Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Morning Briefing for pub, restaurant and food wervice operators

Wed 15th Oct 2014 - Propel Wednesday News Briefing

Story of the Day

Intertain flies the flag for sector by winning three awards at Benefits Excellence: Walkabout operator Intertain picked up three of the 14 awards at the Benefits Excellence Awards, holding off competition from several well-known brands, including IBM, Warburton’s, Kellogg, DHL, Yahoo, Samsung and Specsavers. The awards recognise excellence in human resources, and specifically the continued innovation and success of voluntary benefits programmes. Intertain won the title of "Benefits Pioneer" for the work it put into its voluntary benefits platform, My Intertain, born from a company-wide engagement survey which ran in 2012 and identified the need to implement a three-tier benefits platform that would financially assist employees by giving them great discounts at popular high-street retailers as a thank-you for their hard work; act as a centralised communications channel which brought together all venues across the company; and gave the opportunity to recognise star performers within the company. It also won the prize for "Most Successful Targeted Approach to a Workforce Demographic" for displaying what the judges said was an "excellent understanding of [its] workforce in relation to choosing the most effective communication channels". The challenge was to promote the new available benefits to its young and generally offline employees, who have no computer access in their day-to-day working lives. Channels utilised were text messages, Facebook and Twitter feeds, area meetings, posters and HTML emails. The activity has resulted in a 95% engagement in the platform to date. Lastly it won the Grand Prix presented for going above and beyond. Intertain was seen as the most outstanding company across all the award sectors. Chief executive John Leslie said: “We are delighted to have won these awards, and are especially proud of the Grand Prix. To look around the room and see the companies we beat is a real credit to our HR team. They’ve worked incredibly hard and deserve this success.”

Industry News:

UK’s top expert on multi-site management publishes new book: Professor Chris Edger, Mitchells & Butlers' executive director of service, productivity and human resources until 2010 and now the UK’s leading academic authority on multi-site management, publishes his latest book today. The book (number three in a four book series), ‘Professional Area Management – Leading at a Distance in a Multi-Site Enterprises’, is packed with real-life case studies from UK operators and executives of retail companies such as Burberry, Sainsbury’s and St Gobain and hospitality organisations and brands including YO! Sushi, Hungry Horse, Stonegate Pub Company, Harvester, Loungers and many others. Professor Edger’s new book is packed with practical "how to" tips and lists on how area managers can "close down the distance" between themselves and their units to accelerate organic growth. Vanessa Hall, chief executive of YO! Sushi, has said that the book “is a must have tool for all area managers!” Paul Charity, managing director of Propel Info, said: “The book is a banquet of outstanding ideas and techniques, written by the UK’s leading multi-site management expert.” Professor Edger’s new book, which costs £19.95, is now available from Amazon.co.uk Books.

US restaurant industry posts best results in two years: The restaurant industry in the United States posted its best sales results in more than two years during the third quarter of 2014, amid continuing signs of economic growth, according to the latest Restaurant Industry Snapshot from TDn2K's Black Box Intelligence and People Report, based on weekly sales from more than 20,000 restaurant units representing more than $45bn in annual revenue. Like-for-like sales grew 1.6% during the quarter, a 1.3% increase over the previous three months, and the best quarter for the industry since the first quarter of 2012. The industry saw positive same-store sales for the second consecutive quarter, a first since the second half of 2012. The gain came after strong industry performance in September, when like-for-like sales rose 2.2%.

Number of UK wine producers grows: The number of new wine producers in the UK has risen sharply, according to new research. In the year to 31 March, 46 new producers registered with the taxman, up from 31 in 2012-13, according to the accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young. There are now 135 UK producers registered with HMRC, the firm said. It said that the growth has been driven by consumers' greater interest in niche, locally produced food and drink, but also that tax changes have helped. Roy Maugham, head of tax at UHY Hacker Young, said: "Consumer interest in boutique products continues to grow. Food products such as artisan cheeses and organically reared meats, and drinks such as craft beer and artisan spirits, have been the focus of increased demand. Now, we're seeing the same thing in the UK's once-mocked wine industry. English wines have enjoyed a genuine renaissance over the last couple of years and are now being taken seriously on the international stage."

