Zero Carbon Forum – regenerative flour could save over three million tonnes of carbon by 2030: New figures from Zero Carbon Forum and regenerative farming and food business Wildfarmed have shown that 3.6 million tonnes of carbon could be saved by 2030 if every operator across the UK hospitality and brewing sectors switched to regenerative flour and barley. With 35% of the UK’s emissions coming from the food and beverage sector, flour and barley production is responsible for 2.5% of this. Moving to flour produced through regenerative farming – which restores soil health by growing crops alongside companion crops rather adding pesticides – helps put more nutrients back into the soil and wheat while boosting biodiversity. Wildfarmed, founded in 2018 by Andy Cato, George Lamb and Edd Lees, has forged partnerships with 60-plus farmers, restaurants and bakeries to help fix the food system, including businesses including ASK and Franco Manca. Edd Lees, co-founder at Wildfarmed, said: “The hospitality industry uses an enormous amount of flour, made mostly by conventional farming, but a switch to regen farming means a switch to less carbon, enabling both farmers and hospitality businesses to be part of a significant environmental change.” Zero Carbon Forum director Bob Gordon added: “If businesses source ingredients from regenerative farms, we will also see more resilient supply chains able to respond to extreme weather events, more biodiversity and lower carbon emissions from farming.”
 
Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a business that is growing its facilities management, property and estates team that is seeking a regional technical manager to work across a large estate, which provides accommodation for students. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The team is responsible for ensuring all buildings have long-term asset and lifecycle programmes in place, ensuring compliance and collaborating with the operations teams in each city the business operates in. You will provide strategic direction for the business in regard to rectification of non-reactive, technical planned project works; strategic alignment of planned preventive maintenance services; and the ownership of large-scale latent defects across the portfolio. The role will also include ownership and project management of key capital projects, along with refurbishment and repair schemes, providing leadership and direction in the delivery of total facilities management. Ideally candidates will demonstrate a heavy bias towards either electrical or mechanical engineering.” The salary is up to £60,000 plus car allowance and the position is based in Northampton. For more information, email sheila@corecruitment.com.
 

Company News:

Chestnut Group acquires third wine business: East Anglian pub company Chestnut Group has acquired a third wine business. It has bought independent wine specialist Bijou Wine Merchant for an undisclosed sum, which the group said marks “a significant step in its ongoing regional growth strategy”. Bijou, a Norfolk based trade-only independent wine merchants, brings with it a team with more than 50 years’ wine trade experience and will operate as part of Peter Graham Wines, which was itself bought by Chestnut in June 2023. That acquisition, the group’s first foray into the wine business, was followed by a second, in August 2023, when it bought Old Bridge Wines in Hungtindon, Cambridgeshire. Philip Turner, founder and chief execuitve of Chestnut, said the move demonstrates the company’s commitment to the wine arm of its growing regional business. “This acquisition represents the coming together of two fantastic Norfolk heritage brands, both of which have built up a solid reputation, placing us in the enviable position of being able to cater for much of East Anglia’s independent wine demand,” he said. We are committed to building on that success and providing a platform for further growth as one team under the Peter Graham Wines wholesale brand. Over the last year we have been building on the acquisition of Peter Graham Wines, which will see the launch of The Bottle Shop in a few of our properties and an online offering in 2024.” Bijou chairman Gordon Hall, who will be staying on to provide continuity, added: “Chestnut and Peter Graham Wines are the perfect guardians of our team and customers, and the perfect partners to continue the Bijou journey. I have always admired the company’s commitment to the highest standards of quality and service and know the legacy we have built over the years will be in safe hands.” In April, Turner told Propel that turnover at Chestnut increased to circa £27.5m and site Ebitda jumped 220% to reach £6.2m for the year ending 31 March 2024. He said like-for-like sales in the first three months of 2024 were up 6% with accommodation sales ahead of expectations.

Domino’s franchisee reports record turnover of £296.7m as estate grows to more than 250 sites: Santio, one of the UK’s largest Domino’s Pizza franchisees, has reported turnover increased 9.6% to a record £296,683,114 for the year ending 30 September 2023 compared with £270,586,873 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £506,384 from £491,596 the year before. During the period, the company opened 18 sites and closed one, taking its estate to 254 outlets. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Pleasingly the company was able to hold its gross margin broadly constant year-on-year in spite of inflationary pressures on food purchases. Operating profit remained flat year-on-year, partly due to the high number of sites openings in the year, as these carry pre-opening costs incurred before the sites begin to trade.” No dividend was paid. (2022: nil). Santio began trading in July 2018. The agreement in place with Domino's operates on an annual 12-month contract period. A party may give three months’ notice at any time to end the agreement with effect from the end of the next agreed term. Its shareholders include Surinder Kandola, who also backs Canadian coffee and doughnut brand Tim Hortons in the UK.

