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Tue 22nd Sep 2015 - Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Story of the Day:Top 100 UK foodservice brands add £4.8bn of sales in five years: The UK’s top 100 pub, restaurant and foodservice brands have added £4.8bn of sales since 2009 to hit £18.5bn of turnover in 2014, an average compound growth rate of 6.06%, the Technomic UK Restaurants Trends and Directions conference, held in partnership with Propel, has heard. The fastest-growing limited-service chains in 2014 were: Papa John’s (26% turnover growth), Costa Coffee (17% turnover growth), Domino’s (13% turnover growth), Itsu (12% turnover growth) and Nando’s (10% turnover growth). The fastest-growing full-service chains were: Bill’s (94% turnover growth), Byron (43% turnover growth), Loungers (33% turnover growth), Ed’s Easy Diner (31% turnover growth) and Cote (25% turnover growth). In terms of menu types, the fastest growth in 2014 came from the bar and grill category (11.5% turnover growth), followed by Asian (10.6% turnover growth), French (7.1% turnover growth), steak concepts (5.5% turnover growth), traditional pub (5.3% turnover growth) and Italian/pizza (4.6% turnover growth). Technomic vice-president Dave Henkes outlined a number of key themes in UK foodservice in 2014: an increase in more on-the-go options, particularly during lunch, and the first menu size shrinkage in a decade with operators streamlining menus to fewer but more customisable options. He claimed “burgers abound” with sales increasing 37% at full-service restaurants and 6% at fast-casual brands in 2014. Henkes reported fast-casual brands in the UK had outperformed the 100 top foodservice brands in 2014 with overall sales up 8.6% to £1.1bn, with overall unit numbers increasing by 5.7%. The size of the opportunity for fast-casual brands in the UK is highlighted by US performance where fast-casual brands achieved sales of $30.1bn last year, with overall sales up 13.1% based on 9.2% unit growth. Henkes forecast overall turnover growth of 3.6% for full-service restaurants in 2015 (2014: 3.7%), 3.9% for limited-service restaurant (2014: 4.1%) and 2.7% growth for pubs (2014: 2.6%).
Industry News:Sector companies invited to benchmark themselves: More than 70 companies took part in the first sector Benchmarking Survey last year, conducted by Propel in partnership with accountants haysmacintyre. All contributions are confidential and go to haysmacintyre without being seen by Propel. Companies are invited to take part in this year’s survey by clicking through on the link below (it should take about 15 minutes to complete) – all contributors receive a copy as soon as it’s published: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDKR88G Deadline for inclusion has been extended to this Friday (25 September).
Veteran McDonald’s franchisee criticises company: Veteran McDonald’s franchise Al Jarvis, who owned McDonald’s sites for nearly 50 years before he sold them last November, has told Bloomberg Businessweek that complicated new menu items like espresso drinks and the McWrap caused chaos in his kitchens, dragged down food quality, and led to excessively long lines at the drive-thrus. He said he loved his job with McDonald’s, but as he neared the 50th anniversary with the company he realised he couldn’t go on. “I wanted to get the hell out,” he told Businessweek. “I don’t think they know what they want to do. They’re saying, ‘Let’s go back to basics.’ Then they’re doing these customised burgers, and they’re talking about all-day breakfast.”
Employment minister hails hospitality industry, labels views that jobs are stop-gap as ‘old-fashioned’: Employment minister Priti Patel has hailed the hospitality industry and labelled views that jobs in the sector are a stop-gap is “old-fashioned”. Patel spoke at the British Hospitality Association’s Big Hospitality Conversation event at London City Hall yesterday (Monday, 21 September) to praise hospitality workers for delivering modern and attractive career options. She said: “It’s old-fashioned and deeply unhelpful to look down at the hospitality industry. I don’t subscribe to the view that pulling a pint or waiting on tables are non, or stop-gap, jobs – that couldn’t be further from the truth. The hospitality industry is innovative, professional and one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. There are countless examples of people in the UK who have worked in a cafe, bar or restaurant, where they have picked up crucial skills along the way and have gone on to have long, successful careers that provide the security and dignity of a regular wage. The hospitality industry provides huge opportunities for career progression. You could start off cleaning tables and end up running a chain of restaurants – the chances to learn and develop are unlimited.” About 10% of UK jobs are in the hospitality sector – making it the fourth largest industry for jobs.
