Angus Steakhouse owner launches new pizza concept: ATFC, which owns the Angus Steakhouse chain of restaurants in London, has launched a new pizza concept in the capital. The business has opened Alley Cats Pizza, which focuses on New York City-style pizzas, at 22 Paddington Street, just off Baker Street. The concept is being overseen by chef Francesco Macri, who was formerly at Pizza Pilgrims, Caravan and Princi. As well as five Angus Steakhouses, ATFC operates four Steak & Company restaurants, two Muriel’s Kitchen sites and the Ochre restaurant within The National Gallery. The business narrowed its losses in the year to 31 October 2022 as turnover neared pre-pandemic levels. Its pre-tax loss narrowed from £2,257,000 in 2021 to £358,000, despite a rise in costs. This compares with a pre-tax profit of £751,000 in pre-covid 2019. Turnover grew from £11,281,000 in 2021 to £32,366,000 and is approaching the 2019 level of £34,244,000. ATFC features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book. Its turnover of £32,366,000 for the year ending 31 October 2022 is the 271st highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Propel’s Multi-Site Database improved for 2024 with unique segmentation: Propel’s leading database, the Multi Site Database, which provides the details of more than 3,000 multi-site operators, has been redesigned so Premium subscribers will be able to search the data segmented into key industry sectors. This new straightforward segmentation will allow users to search quickly in key categories such as pubs and bars, cafe bakery, quick service restaurants, casual dining, fine dining, hotel and experiential leisure. Subscribers will be able to drill down into the details and updates for these specific areas – so, for example, the circa 640 multi-site operators in the pubs and bars sector and 150 operators in the experiential leisure area can be examined in a stand-alone format. This new functionality will be available later this month when the latest Multi-Site Database is released on Friday, 26 January at midday. An updated Multi-Site Database is published every month, with an average of 50 or so companies added each month. Phil Pemberton, Propel’s director of premium services, said: “The new ability to segment this vital information is unique to the industry and is an element that our Premium subscribers requested. It will provide even more clarity and search capability to each segment of the sector.” A Propel Premium subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up. The Premium subscription service currently has more than 4,000 subscribers.

Pizza Hut UK hires new CMO as it seeks to become ‘younger, more culturally relevant and digital-led’: Pizza Hut UK, Ireland & France has hired Jana Ulaite as its chief marketing officer as it seeks to become a “younger, more culturally relevant and digital-led brand”. Ulaite will lead the company’s marketing efforts as it looks to accelerate growth across the region, helping find “creative ways to deliver brand activity” and using her tech expertise “to enable a more modern experience for Pizza Hut customers across the region”. Prior to joining Pizza Hut, Ulaite spent more than 15 years working with brands including TikTok, Apple, Electronic Arts and Square Enix, and was most recently vice-president of marketing at tech company Tempest. She said: “My role will focus on transforming Pizza Hut into a younger, more culturally relevant and digital-first brand, not to mention delivering everyday value and experience for our customers. I can’t wait to drive this forward in 2024!” The business is operated as a franchise model under the leadership of managing director Nicolas Burquier, and celebrated its 50th year in the UK in 2023.

Wingstop UK strengthens team with key appointments: Lemon Pepper Holdings, the company behind the rollout of Wingstop in the UK, has strengthened its head office team with the appointments of a new regional manager and marketing manager. The 39-strong business has appointed Rob Ward as regional manager for London and the south, overseeing about 25 locations. Ward joins from PizzaExpress, where he was optimisation manager for more than three years, and previously held roles at Marks & Spencer and Nando’s. At Nando’s, he served as a partner, overseeing restaurant operations, training & development, P&L, guest services, relationship building, and brand market-share growth. The company said Ward’s experience in the restaurant industry will be invaluable for Wingstop’s regional strategy and broader operations as the brand continues to open new sites across the country. At the same time, Celia Brown has joined Wingstop UK as its new marketing manager. Her previous roles include positions at Deliveroo and McDonald’s, where she led significant marketing campaigns. Tom Grogan, director of Lemon Pepper Holdings, said: “We are delighted to kick-start this year by welcoming Rob and Celia to Wingstop UK. Their addition is a strategic move for us as we look ahead to further expansion and operational excellence in 2024. 2023 was our best year yet, which saw substantial growth and 11 new restaurant openings and both appointments are crucial as we grow even further in the upcoming year.” Last month, Propel revealed Lemon Pepper Holdings has lined up an opening in the Lakeside shopping scheme, Essex, for this year. The company, which recently opened a second site for Wingstop in Edinburgh, has taken a unit, which forms the corner of a newly created food and beverage area on the ground floor of the scheme, opposite anchor tenants such as JD Sports. Wingstop will open its largest UK site yet – at Westfield Stratford City in London, in the first quarter. Propel understands Wingstop has taken over the ex-Home Run House site previously operated by Passyunk Avenue until this summer. Lemon Pepper Holdings already has Wingstop openings for this year lined up in Hounslow, Wood Green, Clapham, Croydon Leisure Park and Merry Hill. It is thought to have several more due to exchange or complete over the next two months. 

