BrewDog starts work on £25m “biggest project” brewery: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has begun work on a £25m new brewery site at its headquarters in Ellon, Aberdeenshire aiming to increase production five-fold in what it des … view

Hotcha looks for franchisees after hiring Domino’s executives: Chinese delivery concept Hotcha is looking to recruit franchisees to turn the brand into the first national Chinese takeaway franchise in the UK. “Despite the enormous pop … view

AG Barr reports total sales down 1.1%: Soft drink group AG Barr has reported that total group sales, excluding the now divested Orangina brand and Findlays water coolers, declined by 1.1% for the 15 weeks to 9 May 2015 versus the same per … view

United Craft Brewers plan September conference: United Craft Brewers (UCB), the organisation set up earlier this month by the Scottish brewer BrewDog along with Camden Town Brewery and Beavertown Brewery of London, Magic Rock Brewing in … view

Cineworld reports revenues up 8.8%: Cineworld has reported revenues up 8.8% in the first 19 weeks of 2015 compared to last year. The company stated: “All territories have delivered year-on-year growth in admissions for the first 19 week … view

Fuller’s acquisition programme ‘driven by move of commuters to live outside London’: Fuller Smith & Turner’s pub acquisition programme is being driven by the desire to follow its customers, who are being forced out of London by h … view

CGA Peach – small branded chains grow outlets by 48% in three years: Branded restaurant chains are showing the fastest growth in the food and drink market, with smaller chains under 25 outlets showing the fastest growth of all, accordin … view

‘Super eight’ industry execs back Red’s True Barbecue: Fast-growing smokehouse concept Red’s True Barbecue has secured £5m of investment to fund expansion with backing from eight senior industry figures. The debt funding and equi … view

Whitbread names banker Alison Brittain as new ceo: Whitbread has named Alison Brittain as its next chief executive to succeed Andy Harrison, who has decided to retire from full time executive life at the end of February 2016. Brittain wil … view

Barclays survey of customers shows average 23% rise in pub sector turnover since 2012: There are encouraging signs of growth for the UK pub industry which has seen a rise in turnover and injection of new owners in the last three years, ac … view

Young’s reports 35% increase in profit before tax: London pub retailer Young’s has reported a 35% increase in profit before tax for the year to 30 March, up to £36.1m. Sales rose 7.7% to £227m and managed like-for-likes were up 6.5% … view

ALMR launches Casual Dining Manifesto: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has launched a Casual Dining Manifesto promoting the UK’s varied and innovative casual dining market. The Manifesto highlights the dynamism and … view

Loungers to open ‘flagship’ Cosy Club in Birmingham: Loungers, the all-day dining group backed by Piper Private Equity, will open its ninth Cosy Club site tomorrow (Friday) in a Grade II listed former banking hall in Birmingham. The l … view

C&C Group reports 10.3% net revenue growth: C&C Group, the branded cider, beer, wine and soft drinks producer, has reported net revenue growth of 10.3% to €683.9m for the year ended 28 February 2015. Operating profit of €115 million d … view

Enterprise outlines £500m a year takings target for managed pubs: Enterprise Inns' plan to create an estate of 800 managed pubs would produce turnover of around £500m if the company hits the mid-point of forecast sales levels for its th … view

Enterprise Inns plans 850 managed pubs by 2020: Enterprise Inns has reported it is planning as many as 850 managed pubs by 2020, with Geronimo Inns founder Rupert Clevely operating selected sites on a managed basis in the first of a numbe … view

Simon French – CMA ruling on Greene King's Spirit acquisition no worse than expected: Cenkos Leisure's analyst Simon French has called the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) ruling on Greene King's acquisition of Spirit "in line … view

Wetherspoon threatens legal action against competitors infringing trademark: Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has threatened to take legal action against a number of competitors which it says are promoting ‘meal deals’ which infringe trade … view

Craft brewers to join together to launch United Craft Brewers: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has revealed that it is to join other craft brewers in launching a new trade body called United Craft Brewers. BrewDog described the new a … view

Jamie Rollo - Enterprise Inns strategy review could lead to higher quality, smaller estate: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has forecast tomorrow strategy review announcement, updating on how it will maximise long-term value fr … view

Jamie Rollo – Enterprise Inns strategy review could lead to higher quality, smaller estate: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has forecast Enterprise’s Tuesday strategy review announcement, updating on how it will maximise lo … view

Just Eat lines up £445m Australian acquisition: Just Eat, the leading online and mobile marketplace for takeaway food, is to acquire Menulog Group for £445 million to be financed from the proceeds of an issue of new equity. Menulog is t … view

Steve Magnall takes St Peter’s Brewery top job: Award-winning St Peter’s Brewery has announced the appointment of Steve Magnall as its new chief executive. Magnall will lead and develop business for the Suffolk based brewery when he t … view

Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes up 1.7%: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales up 1.7% and total sales up 5.8% in the 13 week period up to 26 April 2015. In the year to date (39 weeks to 26 April 2015), like-for-like sales in … view

Greene King reports managed LfLs up 0.4%: Greene King has reported managed like-for-likes up 0.4% for the 51 weeks to 26 April 2015. It stated that managed like-for-like sales were up 0.8% without the impact of Scottish drink-driving regu … view

Zonal acquires liveRES: In a strategic bid to ‘create the UK’s most sophisticated and innovative online booking and table management system’, Zonal Retail Data Systems has acquired online bookings company liveRES. Established in 201 … view