Bargain coffee from Aldi beats Costa and Starbucks in taste test: Bargain coffee from budget chain Aldi, which costs £1.79, has beaten Costa and Starbucks in a taste test by consumer watchdog Which? Judges tested 16 brews from supermarkets, coffee chains and leading brands and put Aldi’s Specially Selected Roast and Ground Ethiopian (200g) top of the pile with 82 out of 100. Supermarket own labels took three of the top five places with Marks & Spencer’s Single Origin Colombian Roast & Ground Coffee (227g) costing £3 in second place with 78. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Kenyan Fairtrade Ground Coffee (227g) for £3.30 came fourth with 72 ahead of Costa’s At Home Roast for Cafetiere and Filter (200g), for £3.50, which was fifth with 72. Starbucks was just behind in sixth with a score of 71 for its House Blend Ground Coffee (200g) for £3.50.
truRating – customers who have excellent eating-out experience spend on average £9 more: Customers who have an excellent eating-out experience spend on average £9 more than disappointed customers. The findings by truRating, the company that collects real-time customer insight at the point of sale to help businesses know where to improve, also show customers are at their happiest in bars and restaurants when they have just finished work – ratings are consistently highest between 7pm and 9pm. But late nights can help to loosen up the purse strings with customers spending the most between 10pm and midnight – 18% more than at other times. Customers volumes and spend are highest on Saturdays – when almost 20% of its ratings are collected but busy businesses don’t necessarily mean satisfied customers – ratings are lower on Saturdays than Sundays when it’s quieter. Customers who receive an excellent experience give tips that on average are 8% higher than disappointed customers. Chief executive and co-founder Georgina Nelson told Propel: “Having only launched a few months ago, it’s incredibly exciting for truRating to already be highlighting industry-wide trends. Providing feedback via the payment terminal with truRating is so quick and easy, 88% of consumers are rating when asked a question. It means we’ve uncovered insight into the link between sentiment and factors like day of the week, time of day, the use of promotions or the performance of staff. truRating is helping individual businesses understand the issues that are most relevant to them when looking to increase customer satisfaction – and ultimately spend. We’re now live in Australia too and looking forward to seeing the differences in consumer behaviour.” truRating has collected more than 500,000 ratings having launched in February this year.
Heineken signs exclusive deal with BT Sport to offer on-trade customers up to 50% subscription discount: Heineken has signed an exclusive deal with BT Sport to offer its on-trade customers discounts of up to 50% on BT Sport Total subscriptions. The deal follows a three-tier structure with a 30%, 40% and 50% discount off a fully comprehensive BT Sport Total package offered to customers depending on their stock agreements with Heineken. The company said it considers BT Sport to be the best sporting package on the market for pubs and bars as the only provider with screening rights for all midweek UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football, as well as 38 Barclays Premier League matches. BT Sport also has top rugby and other popular sporting events such as MotoGP and the NBA. Licensees who take up the package can use BT Sport’s “The Manager’s Office”, an online portal for licensees, which features exclusive competitions, giveaways and promotional material. They will also have access to BT Sport’s Social Connect – an online platform designed by licensees for licensees allowing them to update and synchronise their websites and social media channels at the same time, which normally costs £100 per annum.
