| Thursday 31st March 2022 |
| Time Out Markets reports revenue recovery, to devote more resource to expansion |
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Time Out Markets reports revenue recovery, to devote more resource to expansion: Time Out Market revenue increased by 295% to £11,867,000 in the six months to 31 December 2021. Adjusted Ebitda was minus £619,000 (2020: minus £4,847,00 … view |
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| Thursday 31st March 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Chik’n enters partnership with Soho House, to rebrand as Chicken Shop: Chik’n, the fried chicken concept backed by Sir Charles Dunstone, is to re … view |
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| Wednesday 30th March 2022 |
| Update: Shepherd Neame and Barkby Group results, food inflation |
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Shepherd Neame reports trade back to pre-pandemic levels, returns to profit: Kent-based brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame has reported sales have picked up “significantly” since the lifting of “Plan B” restrictions with trade no … view |
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| Wednesday 30th March 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Peach Pubs appoints advisors as it undertakes strategic review, secures further site: Gastropub operator Peach has appointed advisors as it undertakes a strategic review and seeks external investment to continue its growth plans, Propel h … view |
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| Tuesday 29th March 2022 |
| Ninja Warrior UK operator secures Imbiba investment, appoints former Côte MD Lisa Buckley as CEO |
| Ninja Warrior UK operator secures Imbiba investment, appoints former Côte MD Lisa Buckley as CEO: Leisure TV Rights (LTR), the experiential leisure operator, has secured backing from sector investor Imbiba, and appointed Lisa Buckley as its n … view |
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| Tuesday 29th March 2022 |
| Update: Ten Entertainment and AG Barr results, Pret sales |
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Ten Entertainment Group reports like-for-likes up 41.7% in early 2022 against pre-covid levels, anticipates record year of profitability: Ten Entertainment Group, the operator of 46 bowling and family entertainment centres, has reported i … view |
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| Tuesday 29th March 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Fireaway eyes 500-strong estate, makes international debut: Mario Aleppo, founder and chief executive of fast pizza brand Fireaway has told Propel he sees the potential for the business to grow to 500 sites within the next ten years. The … view |
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| Monday 28th March 2022 |
| Update: Starbucks, Brighton Pier Group, Domino’s, pint prices |
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Starbucks to open 140 new UK sites this year as British operation swings back to profit: Starbucks is to open 140 new coffee shops in the UK this year after its British operation swung back into profit after losses in 2020 and resumed pay … view |
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| Monday 28th March 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Nicholls – government needs to get behind hospitality’s ‘engine of growth’ if it wants to level up: Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has said that if the government wants to make significant progress on its levelli … view |
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| Friday 25th March 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Rishi’s alternative budget speech; collaboration no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; come back to what you know; what pubs can learn from FMCG Authors: Paul Chase; Katy Moses; Sam Ulph; Elliott Goldstein < … view |
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| Friday 25th March 2022 |
| Update: Everyman looks to accelerate openings, drink sales hit 2022 high |
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Everyman looks to accelerate openings programme with admissions returning to pre-covid levels: Cinema operator Everyman is looking to accelerate its openings programme as it reported admissions are returning to pre-covid levels. Group sal … view |
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| Friday 25th March 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Iberica in final stages of refinancing after exiting CVA two years early, set to return to expansion trail with first international site: Spanish restaurant group Iberica is in the final stages of a refinancing after exiting its company v … view |
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| Thursday 24th March 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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More anger directed at chancellor following failure to freeze VAT for hospitality in spring statement: Further anger has been directed at Rishi Sunak after the chancellor failed to announce any sector-specific support in his spring statem … view |
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| Wednesday 23rd March 2022 |
| Chancellor lambasted as hospitality gets no VAT freeze in spring statement with ‘thousands of jobs at risk’ |
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Chancellor lambasted as hospitality gets no VAT freeze in spring statement with ‘thousands of jobs at risk’: Hospitality leaders have blasted Rishi Sunak after the chancellor failed to announce any sector-specific support in his spri … view |
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| Wednesday 23rd March 2022 |