Greene King invests £23m in Manchester food and drink depot as part of long-term investment in north west pubs network: Brewer and retailer Greene King has invests £23m in a Manchester food and drink depot as part of a long-term investment in its north west pubs network. In partnership with logistics form GXO, it has signed a 15-year lease for the depot in Middleton, Greater Manchester, which will manage as many as 240,000 cases of food and non-food products as well as 465 tonnes of drink on a weekly basis. The depot is set to serve Greene King’s estate of almost 1,000 managed and free trade pubs across the region. The £23m investment will re-develop and refurbish an existing site at Middleton, including the introduction of enough solar panels to cover 8,000 square metres, generating a targeted 1.2 million kWH per year. The improvements are expected to take around a year, with the depot opening for drink deliveries from May 2025 and food from early 2026. As a result, its current lease at Ocean's Estate, Trafford Park, is being extended for a year to May 2026. Matt Starbuck, managing director of Greene King brewing and group supply chain, said: “We want to make this long-term commitment to our operations in the north west as it will play a crucial role in getting food and drink out to our hundreds of pubs and thousands of customers in the region. This investment will enable us to replace the existing sites, which are very dated. The new site will make for a far better environment for the teams to work in.” It follows a proposed £40m investment in a new brewery in Bury St Edmunds, announced in April.

Former Tortilla head of finance set to shut his London izakaya venue ahead of new restaurant plan: Former Tortilla head of finance James Willians is set to shut his London izakaya venue ahead of opening a new restaurant. Williams, who led the finance team at Europe’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand for almost a decade, from 2008 to 2017, will shut Apothecary East this summer, with plans to launch a new restaurant in the capital next year. Williams launched Apothecary East in the former Merchant Tavern in Shoreditch’s Charlotte Street in 2021, taking its name from the building’s former use a Victorian pharmacy. “We have loved our time in East London, and the opportunity to develop signature dishes such as our acclaimed miso charred aubergine, black sesame cauliflower and kakuni pork belly,” Williams said. “We first took on the Charlotte Road site after lockdown for a year-long pop up to test out ideas for a permanent location. Thanks to the wonderful support of our guests and landlord, we’ve been fortunate enough to extend our stay to three years. Now is the perfect time to take the next step, and we’ll have details on that to share later in the year.” The new restaurant will have 50 covers and offer both a la carte and omakase menus, as well as a drinks list celebrating ‘haiboru’ hi-balls, sake and artisan spirits.
 
South Yorkshire pub operators acquire sixth site as they target ten-strong estate: South Yorkshire pub operators Simon Woodcock and Richard Hepplestone have acquired their sixth site as they look to build an estate of ten in the region. The Black Bull in Ecclesfield is the duo’s second venture with Heineken-owned Star Pubs. Closed for more than a year, the pub will reopen at the end of July following a £198,000 investment by Star. The refurbishment will transform The Black Bull into a “family-friendly premium local” with a garden, dedicated games room and varied entertainment programme. The overhaul will also see the renovation of the outside of the pub and development of a 40-seater sheltered courtyard garden with a big screen for watching sports. Woodcock and Hepplestone’s business model is focused on community locals specialising in sports and entertainment and The Black Bull will follow suit. As with their other venues, trade is expected to be predominantly wet but a menu of ready-made pub favourites will generate 10% of sales. Hepplestone said: “We prefer the community to the town centre market. Overheads like business rates are lower; there’s less competition from managed brands with deep pockets; and if you invest time in getting to know your customers you can build up a loyal following of regulars. Leasing pubs is essential to our expansion; the expense of buying pubs is too great to build up a volume of sites. We are already considering a further project with Star.” Star’s investment at The Black Bull is part of its £39m programme to upgrade its pubs in 2024.
 
Boojum secures Nottingham site for second UK mainland restaurant: Mexican fast-casual brand Boojum, which was acquired by the Azzurri Group last summer, has secured its second UK mainland restaurant, in Nottingham. Following its launch on the mainland in Leeds in April, Boojum is opening a 2,377 square-foot restaurant in Nottingham’s Lower Parliament Street, opposite the Victoria Centre. The restaurant, which will have seating for 42 diners and create 25 jobs, will open in the autumn. Established in 2007 in Belfast, Boojum has 17 outlets across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK mainland. Boojum chief executive David Maxwell said: “We are hugely excited to be launching our second UK mainland operation. We have been overwhelmed with the huge success of our Leeds launch with customers loving our energetic and vibrant atmosphere and are looking forward to creating more ‘Boojum addicts’ in Nottingham.” Propel revealed at the end of January that Boojum plans to open 25 sites over the next five years in major UK student cities. The company’s current mainland pipeline also extends into Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Azzurri Group chief executive Steve Holmes will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 5 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry, where he will discuss the potential of Boojum. There are up to three free places per company for operators but Premium subscribers can have up to four places. To book, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening. For more details, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com.
 