Company News:Crowdrating marks down BrewDog crowdfunding pitch for insufficient detail: BrewDog has good management and decent products, but its potentially record-breaking crowdfunding scheme is not for investors, according to a new ratings group. The financial details available as part of the controversial Scottish brewer’s £25m campaign is “disappointingly light”, says Crowdrating. Crowdrating, which launched this week, said it was not able to evaluate BrewDog’s investment proposition because of this lack of detail. “It is clear that the ‘Equity for Punks IV’ offer is aimed at their customers rather than new investors,” Crowdrating said. Despite this assertion Crowdrating – which ordinarily aims to give tiered (gold, silver or bronze) ratings for open crowdfunding campaigns – was quite positive about BrewDog. The report gave BrewDog a gold rating for the skills, experience and commitment of the company’s management. Similarly, the product and the increasingly less niche craft ale market are received very positive feedback. “BrewDog’s team has done a fantastic job of building an international brand and distribution network,” Crowdrating said. “Its innovative drinks have built a dedicated fan base and won awards, as has the international network of bars. Craft beers as a market segment are growing significantly year-on-year, despite falling sales of beer overall.” The Crowdrating report highlighted a lack of information as it marked down the funding pitch because of insufficient detail about the company’s competition in the craft ale market. “Let down by their pitch materials which focus on the value of the offer to customers rather than investors, BrewDog hasn’t discussed its competition,” it said.
Brunning & Price acquires north Wales pub: The Restaurant Group’s gastro-pub brand Brunning & Price has acquired a site in the Vale of Clwyd in north Wales. The company has bought The Dinorben Arms in Bodfari, between Denbigh and Mold, which has been shut for eight years. It said on its website: “We’re excited to have the Dinorben Arms as the latest addition to the Brunning & Price group of pub-restaurants. We are in the process of renovating the property.” The Dinorben Arms was established in the 17th century and during the 1960s and 1970s gained a reputation for its food, in particular its smorgasbord, which attracted diners from a wide area. It had a turnover of £500,000 a year. It went into decline towards the end of the century and struggled to recover its reputation after manager David Rowlands was fined £4,000 in 2003 for food hygiene offences. The company went into administration, but the administrators said it soon became clear the pub was making a “significant weekly loss”, and closed in 2007, reports the Daily Post. It was put on the market with an asking price of £175,000. Brunning and Price has nearly 30 pub-restaurants and is looking to add another ten sites in 2016 with at least 120 seats for diners and also expand its geographical spread.
Gordon Ramsay to start expanding London House restaurant concept with second site in Hong Kong: Gordon Ramsay Group will start expanding its London House restaurant concept with a second site in Hong Kong next month. The company, in partnership with Dining Concepts, will open the two-floor 136-cover venue on the waterfront, in the East Tsim Sha Tsui dining precinct. The restaurant is Ramsay’s second in Hong Kong following the opening of Bread Street Kitchen in the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel last September. London House will take elements from the original in Battersea, south west London, but evoke a more lounge-style interior and offer a traditional British menu including shepherds pie and fish and chips, as well as classics from the grill. An extensive wine list together with global beers on tap will complete the drinks offer and live entertainment will also feature. Ramsay said: “Following our incredible launch of Bread Street Kitchen, Hong Kong, last year, I am so excited to be opening our first international outpost of London House this October. The wonderful team at Dining Concepts make them ideal partners to deliver a truly British experience that reflects the ethos of the original London House in Battersea.”
Sheffield businessman launches Oriental artisan food market and restaurant concept where customers select ingredients and watch them cooked: Sheffield businessman Jay Wang has opened a new Oriental artisan food market and restaurant concept in the city when customers select their ingredients and watch them cooked. Wang has launched Oisoi in the St Paul’s Place restaurant quarter in the city centre, creating 30 jobs. Diners choose their own ingredients before taking them to an upstairs mezzanine area to be cooked – with the option to watch on a television screen or through a glass-fronted kitchen. The market includes a fresh hand-pulled noodle stand, four types of pour-your-own soy sauce made by a Japanese supplier for 300 years, plus an “east meets west” salad bar and hot food, fish and meat counter. Wang told the Sheffield Telegraph: “I’m excited to be sharing all this delicious food and the story of the producers, with the people of Sheffield.” Wang also runs a Chinese supermarket on Matilda Street and Wai Ding restaurant in West One.