| Stonegate reports strong trading across group since January with business in ‘great shape’ |
| Stonegate reports strong trading across group since January with business in ‘great shape’: Stonegate Group has reported strong trading across the group since January with the business in “great shape” and a robust liquidity position. … view |
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| Wednesday 23rd March 2022 |
| Tasty reports return to profit, cautiously optimistic with up to six new openings planned |
| Tasty reports return to profit, cautiously optimistic with up to six new openings planned: Wildwood operator Tasty has reported sales of £34.9m (2020: £24.2m) in the 52 weeks to 26 December 2021, an increase of 44% year-on-year with 33 weeks … view |
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| Wednesday 23rd March 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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New competitive socialising concept Oche plans UK launch: Oche, a Norway-headquartered, interactive, darts-based competitive socialising concept, is planning to launch in the UK. The concept, which is backed by investment fund Karbon Inve … view |
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| Tuesday 22nd March 2022 |
| Portobello Starboard acquires five pubs from City Pub Group for £16.2m |
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Portobello Starboard acquires five pubs from City Pub Group for £16.2m: Portobello Starboard, the new acquisition platform backed by private equity firm Zetland Capital and operated by Portobello Brewery, has acquired five pubs from … view |
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| Tuesday 22nd March 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Chotto Matte wants to expand to 20 venues over next five years, close to signing for Manchester site: Chotto Matte, founded by Kurt Zdesar, wants to expand its brand – which is set to open its fourth venue next month – to 20 sites ove … view |
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| Monday 21st March 2022 |
| Update: Mowgli, VAT and NI rises, Marston’s, small brewers |
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Mowgli reports trade significantly up on pre-pandemic levels: Mowgli, the Indian street food concept led by Nisha Katona, has reported trading ‘materially above’ pre-pandemic levels since the lifting of restrictions in July 2021. The … view |
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| Monday 21st March 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Tim Martin – JD Wetherspoon’s recovery slower than expected, food prices will rise if VAT returns to 20%: JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has told Propel the business’ recovery has been slower than he expected and is having to gr … view |
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| Friday 18th March 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: A seminal moment for the industry, the impact of the pandemic on accessibility in hospitality, too many hospitality leaders still don’t know what they stand for (or against), a celebration of the pub Authors: Kate … view |
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| Friday 18th March 2022 |
| Update: JD Wetherspoon H1 lfl sales down 11.8%, return to more normal trading patterns in recent weeks |
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JD Wetherspoon H1 lfl sales down 11.8%, return to more normal trading patterns in recent weeks: JD Wetherspoon has this morning reported that its like-for-like sales in the 26 weeks to 23 January declined 11.8% compared to the six-month p … view |
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| Friday 18th March 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Rekom seeing customers stay 20% longer with trade 15% up on pre-pandemic levels, removes discounts, targets ten openings in 2022: Rekom UK chief executive Peter Marks has told Propel people are staying up to 20% longer in its venues while … view |
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| Thursday 17th March 2022 |
| Update: Deliveroo, Cineworld, Rishi Sunak on tax system |
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Deliveroo reports strong year of growth, with UK & Ireland’s orders up 72%: Deliveroo has reported a year in 2021 with gross transaction value (GTV) in the UK and Ireland up 71% year-on-year to £3.57bn. The company said that year-on-ye … view |
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| Thursday 17th March 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Hornby – it could be a rocky two quarters ahead, sector dining volumes down somewhere in the region of 15%: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group, the Wagamama and Brunning & Price operator, has said that there could be a … view |
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| Wednesday 16th March 2022 |
| Young’s appoints Simon Dodd as new CEO as Patrick Dardis steps down, Corbin & King legal battle intensifies |
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Young’s appoints Simon Dodd as new CEO as Patrick Dardis steps down: London pub retailer Young’s has announced Patrick Dardis will be stepping down as chief executive at this year’s annual general meeting on 5 July 2022. On that dat … view |
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| Wednesday 16th March 2022 |
| Update: TRG – Wagamama lfl sales up 21% in eight weeks to 27 February 2022 |
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TRG – Wagamama lfl sales up 21% in eight weeks to 27 February 2022: The Restaurant Group (TRG) has this morning reported that like-for-like sales in Wagamama were up 21% in the eight weeks to 27 February 2022, compared to the same perio … view |