Luke Johnson – a warm company culture is no guarantee of financial success: Sector investor Luke Johnson has argued that a warm company culture does not automatically lead to financial success. In his Financial Times column he wrote: “There are two extremes of corporate culture: the hard-driving, aggressive category; and the warm, open-hearted type. But which is more successful at motivating a team, and delivering outstanding financial results? Of the 50-odd businesses I’ve backed over three decades, only a minority had exceptional company cultures. All three cared more in some respects about their staff and customers than the bottom line. This emphasis paid off for the shareholders when the business had an intrinsically strong franchise. Sadly, having happy staff and customers does not always guarantee a sustainable economic structure. I’ve lost money in sectors such as films and bookselling where everybody enjoys the ride except the capital providers.”

People 1st – sector labour turnover is 20% a year: The latest research insight report from People 1st shows that the labour turnover for the hospitality industry is 20%. This means that approximately 366,000 people leave the sector each year. The report also reveals that the hospitality industry currently rely on young workers with a third (34%) of the employees aged under 25, against one in eight (12%) in the economy as a whole. There are significant differences across the industry, but typically pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants seem to attract a younger workforce, with two in three waiting staff and three in five bar staff under 25. According to the European Commission, by 2030 the European working age population will have shrunk by 13m, the equivalent of 4%. The trends suggest that from a labour market prospective this could means that the working population will not be big enough to support economic growth by as early as 2020.

Company News:

Wahaca Cardiff to open in November, Brixton this week: The Mexican-themed restaurant Wahaca has revealed that it will be opening its outlet near St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, its first outside London, on Thursday 13 November. A Mexican City street artist, Le Super Demon, has been commissioned to create murals for inside the restaurant. Co-founder Thomasina Miers told Wales Online: “This will be the biggest thing we’ve done since first opening in London. It is really exciting that we’ll be bringing our fresh Mexican flavours to Cardiff, of all places. I’m mad about Wales, having spent most of my childhood holidays at my grandmother’s near Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, many holidays since in Anglesey, Monmouth, Abergavenny, Snowdonia, North Wales and South. We want Wahaca Cardiff to be very much a part of the local community, and at the same time give our guests an experience that transports them to the streets of Mexico.” Meanwhile, Wahaca opens its long-awaited outlet in Brixton, South London, on the site of a former pub, this Friday.

Yates’s takes inspiration from street food culture with new menu: Stonegate Pub Company’s Yates’s chain has taken inspiration from the latest food trends, street food, customisation, "dirty burgers" and Americana influences, as it launches its new menu across its core estate. After a successful trial, fourteen new dishes have been rolled out across all sections of the menu. On-trend dishes making their mark include blueberry pancakes served for breakfast or as a dessert; bacon and maple syrup pancakes and porridge topped with syrup and blueberries for breakfast; an all-American sharing platter; sloppy mac burger, a classic burger topped with chopped bacon and macaroni cheese; and Carolina glazed pork belly. Elsewhere, the lunchtime choices give a nod to street food with two new quirky-named flatbreads, Meat the Greek and BBQ Pig, while the lower calorie choices, all under 500 calories, include a new Thai-style yellow chicken curry and a grilled rump steak salad. Rooster Booster is one of two new chicken dishes on the menu – it contains half a chicken, chicken wings and Southern fried-style chicken strips. All across the menu, diners are invited to customise their dishes to suit their palate by adding favourite sauces and side dishes. Alan Armstrong, head of marketing for Yates’s, said: “The street food culture is having a huge influence on casual dining sector in the UK and at Yates’s we have been quick to recognise that and adapt our men. The look and tone of our menu has changed too. We’ve made it fun with a few quirky-named dishes and have added some great pictures of our food choices so customers can really get those taste buds watering.”