Fuel Juice Bars hits 25 sites, reports Ebitda of £900,000: Fuel Juice Bars, the smoothie and juice bar concept backed by Kings Park Capital, has opened its latest store in Westfield London, bringing its total store numbers to 25. With an additional ten new sites in the pipeline, Fuel is expected to have over 30 stores trading by December this year. New stores in Plymouth Drake Circus and Intu Milton Keynes have already opened this year. Sunderland and Grand Central Birmingham will open later this month. The company has also reported its results for the year ending September 2014, during which the company more than doubled its turnover to over £5m. This growth was driven by record like-for-like sales growth of 19%, the opening of five new units and the acquisition of four further units during the year. The accounts also reported a 70% increase in Ebitda to £900,000. This strong trading has continued through the 2015 financial year, with like-for-like sales growth of 10% for the 11 months ending August 2015. Chief executive Chris Sullivan said: “We are really encouraged by our current performance. Our core business continues to show very strong year-on-year growth and we have a great pipeline of new sites coming up. This is a great example of what enthusiastic and dedicated store teams can achieve even in a highly competitive market. We now have a presence throughout the UK, trading from Inverness to Plymouth. The opening of Westfield London establishes Fuel Juice Bars in the nation’s capital alongside our presence in major cities such as Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Cardiff. We are now a truly national brand operating across the UK.”
Moody’s affirms Soho House credit rating in wake of £200m bond issue: Ratings agency Moody’s has confirmed Soho House’s credit rating following the issue of £200m of senior secured notes. The company expects to use the £200m of proceeds to repay the existing notes, the outstanding drawings under its existing Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) and add about £19m of cash to its balance sheet. In addition, Soho House announced it will enter into a new Super Senior RCF with a tenor of four-and-a-half years and a total facility amount of £30m compared with £25m for the existing revolving credit facility. The transaction will also result in higher leverage and Moody’s expects that adjusted debt-to-Ebitda (based on Moody’s-adjusted Ebitda of £44.5m as of 30 June 2015) will increase to around 8.2x compared with 7.3x prior to the transaction. Given the company’s ambitious plan to open approximately six new houses and up to 30 new owned and joint venture restaurants in the next two years, Moody’s expects that Soho House will remain cash flow negative over the next two years and mostly rely on its revolving credit facility to fund its expansion capex program. In 2014, Soho House realised total revenues of £202.8m and Ebitda of £43.7m (21.6% margin), including Moody’s standard adjustments. Ebitda margin varies substantially between houses according to location and improves over time with newly opened houses presenting lower profitability than more mature houses.
Celebrity chef Mark Tebbutt to oversee food offer at two sites in new Bournemouth Hilton: Celebrity chef Mark Tebbutt is to oversee the food and beverage offer at two venues within the new Hilton Bournemouth – Schpoons & Forx restaurant and Level8ight, The Sky Bar – which is set to open this December. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, the 140-cover, 220 sq ft Schpoons & Forx menu will open all day including breakfast and brunch. The concept will focus on modern British sharing plates made using seasonal ingredients and feature a tandoor in an open kitchen. Level8ight will be Bournemouth’s highest bar. Comprising 130 covers, including 50 al fresco seats, the 238 sq ft lounge bar will offer a comprehensive range of cocktails, premium spirits, craft beers and wines. An afternoon tea menu will also be available from midday along with a bar snack menu. Tebbutt said: “After closing the Foxhunter earlier in the year to focus on my television career, I have been eager to get back into the kitchen and launch something really exciting and innovative. This new partnership with Hilton Bournemouth will see us open an all-day restaurant and sky bar positioned as real destination venues in their own right.”