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| Wednesday 16th March 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Osmond – investing in fledgling businesses still on the agenda, healthy pipeline in place for all concepts: Hugh Osmond, founder of Various Eateries, the Coppa Club and Tavolino operator, has said acquiring small groups or fledgling bus … view |
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| Tuesday 15th March 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Hostmore eyeing seven new openings a year, Scotland and north east outperforming FY19, trialling live music: Hostmore, the parent company of Fridays and the 63rd+1st concept in the UK, is looking to organically grow by circa seven sites a … view |
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| Monday 14th March 2022 |
| Brewdog pursues private prosecutions after private investigators probe ‘smear campaign’ against founder |
| Brewdog pursues private prosecutions after private investigators probe ‘smear campaign’ against founder: BrewDog is pursuing private prosecutions after saying private investigators found evidence of a smear campaign against founder James W … view |
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| Monday 14th March 2022 |
| Update: Hostmore, Nightcap, State of Play, Ukraine aide, inflation |
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Hostmore lfl revenues down c3% in eight weeks to 27 February: Hostmore, the parent company of Fridays and the 63rd+1st concept in the UK, has this morning reported that its like-for-like revenues for the eight weeks ending 27 February 20 … view |
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| Monday 14th March 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Managed groups grow like-for-like sales by 3% in February on pre-covid levels but cost stresses mount, restaurants enjoy strong month: The lifting of all covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups to r … view |
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| Monday 14th March 2022 |
| Managed groups grow like-for-like sales by 3% in February on pre-covid levels but cost stresses mount |
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Managed groups grow like-for-like sales by 3% in February on pre-covid levels but cost stresses mount, restaurants enjoy strong month: The lifting of all covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups to r … view |
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| Friday 11th March 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Ukraine crisis is a paradigm shift, the price of coffee and croissants, from one crisis to the next, being a female co-owner in 2022 Authors: Paul Chase, David Read, Gareth Ogden, Alison Wilson view |
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| Friday 11th March 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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McDonald’s – many UK restaurants doing more than 100 delivery orders a day, loyalty programme to launch in second quarter: Kevin Ozan, executive vice-president and chief financial officer at McDonald’s, has said many of the brand’ … view |
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| Thursday 10th March 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Black Sheep Coffee offers pipeline up to franchisees: London-based speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee, which has around 50 sites including circa 30 in London, is offering up its entire pipeline to prospective franchisees, … view |
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| Wednesday 9th March 2022 |
| Legal Briefing |
A reminder on the public safety objective by Luke Elford and Michelle HazlewoodThe licensing regime informs us that each of the four licensing objectives are of equal importance, but does that mantra ring true in practice? In our experi … view |
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| Wednesday 9th March 2022 |
| Exclusive: KFC appoints Neil Piper as interim UK & Ireland MD |
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Exclusive – KFC appoints Neil Piper as interim UK & Ireland MD: KFC has appointed Neil Piper, its current chief people officer, as interim managing director UK & Ireland, after the sudden departure of Paula MacKenzie, Propel has learned … view |
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| Wednesday 9th March 2022 |
| Paula MacKenzie steps down as KFC UK & Ireland MD, KFC franchisee reports £10m pre-tax profit |
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Paula MacKenzie steps down as KFC UK & Ireland MD: Paula MacKenzie has stepped down as managing director of KFC UK & Ireland, after just over five years in the role. Propel understands her departure was unexpected and Mackenzie is set to … view |
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| Wednesday 9th March 2022 |
| KPMG fined £875,000 for Revolution audit failings |
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KPMG fined £875,000 for Revolution audit failings: KPMG has been hit with another fine from the accountancy regulator for failings in its audit division. The Times reports that the accountancy giant has been severely reprimanded by the F … view |
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| Wednesday 9th March 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Greene King appoints new MD to oversee new investment in hotel division: Greene King, the Nick Mackenzie-led pub company, has appointed Vincent Madden as managing director of its Venture division, which will oversee new investment across … view |
