Marston’s CEO – H1 a period of significant momentum, lfl sales up 2.9%: Justin Platt, chief executive of Marston’s, has said the company’s first half has been “a period of significant momentum” for the business, as it posted l … view

Yorkshire Mexican restaurant concept to launch first franchise sites this year as it eyes UK-wide presence before expanding globally: Yorkshire Mexican restaurant concept Mexi Bean Express is set to launch its first franchise sites this y … view

JKS cements leadership team as it enters next phase of growth: JKS Restaurants has promoted Joanne Searley, formerly chief operating officer, to managing director of Sabor, Berenjak, Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar, and Laura Irving, f … view

Mayor of London launches £300,000 fund to boost al fresco dining and late-night openings: Plans to help London’s bars and restaurants offer al fresco dining have been boosted after Sir Sadiq Khan announced a £300,000 fund to support v … view

Exclusive – David Page raises first round of funding for new venture, in discussions on debut investment: Industry veteran David Page has secured the first round of fundraising for his new sector-focused investment venture, and has begu … view

Soho House returns to profit in first quarter after covid insurance payout, UK membership numbers up 50.5% in three years: Members’ club group Soho House has reported a net profit of $8.2m in the 13 weeks to 30 March 2025 compared with … view

Exclusive – JD Wetherspoon to open first high-street franchise pub: JD Wetherspoon is to open its first high-street franchise pub. The company has agreed a deal with Thompson Holdings to launch the pub in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The … view

Joe & The Juice reports record year, plans to have 1,000 stores within the next four years with UK key focus: Joe & The Juice, the juice and cafe bar brand, has reported record revenue in 2024, up 17% to DKK 2.8bn (£320m), as it set out … view

Exclusive – True acquires stake in German Doner Kebab, eyes £1bn system sales by end of 2028: Private equity group True has made a “strategic investment” in the circa 170-strong German Doner Kebab (GDK) brand, to support its contin … view

Exclusive – WatchHouse to expand London footprint with acquisition of five ex-Oree sites: Specialty coffee business WatchHouse is to further expand its footprint in London after acquiring five former Orée Boulangerie sites, following t … view

Exclusive: JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin – we’ve signed a new franchise agreement ‘in a slightly different space’: JD Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin has told Propel the company has signed a new franchise agreement “in … view

Jamie Oliver Restaurants – it feels like there’s lots of opportunity for us in the US, set to enter luxury hotel market: Ed Loftus, global restaurant group director at Jamie Oliver Restaurants, has told Propel that the business is set … view

Itsu founder – this will be our best year ever, we always knew franchising would take time: Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, has told Propel the business is on track to report its best year ever, and the c … view

Activist investor’s play for SSP Group sets stage for takeover: Activist investor Irenic Capital Management is building a stake in SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, and plans to push … view

McDonald’s CEO – the market share losses in the UK are to the people that we should be beating: Chris Kempczinski, chief executive of McDonald’s, has said that the market share the business has lost in the UK is to “to the people … view

Whitbread reports plans to optimise F&B offer ‘on track’ with 38 branded restaurants sold for £38m, full-year revenue down in ‘softer’ hotel market: Whitbread has reported its plan to optimise its food and beverage offer is “on … view

Starbucks CEO – UK business starting to gain market share and seeing positive like-for-like sales, cutting staff for automation has failed: Starbucks chief executive Brian Niccol has said the UK business has started gaining market share … view

Greene King revenue up 3.2% in year of transition: Greene King saw revenue increase 3.2% to £2.45bn in the 12 months to 29 December 2024, with all four divisions experiencing growth, in what it said was a year of transition as it shifted … view

Starbucks franchisee aiming to almost triple the size of both its UK and overseas F&B estates in the next five years: Starbucks and KFC franchisee Queensway is aiming to almost triple the size of both its UK and overseas estates in the ne … view

Britain’s managed groups’ like-for-likes fall 0.6% in March but pub sales heat up in the sunshine: Britain’s managed groups’ like-for-like sales fell 0.6% in March, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. It complete … view

Yumpingo acquired by US platform Black Box Intelligence: Black Box Intelligence (BBI), the US restaurant data and operational performance solution platform, has acquired guest experience management and survey platform Yumpingo. BBI said t … view

Deliveroo shares climb as CEO set for £172m payout if deal agreed: Shares in Deliveroo climbed 27.4p to 174p in initial trading this morning after the board of the delivery firm said late last week that it would be “minded to recommend … view

WatchHouse – 62% revenue growth in FY24, second US opening imminent, plans ten openings in 2026: Specialty coffee business WatchHouse has told Propel it remains focused on deepening its presence in London and New York, while laying the … view

Ivy Collection sees profit and turnover grow despite inflationary headwinds, lines up Nottingham launch as it looks to add to estate: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant chain, saw its profit and turnover grow in the … view

Deliveroo opens the door to £2.7bn takeover: Deliveroo has indicated it is open to a £2.7bn takeover by US rival Doordash. The food delivery firm said today (Friday, 25 April), after markets closed, that it had received a proposal from … view

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Propel to launch ‘deep-dive’ parallel sessions at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference: Propel is launching “parallel sessions” at this year’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, which offer the chance to deep- … view

Chocoberry aiming for 100 locations as its targets Turkey for next overseas market: Dessert brand Chocoberry has said it is aiming to grow to 100 locations, as its targets Turkey for its next overseas market. Founded in Leicester in 2018 … view

Domino’s reports positive sales growth in first quarter with delivery up but collection down, most of targeted 50 new stores for 2025 to open in second half: Domino’s has reported positive sales growth in the first quarter of 2025, wi … view

Hospitality market stability under threat from new costs with 20 net closures per week in first quarter of 2025: Britain’s pub, restaurant and hotel market has achieved marginal growth in outlets over the last 12 months, the new Hospita … view

Hospitality market stability under threat from new costs with 20 net closures per week in first quarter of 2025: Britain’s pub, restaurant and hotel market has achieved marginal growth in outlets over the last 12 m … view

Exclusive – Federal Cafe appoints advisors as it targets growing a national presence: Manchester cafe concept Federal Cafe, which offers Australian and New Zealand-inspired brunch dishes, has appointed advisors as it looks to secure new … view

Greene King to invest £10m into Hickory’s this year, plans to triple size of chain by 2030: Brewer and retailer Greene King has said it plans to invest £10m into its American-style smokehouse and barbecue brand Hickory’s this year, … view

Exclusive – Loungers CEO invests in Bosco Pizzeria: Nick Collins, chief executive of café bar operator Loungers, has invested in pizza concept Bosco Pizzeria, Propel has learned. Propel understands that Collins, who has been chief exec … view

Stonegate well-positioned to ‘maintain trajectory of profitable growth’: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has said it is “well positioned to maintain our trajectory of profitable growth”. It comes as the group rep … view

Giggling Squid co-founder – new labour costs mean focus on larger sites and a possible rethink on how big we can grow, casual dining sector will be a very different place in a decade: Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Giggling Squid, the T … view

Exclusive – Big Mamma Group to open four new UK sites this year as turnover nears record £45m: Big Mamma Group, which is backed by McWin, has said it plans to open four new UK sites in 2025 as it reported turnover increased to a record … view

Jonathon Swaine to step down as Shepherd Neame MD, Pubs: Kent brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame has announced that Jonathon Swaine is to step down as managing director, Pubs, on 17 April 2025. Swaine, formerly of Rank Group and Fuller� … view

Caprinos looking to make motorway services and airport debuts and seeking to grow company-owned estate: Fast-growing pizza franchise Caprinos has told Propel it is looking for its first motorway services and airport locations this year an … view