Mitchells & Butlers food poisoning fatality trial begins: The manager and chef of a Mitchells & Butlers Ember Inns pub in Hornchurch, Essex falsified food safety records after its reheated Christmas Day lunch killed a diner and left 32 others severely ill, a court was told. Della Callagher, 46, died two days after eating at the Railway Hotel on Station Lane from an illness caused by the clostridium perfringens bacterium. The pub landlady, Anne-Marie McSweeney, 40, and its cook, Mehmet Kaya, 37, did not carry out proper temperature checks on the turkey dinners as the meat was cooking and cooling, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told. They failed to fill in the “daily kitchen due diligence log” at the pub, owned by Mitchells & Butlers, and hastily made up the records when confronted by food hygiene inspectors. Checks on seven M&B pubs in east London and Essex showed food safety standards were not enforced by the parent company, the court was told. The pub company, based in Birmingham, is on trial for failing to enforce its due diligence procedures and food hygiene standards in its pubs and restaurants, and faces two charges of placing unsafe food on the market. McSweeney, of Suttons Avenue, Hornchurch, and Kaya, of Waterlane, Purfleet, deny placing unsafe food on the market and perverting the course of justice by allegedly falsifying their food safety records. McSweeney further denies a charge of obstructing an officer in the course of their duty by handing falsified documents to food safety inspectors. The trial continues.

Robot Pub Group installs first Robobar in Wales: The Robot Pub Group, which sell self-service beer pumps operated via iPads, has made its first installation in Wales, in the independent family-run Westbourne in Brynymor Road, Swansea. Customers order a special card at the bar, or via iPads fixed to one of three tables. They then place the card under a sensor near the iPad, which allows them to pour a pint or half-pint from pumps there. At the moment there are only two choices of lager, but using the iPad customers can also order other drinks or snack and bar staff will bring them over to the table. In addition, customers can use the cards at self-service pumps on the wall near the entrance of the pub, which dispense a total of seven lagers, ciders and a pale ale. However, after three pints per person, the system flags up to bar staff that they need to make a visual check to make sure customers are not just sitting there getting over-inebriated. Landlord Mark Lingwood said the new ordering system had been a big investment but was already proving popular with punters. The hardware was installed at the pub months ago but Lingwood has had to clear licensing hurdles to enable the system to go live. He refuted the suggestion that staff numbers would be reduced, saying that there was work keeping an eye on the orders and ferrying drinks over to waiting customers. The pub's self-service system is the first of its type in Wales, he said, and only the third installed in a pub in the UK. The other installations are both in London, the Lazy Fox in Fulham and the Thirsty Bear in Stamford Street, Southwark.

Cook & Indi plans £1m world buffet for Motherwell: The Scottish buffet restaurant operator Cook & Indi is planning a £1m world buffet Restaurant in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The new venue will open on Airbles Road. Cook Gill and Indi Singh launched the company in 2011 and have sites in Hamilton, Uddingtson and Glasgow city centre. The company revealed last week that it would be taking over the Harry Ramsden’s outlet in Paisley Road, Glasgow.

Caffe Concerto to open in Leicester Square: The Italian-themed restaurant chain Caffe Concerto has taken over from the French-themed chain Cafe Rouge at a prime Central London location, 17-18 Irving Street, near Leicester Square. The 5,000 sq ft restaurant will be opening in November. Nick Weir, joint managing partner at Shelley Sandzer, which acted for Cafe Rouge, said: “The Cafe Rouge site on Irving Street is in a highly popular restaurant location in central London and was the perfect opportunity for us to negotiate a great deal with Caffe Concerto on behalf of our client.” Since launching in Regent Street, central London in 1996, Caffe Concerto has expanded into 17 locations across the UK. Tim Kouridis acted for Caffe Concerto.

Davy's introduces further wine shops and Enomatics: The London wine bar and restaurant operator Davy’s has introduced a new wine shop at its Factory House site in Leadenhall in the City, and added an Enomatic machine in the bar area. Chairman James Davy said: "At the heart of any Davy's offer is wine. We are proud to showcase 70 wines from our list in the shop at the entrance to the Factory House. Whilst Enomatic machines are not exactly new, it is the first time we have used them and we are looking forward to seeing how high up the wine list we can go for wines by the glass. Our customers are able to sample fine wine in 25cl measures, wine not normally sold by the glass. If they like the wine, they can buy a bottle to drink in the bar or take home. We currently have another site being completely refurbished with a substantial wine shop and many more Enomatics – all to be revealed soon.”