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| Tuesday 8th March 2022 |
| Propel to launch fourth exclusive database – the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database |
| Propel to launch fourth exclusive database – the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database: Propel’s Premium subscribers will be given exclusive access to a new database early next month. The UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database will be a … view |
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| Tuesday 8th March 2022 |
| Greggs eyes 3,000-strong estate as it targets 150 new openings a year |
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Greggs eyes 3,000-strong estate as it targets 150 new openings a year: Greggs is to ramp up new openings to 150 a year – with an estate size target of 3,000 UK shops. Greggs has reported total sales up 5.3% on 2019 level to £1,229.7 mi … view |
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| Tuesday 8th March 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Christou – we could have done things faster, coffee subscription set to be a long-term staple of our brand: Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, has said the brand could have evolved faster and going forward a key part of th … view |
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| Monday 7th March 2022 |
| Nick Varney joins Marston’s board |
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Nick Varney joins Marston’s board: Marston’s has appointed Nick Varney as a non-executive director to the board, with effect from 1 July 2022. Varney will also join the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee. He has over … view |
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| Monday 7th March 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Metcalfe – at last we are back to 2019 sales, by June the ‘City will be rocking’: Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, the healthy Asian food chain, has told Propel the company’s sales are at last back to 2019 levels and he believes … view |
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| Friday 4th March 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Women still have some way to go, room for more, cutting down on wine wastage Authors: Ann Elliott, Sarah Travell, Glynn Davis Women still have some way to go by Ann Elliott“ … view |
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| Friday 4th March 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Ukraine invasion having ‘serious consequences’ for price of poultry: The Russian invasion of Ukraine is having “serious consequences” for the price of poultry in Europe, catering butcher Birtwistles has warned. With supply already … view |
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| Thursday 3rd March 2022 |
| Exclusive: Turtle Bay appoints advisors as it seeks new investment partner |
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Exclusive – Turtle Bay appoints advisors as it seeks new investment partner: Turtle Bay, the Caribbean restaurant brand backed by Piper, has appointed advisors as it seeks a new investment partner to help drive its further growth ambiti … view |
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| Thursday 3rd March 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Mission Mars to bring Albert’s Schloss to Liverpool with concept trading ‘phenomenally’, seven Rudy’s sites in legals: Mission Mars, led by Roy Ellis, is to bring its Albert’s Schloss concept to Liverpool. The company has been g … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd March 2022 |
| Update: Just Eat, Wendy's, Pret et al |
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Just Eat reports 52% increase in UK orders with market on ‘clear path to profitability’: Just Eat processed 289 million orders in the UK in 2021, representing a growth rate of 52% compared with the same period last year. Delivery ord … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd March 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Pitcher – we are holding firm on drink pricing until post-Budget: Rob Pitcher, chief executive of Revolution Bars Group, said the company was “holding firm” on its drink pricing until after the Budget, but had “recently taken 5% … view |
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| Tuesday 1st March 2022 |
| Sainsbury’s to open 30 more restaurant hubs with Boparan Restaurant Group as it transforms F&B offer |
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Sainsbury’s to open 30 more restaurant hubs with Boparan Restaurant Group as it transforms F&B offer: Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to open 30 more restaurant hubs in partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), after announcin … view |
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| Tuesday 1st March 2022 |
| Update: Revolution Bars Group, Dalata, Barkby Group and Chapel Down |
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Revolution Bars Group returns to profit as it reports like-for-likes up 6% on pre-covid levels since ‘Plan B’ restrictions end: Revolution Bars Group, which operates 67 bars trading mainly under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba … view |
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| Tuesday 1st March 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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City centres building back as hospitality sales rise, Bristol most vibrant but London recovery slower: Hospitality sectors in major British cities are recovering their vibrancy as covid restrictions wind down, new research has shown. The … view |
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