SSP shareholders in revolt over chairman and remuneration: The board added: “Specifically, the board and the Management team believe that Mr Sørensen’s knowledge of the business and extensive experience brings many benefits to the gr … view

Burger van owner sees off legal threat from McDonald’s over branding and name: The owner of a burger van from Norwich has seen off a legal threat from McDonald’s after he was accused of infringing the company’s trademark. Matthew Co … view

Greggs reports like-for-likes up 3.2% in first eight weeks of 2018: Greggs has reported total sales up 7.4% to £960.0m (2016: £894.2m) in the year to 31 December 2017. Company-managed shop like-for-like sales were up 3.7% (2016: 4.2%). … view

JW Lees reorganises business as it adds two hotels to portfolio: North west brewer and retailer JW Lees has reorganised its business to build capacity for future acquisitions as it adds two hotels to its portfolio, Propel has learned. The … view

Caffè Nero reports 2.8% like-for-like sales growth: Caffè Nero has announced its UK results for the period from June 1 2016 to May 31 2017, showing sales up 8% and like-for-like sales growth of 2.8%. In the period from June 1 2017 to De … view

Average spend on late-night out rises 13.8%: The average spend by people on a night out between November and January rose 13.8% to £59.49 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Deltic Night Index. The report fou … view

Ei Group to launch ‘barrel top’ pizza concept: Ei Group is launching a “barrel top” pizza concept to help its publicans tap into the pizza market. The new offer will be unveiled at EiLive2018 – Ei Publican Partnerships’ annual … view

ALMR and BHA vote to merger to form UKHospitality: Overwhelming support from ALMR and BHA members yesterday triggered a merger and the creation of UKHospitality, a strong, united voice for the hospitality sector. UKHospitality will be the … view

More than quarter of out-of-home visits involve deal or promotion: More than one-quarter (28%) of out-of-home visits involve some form of deal or promotion, according to new data from insights firm NPD Group. And, with the figure amountin … view

Hotel Chocolat reports revenue and Ebitda boost: Hotel Chocolat Group has reported revenue increased 15% to £71.7m for the 26 weeks ended 31 December 2017 compared with £62.5m the previous year. Underlying Ebitda was up 15% to £15.8m c … view

Dark Star to pause on pub expansion to concentrate on new Fuller’s partnership: James Cuthbertson, managing director of West Sussex-based brewer and retailer Dark Star, has told Propel the company is pausing expansion of its pub estate … view

Union says KFC’s chickens have ‘come home to roost’ as majority of UK sites close due to delivery woes: The GMB union has said the chickens have “come home to roost” after a mass chicken shortage forced KFC to close 750 of its 9 … view

DHL delivery problems shuts KFC sites: Delivery company DHL has apologised after multiple KFC branches were forced to close when their chicken wasn’t delivered. The problems arose just four months after the courier company promised to … view

Sticks 'n' Sushi reports turnover and Ebitda growth: The UK operation of Danish company Sticks 'n' Sushi has reported turnover rose to £15.6m (2016: £12.8m) in the year to 30 June 2017. Ebitda increased to £2.3m compared with £1m the … view

Individual Restaurants to open five Gino D’Acampo sites this year as total brand turnover nears £100m: Individual Restaurants has said it will open at least five sites this year under its joint venture with chef Gino D’Acampo as the … view

McDonald’s to offer more balanced children’s meals around the globe by end of 2022: McDonald’s has revealed plans to offer more balanced children’s meals around the globe by the end of 2022. The company said at least 50% of childr … view

Deep Blue Restaurants expands after reducing debt: Fish and chip brand Deep Blue Restaurants is adding an expected eight sites to its 21-strong portfolio after reducing debt. The company converted loan notes to new shares in October 2017, … view

Sector like-for-likes up 0.6% in January, drink-led businesses to see further growth with recovery for ‘well-run, sophisticated restaurant brands’: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant chains saw collective like-for-like sales incre … view

Sector like-for-likes up 0.6% in January, drink-led businesses to see further growth with recovery for ‘well-run, sophisticated restaurant brands’: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant chains saw collective like-for-like sales incre … view

Cost of Premier League football rights dampened in latest auction: Sky and BT have agreed to pay £4.46 billion for rights to the majority of live Premiership matches. Five out of seven packages of matches have been awarded in the current … view