Suffolk hotel group refinances, reports strong current trading: Suffolk hotel group The Hotel Folk has refinanced and reported strong current trading. The company, founded in 1996, operates six hotels as well as a country club, spa and several restaurants within its premises. In its accounts for the year to 30 September 2023, under events after the reporting date, it said: “The company has enjoyed a successful first six months of trading during financial year 2023-24. The company has agreed a short-term finance arrangement with Handelsbanken with anticipation of the reduction of interest rates before agreeing a longer-term commitment.” The company’s turnover dropped slightly from £15,441,457 in 2022 to £15,040,444. Its pre-tax profit was down from £1,089,347 to £208,609. The company received no government grants (2022: £52,000) and paid dividends of £300,000 (2022: £200,000). “Inflationary pressures and lower consumer confidence have not been reflected in sales performance versus budget but have had some impact on profit conversion,” director Joan Whybrow said. “Comparing performance with the last non covid-19 year, both sales and profit results show strong progression and the impact of the last three years of reinvestment back into the business have yielded positive results. Good performance and subsequent cash flows have allowed for capital investment, with a further 32 hotel bedrooms refurbished in the year. The company has continued its commitment to refurbishing its assets with a further 16 bedrooms planned in the next financial year, predominately at Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel and The Swan in Lavenham. Overall, the board remain pleased with the business performance and confident about future trading.” Whybrow said utility contracts remain fixed over the longer-term except for electricity contracts at three hotels. She said food and liquor performed strongly, while golf performance was “extremely strong”, and while liquor margins remained stable, food margins experienced pressures due to the full impact of food inflation taking hold in the first half of the year. There was also an improvement in net promoter score, attributed to the capital expenditure across its rooms and better service assisted by investment in training and development.
 
Roxy Leisure confirms Bristol opening for King Pins: Roxy Leisure has confirmed it will open a site for its fledgling King Pins family bowling concept in Bristol. The business, which last December created a new division, Pins Leisure, led by Colin Sadler, to support its expansion into the family market, will open the venue at Cabot Circus. The company has agreed a deal with landlord Hammerson for a 16,000 square-foot space at the scheme. Work start later this month, with a pre-Christmas opening planned. The operator of the Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room brands opened its debut site under the King Pins concept in Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo last summer, offering 15 lanes of ten-pin bowling and four lanes of duck-pin bowling alongside shuffleboard, ice-free curling, a batting cage, karaoke and arcade games. Earlier this year, a new flagship King Pins site opened in the former Sports Direct unit on the ground floor of Manchester’s Arndale. A further two King Pins sites are in the pipeline – at Glasgow’s Silverburn scheme and the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds. Last year, Roxy Leisure managing director Matt Jones told Propel the company was targeting six King Ping sites within the next two years. Meanwhile, Roxy Leisure has opened a site in Nottingham under its Roxy Lanes concept. The 15,000 square-foot venue has opened in the city’s Bottle Lane. The move has seen Roxy Leisure relocate its Thurland Street site, which operates under the Roxy Ball Room brand, to the site in Bottle Lane, which is three times larger. Roxy Leisure also operates a Roxy Ball Room at the Cornerhouse in the city. Jones, Sadler and fellow managing director Ben Warren will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 5 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. There are up to three free places per company for operators but Premium subscribers can have up to four places. To book, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening. For more details, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com.
 
North east operator Sayturk Group to bring Flower Cafe concept to Sunderland: North east hospitality and leisure operator Sayturk Group is bringing its Flower Cafe concept to Sunderland. The company is opening the venue in Keel Square, having agreed a deal with the city council for the fourth and final unit under the Holiday Inn Riverside Sunderland. Sayturk Group already operates Flower Café sites in Newcastle and Alnwick and is also set to open a venue in Whitley Bay. The concept offers a menu of cocktails, beer, patisserie, gourmet sandwiches and gelato. The venue will have 113 covers inside and 46 in the outdoor space and is set to create 20 jobs. Sayturk Group now operates concept bars, late-night venues, pubs, cafes and luxury holiday apartments around the region, with recent acquisitions including the lease of the European-style café bar Société in Grey Street, Newcastle, as well as the former Chicken Coop restaurant adjoining Metropolitan House in the city. The group also operates Liberty House and Swarley’s in Newcastle and Osborne’s in Jesmond.
 