Berkeley Inns to open first site after refurbishment: Berkeley Inns, which was formed in April this year, is to reopen The Three Horseshoes in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with Michelin-trained chef Gareth Ward as head chef. In total, 25 jobs have been created, as the renovated and enlarged venue seeks to position itself as a quality restaurant-pub, without losing any of its village pub atmosphere. Since Berkeley Inns acquired the pub in April, extensive refurbishments have been carried out to renovate and extend the venue, including an extension to the rear of the property, providing new restaurant space for approximately 65 covers and cutting edge kitchen facilities. Local entrepreneur Howard Thacker, who amongst other successful businesses interests was founder of the Howson/Hippo golf company and co-founder of uDate.com, is the managing director of Berkeley Inns. Over the next few years the company plans to operate several prime licensed properties as quality restaurant-pubs. Thacker said: “Having been fortunate enough to travel extensively, in comparison, I often felt that our area features a distinct shortage of quality places to eat, especially in the beautiful rural areas around Derby and Ashbourne. Several friends and colleagues agreed and have invested into the project alongside me to develop a serious offering locally and further afield.”
Independent coffee company Bewiched set to open fifth site in Wellingborough, eyes further expansion: Independent coffee company Bewiched is set to open its fifth site in Wellingborough – its first at a train station – and is eyeing further expansion. The company, which already has coffee houses in Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and Peterborough, is looking to give the station cafe in Midland Road an overhaul before reopening. It has applied to Wellingborough Council to take the site back to its roots, including exposing original brickwork, replacing frosted panes in listed windows with clear panes and restoring the original ceiling with hanging pendants. Managing director Matt Fountain told the Northamptonshire Telegraph it had been looking at opportunities to open a branch at a train station when it was approached by East Midlands Trains and Network Rail. The company is eyeing further expansion. As well as negotiations for a drive-thru coffee house at an undisclosed location, it is also targeting a site in Northampton. Fountain said: “We have looked at Northampton three times now and agreed deals but they have fallen through. We are really keen to go over to Northampton at some point.”
Eataly boss – opening our New York site taught me the importance of delegation: Nicola Farinetti, who is the son of Eataly’s founder Oscar Farinetti and runs the business in the US, has claimed the opening of the company’s site in New York taught him the importance of delegation – the company is scheduled to open a site at Selfridges in London in 2017. Farinetti said: “We thought we were going to do $35m (at the New York site) and we did $72m. So we had half of the staff we needed. We started with something like 350 employees, and today we have 750. Everyone at the beginning was doing the work of three people. After ten days, we got scared and picked up our phones and called Italian managers to see if they could come to the United States to help us. In Eataly New York, we have a department on Fifth Avenue, which is our Lavazza Cafe and our small espresso bar. There is also a panini station, a pastry station and gelato. Those today represent 13% of sales in our store. A huge amount of customers go through that particular place. At the beginning, we didn’t hire any manager to work the department. We thought we would use our general retail manager. Today we have six or seven people dedicated just to that department. So at first I was managing it in my five spare minutes between everything else. I couldn’t shake off all these little tasks: ordering collateral, making schedules, and hiring people. I needed to stop that, give those tasks to someone else and organise the department better.”
Dirty Bones to open second site next week: US comfort food restaurant Dirty Bones will open its second site, this time located in Soho, on Monday, 28 September. The original restaurant opened in Kensington in 2014 – its sister site take a space on the top floor of Kingly Court’s courtyard. Dirty Bones Carnaby, seating 65, will serve a menu of American comfort food classics with a twist. Diners will also be able to enjoy a new weekend brunch menu. From 5 October, all guests will be invited to take part in a game of Dirty Bonopoly, a playful take on the classic board game, which will give diners the chance to win special prizes. Each table will be offered one roll of the dice, and will be rewarded with offers for both the Carnaby and Kensington restaurants such as 50% off the bill or a round of drinks on the house. However, if diners land on the “go to jail” square, they risk a forfeit. As in Kensington, the Dirty Bones interior will be retro in style, with a pinball machine welcome desk plus other quirky items.