Russell Norman – Spuntino’s move into UK airports allows us to reach a new audience as well as location: Restaurateur Russell Norman has told Propel that Spuntino’s move into UK airports with The Restaurant Group Concessions (TRG Co … view

Spuntino partners with TRG Concessions to open restaurants in UK airports: Restaurant entrepreneurs Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, the pair behind Polpo, have signed an exclusive franchise agreement with The Restaurant Group (TRG) Con … view

Red’s True Barbecue closes only London site to ‘consolidate efforts in the regions’: American smokehouse chain Red’s True Barbecue has closed its only London site as it looks to “consolidate its efforts in the regions”. The co … view

Consumer spending falls to its lowest in five years: Britons cut their January spending on consumer goods for the first time in five years as concerns about household finances and the wider economy in the year ahead begin to bite. Worried … view

Imbiba closes £50m fund for high-growth UK leisure and hospitality businesses: Imbiba, the specialist leisure and hospitality investment group, has closed the Imbiba Growth Fund at its hard cap target of £50m. With an investment of £30 … view

Jamie’s Italian receives CVA approval from creditors: Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group has had its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) approved by creditors, which is set to lead to the closure of at least 12 Jamie’s Italian sites. Under … view

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Gusto raises £50,000 for Tim Bacon Foundation: Italian casual dining group Gusto has raised more than £50,000 for the Tim Bacon Foundation. The group’s 19 restaurants collected donations from diners across January. Tim Bacon was the c … view

Bill to reform Scotland’s tied pub sector receives cross-party support: A new bill to reform Scotland’s tied pub sector has secured cross-party support. The Tied Pubs Bill, proposed by Labour MSP Neil Bibby, would create a statutory P … view

TGI Friday’s boss contacts Propel to dispel ‘nonsense’ closures stories: TGI Friday’s chief executive Karen Forrester has contacted Propel to quash “nonsense” regional news stories suggesting site closures and financial distre … view

Revolution Bars Group announce Rob Pitcher a new chief executive: Revolution Bars Group has announced the appointment of Rob Pitcher as its new chief executive. The joining date will be advised in due course. The company stated: “Rob ha … view

UK hotel sector ‘approaching top end of the market’ as softening revpar growth continues, 2017 transaction volumes almost double: UK hotels saw continued softening revpar growth in the fourth quarter of the year suggesting the sector … view

UK consumers to prioritise discretionary leisure spending: Consumer spending on eating and drinking out, in-home leisure, and culture and entertainment all increased during the fourth quarter of 2017, with consumers set to prioritise disc … view

Simmons Bars plans seven sites a year as it steps up expansion following private equity investment, adds two more venues: Nick Campbell, chief executive of London-based Simmons Bars, has told Propel the company plans to open seven sites a … view

Upham Group reports like-for-likes up 4.0% as it makes first pre-tax profit: Upham Group, the operator of 16 premium pubs across the south of England with its own regional brewery, has reported like-for-like sales grew 4.0% for the year e … view

Booker’s Charles Wilson to join Tesco board: Tesco has announced that upon completion of the merger with Booker Group, expected to be 5 March 2018, Booker chief executive Charles Wilson will be appointed as chief executive of Tesco’s … view

SSP reports progress in franchising its own brands: Transport hub foodservice specialist SSP, which operates a portfolio of 400 brands and concepts, has begun to franchise its own brands, including Millie’s Cookies, Upper Crust and Rita … view

Camerons to continue Head of Steam expansion with Nottingham and Leicester sites: Camerons Brewery is to continue expansion of its The Head of Steam brand by opening sites in Nottingham and Leicester. The Nottingham venue is due to open i … view

Scottish multi-site operators outperform independents, Christmas sales poor overall: Multi-site operators in Scotland outperformed single-siters during the festive period with overall sales in the country proving poor, according to the Sc … view

Casual Dining Group acquires contract to operate DUBL wine bar in UK: Casual Dining Group (CDG) has acquired an exclusive contract from Italian wine producer Feudi di San Gregorio to operate DUBL wine bars in the UK as it continues to exp … view

Comptoir Group reports trading ‘above market expectations’: Comptoir Group, the operator of Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean restaurants, has reported that ‘despite a difficult market backdrop, the directors are pleased to report … view

Sector will overpay business rates by £10bn by 2025 without taxation overhaul, warns ALMR: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has warned that without government action to overhaul business taxation, the hospitality sec … view