BrewDog adds 21 taps in Newcastle bar refurbishment: The Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has added 21 taps to its Newcastle upon Tyne site in a refurbishment two years after the venue opened. The company said: “The beer scene in Newcastle has really boomed in the last 12 months especially, so bringing this bar up to date ensures we're right up there with the best of ’em in the city. Locals will know the bar always rocked a reasonably impressive 12 taps of craft beery goodness, but we've stepped that right up to a face-melting 33, including a brand new hop cannon, so you can get freshly infused brews every day. The new taps will also mean the bar can offer a wider range of local brewers' beers. Upstairs used to be a little mezzanine floor with seating, but the low ceiling and lack of proper bar didn't really lend themselves all that well to such uses, so we've converted it into a homebrew area complete with its own permanent kit! It's currently being calibrated and once it's up and running the team in Newcastle will be rocking a regular homebrew night.”

Town & Country in £6.9m sale-and-leaseback: Town and Country Inns has sold three outlets to the property investor Kames Capital in a sale-and-leaseback deal worth £6.9m. Kames has bought the Après and Mechu venues in Summer Row, Birmingham, including the office space above both venues, together with a second Après bar in Bird Street, Lichfield. The deal does not include Town & Country Inns’ third Summer Row property, Fleet Street Kitchen. The properties have been leased back to Town & Country Inns for a term of 25 years. Ned Jones, director of investment at Savills, said: "These assets are in prime Midlands leisure locations and offer a good return from one of the region’s most respected and long standing independent chains, making them a strong addition to our client’s portfolio.” Colliers International acted for Town & Country Inns. Kames Capital manages assets with a value of £52bn on behalf of UK and international clients.

Greene King to re-open Willenhall pub as new Hungry Horse site: Greene King is to re-open the former Red Lion pub in Willenhall, West Midlands, formerly serving Caribbean food, as a Hungry Horse venue in December. The pub will be called the Keymaster, renamed in tribute to Willenhall's ties to the lock-making industry. It is the second new Hungry Horse announced recently in the area. The other is due to open at Walsall Waterfront as part of the new cinema complex.

Starbucks adopts Welsh as first language at Aberystwyth store but some phrases are lost in translation: The Aberystwyth, Ceredigion outlet of Starbucks is the first to adopt Welsh as its first language, with Welsh taking precedence on its menus, blackboards and walls. However, some translation blunders are in evidence. “Welsh-speaking coffee drinkers can read that Starbucks blonde roast coffee ‘is light of body and taste our coffee to most easy to drink',” one complainant said. Another phrase translates as "nourishing the human spirit … one person, one cup and”. Supermarkets, cafes and other retailers in Wales are not obliged by law to have bilingual signs. Simon Redfern, director of communications, Starbucks Europe, said: “Despite checks on our Welsh language signage, a couple of typos have been spotted. We’re going to correct these as soon as possible.”

Marston’s eyes new-build in Shepherd Neame's home town of Faversham: Marston’s has submitted a planning application for a new build pub restaurant in Shepherd Neame’s home town of Faversham, Kent. The company hopes to build on the former Macknade garden centre site opposite the Shell garage in Canterbury Road. The new business could create about 50 jobs for Faversham. The site, which was a garden centre for many years and then temporarily a hand car-wash, has been derelict for more than a year. It was acquired by property developers late last year. Marstons’ spokesman, John McElholm, said: “The development will deliver between 40 and 50 jobs within the next 12 months if approved, not counting the construction jobs.”

Pret A Manger lines up fifth Boston, Massachusetts opening after closing site: Pret A Manger will open its fifth site in Boston Massachusetts this Friday (17 October), with a new store at 1 State Street in the centre of the city. The sandwich cafe chain is looking to expand with at least a dozen cafes in Boston and Cambridge over the next four to five years. However, earlier this week, Eater Boston reported that Pret A Manger’s outlet in Back Bay, Boston has closed.

Middletons Steakhouse takes over Strada site and staff in Colchester: The Middletons Steakhouse and Grill chain is taking on 30 of the 45 former staff at the Strada restaurant in North Hill, Colchester when it reopens the venue under its own name on October 31. The Strada outlet in the 17th century building closed last month. Steve and Tracy Hutton opened the first Middletons Steakhouse and Grill, in a former pub, the Crown, in the village of Middleton, just outside King’s Lynn in Norfolk in 2010. In December 2012, they opened a second, 160-cover outlet in Norwich city centre and followed that with a third in Milton Keynes in March this year. The company has announced plans to open 40 to 50 restaurants in the next five to seven years, with three sites in the pipeline for 2015 and a possible five more the following year.