Starbucks signs licensing agreement in France: Starbucks and Monoprix have signed a licensed partnership agreement to open Starbucks stores within Monoprix stores. The first two locations will be in the Monoprix Beaugrenelle in Paris and in the Monoprix GBL in Lyon, and are expected to open before the end of 2015. “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the best Starbucks experience that we can offer, to those shoppers who are already looking for the best services and products at Monoprix,” said Arjan Oudejans, vice-president branded solutions, Starbucks Europe. “This partnership underlines our commitment to growing our business in France, with an experienced French retailer with stores in central, prime city locations. Monoprix is the perfect partner to bring the Starbucks experience alive in their stores.” Dominique Benoit, head of real estate and franchise at Monoprix, added: “We pride ourselves on offering the widest variety of services and products, and the addition of Starbucks is another example of us giving our customers more. We are looking forward to surprising our customers with an innovative and premium service – the highest quality coffee and Starbucks experience.”
Marston’s adds to Milestone Carvery chain with Middlesbrough opening: Marston’s has added to its Milestone Carvery chain with the opening of a new-build pub restaurant in Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, yesterday (Monday, 21 September). The company has spent just under £3m building The Six Medals at the Gateway, creating 50 jobs, reports Gazette Live. The 180-seat restaurant is part of a new £35m 16-acre retail and leisure development, between the A66 and the Riverside Stadium. The pub will have a daily carvery serving a choice of three meats or vegetarian alternative, seasonal vegetables and homemade Yorkshire puddings. The menu also includes burgers, grills and fish and chips and sandwiches and there is also a cake counter. There is a selection of cask ales from Marston’s’ five breweries, a wine list featuring choices from the Rothschild wineries, as well as a range of ciders, soft drinks and spirits. The Six Medals is named after Wing Commander Adrian Warburton, who was born in Middlesbrough and was one of the most decorated pilots of the Second World War, with much of his service spent in the Mediterranean.
Work starts on relocating Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham to bigger premises: Work has started on relocating Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Adam’s to the Colmore business district and its owners have its sights on a second star. The restaurant was launched more than two years ago by chef Adam Stokes and his wife Natasha at a “pop up” venue in a former sandwich shop in Bennetts Hill and within six months was awarded a Michelin star. It is now moving to New Oxford House in Waterloo Street, which is a former three-storey office block that is being converted to provide 6,135 sq ft of space and is expected to open by Christmas. The restaurant will comprise a bar, a dining area with space for 35 customers and a private dining area with 14 covers. Its current Bennetts Hill venue has the capacity for just 25 guests. Adam Stokes told the Birmingham Mail: “I don’t know of any other facility in Birmingham like this. There might be restaurants in London like it but Birmingham has never seen anything like it. It will be a showstopper. We are pushing as hard as we can but, sure, I would like to see two stars.”
Leicestershire-based businessman to reopen iconic Coalville nightclub after buying it back from brother: Leicestershire-based businessman Arthur Holland will reopen the Emporium nightclub in Coalville next month after buying it back from his brother. Arthur Holland previously owned the club in Belvoir Road for more than 15 years before selling it to brother Michael seven years ago. Michael Holland then went into liquidation and closed the club in January. It was put up for sale in March and his brother bought it back. Emporium will reopen on Saturday, 31 October following a £500,000 refurbishment, creating 20 jobs. It will have multiple rooms and a 20ft x 15ft LED screen – the largest LED light wall in the Midlands, reports the Leicester Mercury. During its prime, the club attracted top DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk and Judge Jules, who all performed at Passion, the club’s award-winning Saturday night event.
Social Bite opens fifth site in Aberdeen: Sandwich shop chain Social Bite, which employs people who have been homeless, has opened its fifth site in Aberdeen. The business, founded by social entrepreneur Josh Littlejohn, has expanded into the city with a venue in Union Street following a grant of £175,000 by the People’s Postcode Lottery. One-quarter of Social Bite’s staff is made up of formerly homeless people. Social Bite also operates a “suspended” coffee and food programme through which customers can pay for a hot drink or food for a homeless person and the business donates its profits to good causes. Littlejohn said: “We’ve wanted to come to Aberdeen for a long time now as there’s a definite appetite in the city for a different kind of catering, somewhere with great food and awesome coffee, but where the customers can feel good that the money they spend supports those in need.” The social enterprise already has shops in St Vincent Street and Bothwell Street in Glasgow and in Shandwick Place and Rose Street in Edinburgh. The business, which employs 60 people, has also launched a corporate catering division and, as previously reported, has plans to open in Dundee later this year.
