth, president and chief executive of Wingstop, has said that average unit volumes (AUV) for its business in the UK are now exceeding $3m (£2.3m). Skipworth was sp … view

Young’s CEO – Budget has kicked the can to 2026-2027 before we get certainty and real change: Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd has said the Budget has “kicked the can to 2026-2027 before we get certainty and real change”. Chan … view

Sector braces for Budget onslaught: Sector businesses are braced for a Budget onslaught that they claim will drive up costs and threaten livelihoods. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today (Wednesday, 30 October) hit corporate Britain with a … view

McDonald’s reports global lfls down 1.5% in third quarter with UK seeing fall in sales: McDonald’s has reported its global like-for-like sales fell 1.5% in its third quarter to 30 September 2024 compared with the previous year – wit … view

Honest Burgers reveals plans to quadruple in size by 2030 as it reports revenue hits £30m in first half of 2024: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has revealed it is aiming to quadruple in size by 2030 as it reported l … view

Minimum wage set to increase by more than 6%: The minimum wage is set to be increased by more than 6% next year putting further pressure on sector businesses. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to announce an increase that is well above infl … view

Exclusive – Doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany makes UK debut, three more in pipeline as it targets rapid expansion here: A doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany has made its UK debut, with three more … view

Half of UK’s hospitality businesses would cut jobs and cancel investment if business rates relief ends: Half of the UK’s hospitality businesses would cut jobs and cancel investment if business rates relief ends, sector trade bodies ha … view

Time Out confirms negotiations for new London market almost two years after abandoning previous plans: Time Out Group has confirmed it is in negotiations for a new food market in London – almost two years after scrapping plans to open a … view

Exclusive – Martin Williams steps down as CEO of Gaucho operator Rare Restaurants: Martin Williams has stepped down as chief executive of Rare Restaurants, the vehicle he helped to found that operates the Gaucho and M Restaurants brands … view

Exclusive – Pizza Pilgrims appoints advisors as it looks to embark upon next phase of its development: Neapolitan pizzeria brand Pizza Pilgrims has appointed advisors as it looks to embark on its next stage of growth, which will include … view

Exclusive – Rekom Group looks to make UK return with Proud Mary and Heidi’s brands: Rekom, which is backed by Danish private equity firm CataCap and operates circa 150 sites across Denmark, Finland and Norway, is looking to return to … view

Bagelstein aiming to make UK entry next year, in talks with franchisee about possible Midlands debut: French bagel brand Bagelstein has told Propel it is aiming to make its UK entry next year and is in talks with a franchisee about a poss … view

Starbucks suffers worst decline in sales since pandemic shutdown: Starbucks expects to report its worst decline in sales since the pandemic and suspended its annual forecast after global same-store sales fell 7% in the fourth quarter, acc … view

Sector sees sales rise 1.7% in September as restaurants lead the way: Britain’s leading hospitality groups recorded year-on-year sales growth of 1.7% in September with restaurants leading the way, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospi … view

Exclusive – Papa John’s UK MD – we will return to profitability in 2025, refranchised stores performing up to 15% better: Papa John’s UK managing director Chris Phylactou has told Propel the business will return to profitability i … view

Exclusive – Fulham Shore to launch new crispy pizza concept called Super Club Roma: Fulham Shore, the Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator, is to launch a new concept – Super Club Roma – before the end of the year, in London, Pr … view