Five Guys eyes Nottingham opening: Better burger chain Five Guys is looking to open in the former Pizza Hut in Nottingham city centre. The restaurant has applied for permission to open its doors on Long Row facing the Old Market Square. The supermarket Morrisons wanted to open a shop at the former Pizza Hut building but Nottingham City Council refused it a licence to sell alcohol. The company opened its first restaurant in the UK in Covent Garden in 2013 and is set to have 20 by the end of the year.

McDonald’s launches transparency campaign in the US: McDonald’s is answering unappetizing questions as part of a campaign in the United States to change perceptions that it serves "Frankenfood". The company has run similar campaigns in Canada and Australia and is now launching a push in its home market. For its latest campaign, among the first issues McDonald's addresses are widely circulated online images and videos that show its burgers staying intact after several weeks or even years. On its webpage, McDonald's says that is probably because the food has dehydrated, and that food needs moisture to form mould.

'Paleolithic' restaurant comes to West London: A new "paleolithic" restaurant, Pure Taste, which will supposedly emulate the diet eaten by humans in the Paleolithic era, is to open in West London after the property agent Davis Coffer Lyons completed the sale of Detapas at 115 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill. As well as a range of "paleo" dishes, the menu also includes a range of specialists dishes created around a variety of diets including gluten-free and dairy-free. Rob Meadows, associate director at Davis Coffer Lyons, said: “Paleo restaurants are already very popular in the States and while London increasingly leads the way, some ideas still do move over from America. Diners are more aware of what they eat and the impact it can have on their health. It is, therefore, no surprise that operators are emerging to cater for this growing demand.” Ben Pistol of Lewis Craig acted for the tenant.

Just three chains in 'FreeFrom' Eating Out Awards shortlists: Only three chains, Costa Coffee, Ask Italian and PizzaExpress, have made it on to the shortlist for the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards. The awards were launched with the new allergen regulations affecting food service coming into force in December in mind, and are designed to boost awareness of the huge opportunities offered by "freefrom" food in the food service sector. Winners in the awards, who will be announced on 18th November at the Food Matters Live conference at ExCel in London, must provide allergen training to all staff, front of house, kitchen and management; must offer a minimum of X (depending on category) savoury and sweet dishes that are gluten free, and can be either dairy free or egg free; must be able to provide, on request, information about any major allergens used in any of their dishes; must have a nut policy; and must have an easily accessible emergency allergy action protocol. In the "restaurant chains" section, only Ask Italian and PizzaExpress are on the shortlist, which in the "coffee chains" section there is only one company listed, Costa. Five pubs have made it through to the shortlist for the "pub restaurant" category, including Salisbury Pubs' Alford Arms in Hertfordshire and the Truscott Arms in West London, which has already won the title this year for the best roast dinner in the UK, in an annual competition ran by Unilever Food Solutions. The eight names in the "individual restaurant" section include Oscar & Bentley's in Canterbury and the Peak Restaurant in Llanberis, while the ten names in the individual cafe, tea-room or takeaway section include Tea 42 in Manchester and Cookies and Scream in London. Among the products on the shortlist are Westerham Brewery's William Wilberforce Freedom Ale, Ceria gluten-free batter mix and three items from the Handmade Cake Company.

Chase Distillery to double production after bumper potato harvest: The Herefordshire-based Chase Distillery, will double production of premium Chase Vodka to 500,000 bottles this year after a bumper potato harvest, founder William Chase has announced. Prices of his Chase vodka will fall by as much as 20%, with a 35cl bottle reduced from £17.50 to £15.50. “We had a bit of rain earlier in the year, followed by a fantastic summer. It really is a once in 20 years harvest,” Chase said. Last year the distillery made 250,000 bottles of premium spirits, which includes marmalade vodka and Elegant gin. Chase hopes the lower prices will allow his brand to compete more with the bigger brands.

SAB Miller reports European growth: SAB Miller has reported that European Net Producer Revenue (NPR) grew by 3%, driven by total beverage volume growth of 2% in its first financial half year, with lager volumes level with the previous half-year. For lager volumes, a strong first quarter was assisted by a soft volume comparative, followed by a more challenging second quarter, which was affected by poor weather across much of the region during the peak months. In the United Kingdom, group NPR grew by 11%, led by the continued growth of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, with increased rate of sale assisted by good weather and improved distribution in key outlets.