New African concept to open in Milton Keynes: A new restaurant themed on African cuisine looks set to be opening in Milton Keynes Theatre District on Thursday, 1 October. Big Momma’s Restaurant and Bar will open in Garrick Walk at the Theatre District. On its Facebook page, the restaurant states: “Big Momma is a brand inspired by an African woman popularly known as ‘Auntie Joe’, younger children called her ‘Grandma Joe’. She lived in a small town, Warri in Delta State, Nigeria. She was very famous for her cooking, being able to deliver the heartiest of meals that you remember years after you have eaten it. Her mix meat grills were spectacular and regularly requested at all family celebrations. Our menu will celebrate her life and her food.” Among early indications of what could be on the menu is African peri peri chicken, Boerewors Sausage, which is minced beef, Mishkaki (Mombasa-style chicken skewers marinated in a spicy yoghurt) and Breyani (marinated meat, rice, lentils and spices topped with fried onions and hard-boiled eggs).
Glasgow-based Caribbean barbecue restaurant and bar Sugar Dumplin to start expanding with second site in Camberley: Glasgow-based Caribbean barbecue restaurant and bar Sugar Dumplin is to start expanding by opening a second site in Camberley, Surrey. The company has signed a 15-year lease on a 2,500 sq ft unit at The Atrium Shopping Centre, reports Property Magazine International. The restaurant, which is expected to open before the end of the year, is on level one of the centre, opposite Vue Cinema and joins a host of other restaurants including Byron Burger, Bill’s and Wagamama. Sugar Dumplin opened its first sit in Princes Square, Glasgow, earlier this year.
Enterprise Inns announces dates and venues for its Enterpriselive 2016 trade shows: Enterprise Inns has unveiled the dates and venues for its 2016 Enterpriselive roadshows. They are: 23 February at Olympia, London; 25 February at Farnborough Five, Hampshire; 1 March at Elland Road, Leeds; 3 March at Event City, Manchester; 8 March at Ricoh Arena, Coventry; and 10 March at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Sales and marketing director James Armitage said: “These trade shows provide our publicans with the perfect opportunity to see at first hand the high levels of support we’re able to provide, and at the same time meet and speak to the wide range of suppliers. We’ll be going back to Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, where we enjoyed our biggest attendance of 2015, and moving our second northern venue from Bolton Arena to Manchester’s Event City. Our Coventry and Bristol venues stay the same. We’re already encouraging suppliers to book their spaces, and planning to introduce new and exciting suppliers and business opportunities to our publicans.” The six events this year attracted publicans from more than 2,000 Enterprise pubs.
Fuller’s launches Frontier in a can version: London brewer and pub retailer Fuller’s has launched Frontier Craft Lager in a can. Frontier, which has existed in keg and bottle for over two years, will become Fuller’s next product to be available in the filtered, can format. John Keeling, brewing director at Fuller’s said: “It has always been my aim to produce the most natural beer possible in every format. We want to deliver consistently exciting flavours and cans are no exception.”
Zonal hires Olivia FitzGerald to lead marketing technologies division: Zonal, the provider of hospitality solutions, has appointed Olivia FitzGerald as the new managing director of its marketing technologies division. She will take the lead at online bookings challenger brand liveRES (acquired by Zonal in April 2015) and TXD Digital Marketing. FitzGerald brings a wealth of experience in both technology and hospitality from previous roles as UK managing director for workforce collaboration specialist Planday, and regional director UK and Ireland for Bookatable. Zonal’s chief executive Stuart Mclean said: “As we continue to develop cutting edge solutions for our customers, our marketing technology division is a key area of focus for us. Olivia has the right mix of experience to help us develop the UK’s most sophisticated and innovative online booking and table management system. As part of marketing technologies at Zonal, liveRES offers hospitality operators a unique, integrated solution focused on customer engagement. We want to enable our clients to unlock the promise of technology, putting ambitious digital marketing goals within reach.”
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