Fallow team to launch new venue Roe in Wood Wharf: The team behind London restaurant concept Fallow is set to launch its next venture, Roe, in Wood Wharf, this spring. The business from James Robson, Jack Croft and Will Murray, which opened its first permanent site in London's St James's Market, in November 2021, said that Roe will follow the same nose-to-tail and root-to-stem ethos as its sister restaurant, Fallow St James’s, and Fowl, the fast-casual chicken shop concept it opened in the capital last October. The á la carte menu will be divided into nibbles and flatbreads, skewers and grilled options, with larger plates and sides also available. As well as championing modest, British ingredients, Roe’s dishes will showcase “underused and underappreciated produce”. Set across three floors, the 350-cover restaurant will feature a chef’s table, mezzanine private dining room and terrace overlooking the South Dock canal. The team said it has created the first known plant-based and compostable 3D printed interiors including a coral-inspired tree and counters that engulf the space. It said: “Every material used in the structure and elsewhere in the design has been carefully chosen for its eco credentials and with a view to minimise waste, reflecting the trio’s ‘reduce’ ethos, as seen in details such as the beautiful terracotta pots. There will also be a bespoke aeroponic green wall system where a range of herbs and greens including peas, Padron peppers and chillies will grow and be tended by a full-time, on-site gardener.”

Travelodge exchanges contracts with LXi Reit on £210m acquisition of freeholds of 66 hotels, ‘providing platform to explore further deals’: Travelodge has exchanged contracts with real estate investment company LXi Reit on the £210m acquisition of the freehold of 66 hotels, which it said will “provide a platform to explore further freehold acquisitions”. The majority of the sale proceeds will be used to pay down debt, reducing LXi Reit’s group loan-to-value to 34% from 38%, and reducing the Travelodge proportion of LXi’s total rent roll to 11% from 18%. Completion of the sale is scheduled for 28 February 2024. Jo Boydell, chief executive of Travelodge, said: “The acquisition of 66 Travelodge hotels from LXi Reit, with support from our owner GoldenTree Asset Management, will mark a positive step for Travelodge as we seek to optimise our hotel portfolio and diversify our freehold/leasehold split to enhance value. The new structure will provide us with a platform to explore further freehold acquisitions.” Simon Lee, chief executive of LXi Reit Advisors, added: “We are delighted to be transacting with Travelodge on this landmark sale of 66 hotels for £210m, which is in line with the latest book value. The sale and debt repayment are not expected to have a material impact on the company’s earnings.” LXi Reit, which owns the land on which Thorpe Park and Alton Towers sit, confirmed in November that the deal was “under offer” and in the hands of the solicitors.

Administrators appointed to explore sale options for North Yorkshire food hall and restaurant: Administrators have been appointed to explore sale options for a North Yorkshire food hall and restaurant. Jonny Marston and Lyn Vardy, of Alvarez & Marsal Europe, have been appointed joint administrators of Keelham Farm Shop, which employs about 100 people. The food hall offers local produce and features an on-site butcher and baker and has an online offering as well as serving meals from its Skipton site. The business, which has previously said it closed after experiencing “financial pressures and reduced footfall” from the cost-of-living crisis, food inflation and high interest rates, is currently not trading, reports Insider Media. Marston said: “The business has experienced financial difficulty in recent months which ultimately led to cash flow problems and the business ceasing to trade. The joint administrators’ priority is to explore options to sell the business as a going concern and have already been made aware of interest from several parties.” Keelham Farm Shop’s directors are Gerard Downes, James and Josephine Wellock and James Worrall. The farm shop opened in 2015 as the second site under the Keelham brand, which was originally a store on the Robertshaw family’s farm in Thornton, near Bradford. In 2019, siblings James and Victoria Robertshaw resigned as directors, and a year later, the Skipton site was sold to Downes’ investment firm, Growth Partner. James Wellock still runs the Thornton shop, which is no longer associated with the Skipton business. The Wellocks joined Keelham in the summer of 2022 with the aim of turning the shop around, with innovations including opening a pizzeria and a well-being studio.