Sainsbury’s to halve Nectar points: From next year Sainsbury’s is to halve the number of Nectar reward points it offers members of the loyalty scheme, Retail Week has reported. From 11 April 2015 11, Sainsbury’s will only award customers one point for every pound spent, down from two at present. The magazine said: ‘The shift comes amid a grocery price war when the merits of loyalty schemes such as Nectar or Tesco’s Clubcard are pitted against value rivals such as Aldi and Lidl, who eschew such schemes in favour of low prices for all customers.” Sainsbury’s customers will also no longer receive points for reusing plastic bags, but shoppers will still earn one point per litre of fuel that they buy from the grocer. Sainsbury’s told cardholders: “At times like Christmas, Sainsbury’s will be holding bigger and better Double Up events to give you great value when we know it matters most to you. Plus, there are lots of other places to spend your points like Pizza Express and Vue cinemas that are available all year round."

Diageo looks for greater cohesion between sales and marketing departments: Diageo is bringing sales and marketing closer together to push more consumers along the path to purchase as part of its wider cost-cutting efforts, Marketing Week has reported. The magazine said: “The world's largest spirits maker is seeking greater unity between both channels in order to focus upcoming investments more consistently around the customer buying process. Diageo expects the effort to yield immersive, integrated physical and virtual retail experiences that will ultimately future proof itself for when digital natives become the key purchasers. By having an integrated shopper journey, Diageo hopes to uncover new opportunities to push brands such as Smirnoff and Guinness to potential buyers beyond physical stores. Mobile and online will be key to effort with the company looking to digital to bridge the gap between its strategic marketing initiatives and its more tactical sales efforts.”

Bo London owed £500,000 when it closed its doors: Chef Alvin Leung's UK restaurant, Bo London, owed nearly £500,000 to unsecured creditors when it went into administration at the start of this year, according to administrator ReSolve Partners. The business, in Mill Street, Mayfair, closed its doors unexpectedly in March this year. At the time, Leung blamed the move on a "major water leak" and promised to re-open at an unspecified date once repair works were completed. The Michelin-starred restaurant subsequently called in administrators. In a Companies House progress report, ReSolve Partners indicated that there had been no statement of affairs provided by Bo London's director, so the administrators had estimated that it owed a total liability of £486,000 to unsecured creditors.

Wetherspoon resubmits plan to demolish former Mansfield nightclub to form mega-beer garden: JD Wetherspoon has re-submitted plans to demolish part of an old nightclub on Leeming Street, Mansfield to build a beer garden that would serve two of its pubs, the Widow Frost next door, and The Stag and Pheasant on Clumber Street. The company originally submitted an application to Mansfield Council in May to demolish a large part of the rear of the old QI nightclub to form a 200-seat beer garden. It then withdrew that application, and has now submitted a revised version for the £675,000 conversion "following further research and assessment of the building". It wants to retain the frontage of the old club, but create a raised terraced area, a canopy-covered seating area and a bottle bar. The old nightclub was built in 1901 as the Victoria Hall. In 1929 it was converted into the Palais de Danse dance hall, and then became the Palais nightclub in 1989, before undergoing name changes to Coyote Wild, and finally QI. QI had its licence revoked in 2013 over alcohol-related problems, and the building has since been up for sale.

Truman’s marks first anniversary with special edition of illustrious beer: Truman’s has celebrated the first anniversary of its return to brewing in London, as the resurrection of a former brewer, with a special edition of one of the original company's most illustrious beers. Ben Truman 1883 Export Pale Ale is based on a recipe from the Victorian era and uses eight different hops, from Britain, Bavaria, Bohemia and the United States, to create a 6% abv pale ale with depth of flavour. James Morgan, Truman's managing director, said: “We really wanted to mark the first anniversary of Truman’s return to East London brewing with something special, and Ben Truman Export is just that. Everyone has been asking us when we were going to brew 'Ben' once again and, as ever, we’ve blended tradition and modernity in one great beer. The last 12 months have been fantastic for us. The support we’ve had from both publicans and the public has been overwhelming. We’ve sold more beer to more pubs than we could have ever imagined. We’re getting close to capacity just one year after opening the Eyrie, our new brewery in Hackney Wick. The next 12 months sees a substantial new investment in our equipment, enabling us to meet demand for Truman’s beers in 2015 and beyond.”

Chipotle-backed Pizzeria locale introduces ‘game-changing’ crust: The founders of the Pizzeria Locale concept, which is backed by Chipotle Mexican Grill, opened their second unit in Denver earlier this month with a new type of crust they claim could be a game-changer, Nation’s Restaurant News has reported. The new restaurant has a completely reformulated crust made from Edison wheat, a heirloom variety grown in Oregon and milled partially in-house at the restaurant. Co-founder Bobby Stuckey said the traditional double-zero flour has been widely used in the pizza industry since the Second World War, a time when flour became a commodity that was stripped of nutrients to give it a longer shelf life and making it easier to ship around the world. “It probably saved billions of lives because it helped stop starvation,” Stuckey said. “But it’s not healthy for you.” The Edison flour, on the other hand, is a nutrient-dense whole wheat that offers a richness of flavour not found in commoditised wheat, Stuckey said. Described the move as a potential game changer, Stuckey said: "It tastes totally different. It’s more nutty, more alive. It tastes the way wheat should taste.”

Apostrophe reports increased losses: Apostrophe, the London-based operator of deli cafes founded by Amir Chen but now owned by CH&Co, has reported losses of £666,000 in the year to 31 March 2014 after opening three new sites, one of which has traded below expectations. Turnover for the period was £7.24m. Operating losses were £622,000, almost three times the level of the previous seven-month trading period, which saw losses of £223,000. Turnover was around £500,000 higher than the previous year, reflecting the portfolio changes and marginal changes in individual unit performance, due to increased competition in a number of locations. The company said: “The cost of sales has seen some year-on-year increases where the business has absorbed the net impact of some cost inflation and sales mix changes along with higher labour costs relative to sales, reflecting the proportionately higher spend in the new openings. This has resulted in a 2.4% reduction in percentage gross profit, to 42.4%, compared to the 44.7% achieved in the seven months ended 31 March 2013.” During the period, Apostrophe invested £750,000 in the three new openings, a small number of refurbishments and replacement equipment. The company, which saw Richard Franks become managing director in July, this year, said of future developments: “A trial of selected changes to part of the product range in three stores commenced in May 2014 and will be subject to ongoing evaluation of product efficiencies, customer response and impact on volumes and margins. CH&Co will be looking to capitalise on the opportunities that Apostrophe presents in the premium speciality coffee market, where it already has a strong presence.” CH&Co took full control of Apostrophe on 1 April, when it acquired the remaining 50% of the business owned by Chen, Daniel Peltz and other shareholders. Apostrophe had 18 company-owned sites and four franchises at the end of its financial year. It opened three sites in London, in Brewer Street, Soho, Austin Friars in the City and Jubilee place, Canary Wharf, during the year. It exited two more sites in the capital, a concession site at Alfred place, Tottenham Court Road and a kiosk at Broadgate Circle in the City.

Eden Project raises over £1m in five hours in mini-bond to create cookery and food production centre: The Eden Project is well on target to raise £1.5m through a mini-bond to create a learning village at its home in Cornwall, with investors pledging £1.04m in the first five hours of fundraising. The Eden Project is teaming up with the UK’s largest investment crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube, to give investors the opportunity to grow what it says is one of the UK’s best education centres. Since fully opening in 2001, Eden has attracted more than 16 million visitors and generated £1.4bn for the regional economy. For the past three years running it has won Best UK Leisure Attraction at the British Travel Awards. Eden says it wants to purchase and restore two farmhouses, Restineas and Vounder, and their outbuildings on the edge of its site in a former clay quarry near St Austell. The plan is to turn the collection of old buildings into a venue for teaching quality horticulture, cookery and food production. The learning village would be surrounded by a new market garden. The Eden Project Bond aims to raise up to £1.5m towards the project. The total cost of the restoration of the properties is expected to be around £3m and the mini-bond will allow the first phase to begin. Investors can put in a minimum of £500 and in return get 6% per annum over the four-year term of the bond. Investments are in multiples of £500 and there is no upper limit. The investment opportunity will be available on Crowdcube for 60 days or when it reaches its target, whichever is sooner.