T&R Theakston reports increase in sales and profitability after hiring first director of finance and expanding sales team, makes strong start to 2024: Yorkshire family brewer T&R Theakston has reported an increase in sales and profitability after hiring its first director of finance and expanding its sales team, and that it has made a strong start to 2024. The family-controlled business, which has been brewing beers in Masham for almost 200 years, recorded a pre-tax profit of £248,000 for the year to 31 December 2023, an increase from £18,000 in the previous year. Turnover increased by 21% to £8.2m, despite the “challenges of inflationary pressure on production costs, increased operational expense and consumers feeling the pinch on their disposable income”. The business said it achieved market share growth across all trade channels and that taking a longer-term view of its pricing had supported this growth. It was also helped by appointing the company’s first director of finance, Scott Everett, and expanding the sales team in the north. Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston, said: “We’re pleased to report an increase in profitability, as demand for our high-quality beers amongst customers in both the on and off trade markets is high. The last 12 months have proved to be a pivotal year for the business as we continue to navigate towards our 200th anniversary, and we’re pleased to see that demand for cask ale has endured, with volumes growing by 5%. The increased availability of our beers in both the on and off trade, alongside Old Peculiar’s triumphant return to the American market after a ten-year absence, as well as the launch of exciting new products, have meant we’ve been able to continue our steady growth.” Looking to the future, the business said it is “optimistic” thanks to the performance of its new and existing brands. “With a healthy balance sheet and secure financial arrangements, we remain focused on growing our revenue and are excited about what’s to come this year,” Theakston added. “As well as making changes to the executive leadership of the company, with Richard Bradbury becoming the sole managing director and the appointment of Scott as director of finance, we have also welcomed the sixth generation of the family to the business, my son, William Theakston. As a result of our strong start to 2024, the board of directors are confident that the pace of growth, which has been steadily increasing post-covid, will accelerate this year thanks to our strong brands and our solid business foundations.”
 
Turkish group acquires hotel in London’s King’s Cross for UK debut: Turkish hotel group Kaya Tourism Group has acquired the grade II-listed Great Northern Hotel in London’s King’s Cross. The acquisition of the 88-bedroom hotel is Kaya Tourism Group’s first London property and marks the beginning of the company’s expansion into the UK and the wider European market. Kaya Tourism Group is part of Kaya Holding, which owns and operates 13 hotels in Turkey and Cyprus across its two brands, Kaya Palazzo Hotels & Resorts and Kaya Hotels & Resorts. Kaya Tourism Group is looking to strengthen the existing food and beverage offering at the Great Northern Hotel. Burak Kaya, chairman of Kaya Holding, said: “We are delighted to have made our first international hotel investment in London. We are proud to be the first Turkish tourism company to make such a significant hotel investment in the UK and believe this investment will strengthen mutual tourism relations between Turkey and the UK. We are actively considering next options for further expansion into Europe.”
 
Future of Kent’s ‘Disneyland-rivalling’ resort uncertain after company owning the land goes up for sale: The company which owns much of the land earmarked for the multi-billion-pound "Disneyland-rivalling" London Resort project in Kent project is up for sale – potentially driving the final nail in the coffin of the ambitious theme park proposals. Swanscombe Development owns some 372 acres of the peninsula as well as around 39 acres of the Manor Way Business Park, reports Kent Online. It had granted an option for the team behind London Resort to buy the land to build the leisure complex, but that expired in December 2022 and has not been renewed since. London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), which was behind the £2.5bn park plans, had invested more than £4m in acquiring the option. But now Swanscombe Development, a 50/50 joint venture between Aggregate Industries and Anglo American International Holdings, is up for sale – and with it, the freehold on the land. Property firm Savills is handling the sale, for an undisclosed sum, and is inviting offers up until a deadline of 26 July. Much of the site, which comprises the former Swanscombe Cement Works, was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England in 2021, which is thought to have part derailed the London Resort scheme. Around 140 companies continue to trade on the land previously earmarked for the attraction. London Resort previously said it remained “100% committed” to delivering the project and would commit £150m to environmental improvements. It went on to say the decision to designate the site as an SSSI, as well as the classification of Tilbury as a Freeport, had “impacted the project” and required it to withdraw.
 
Marco Pierre White opens first of double launch in Suffolk, debut pub concept site to follow: Marco Pierre White has opened the first of a double launch in Suffolk, with the debut site for his new pub concept to follow. As previously reported, the chef is opening a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and a pub-based venue called The Queen’s Head under the Marco Pierre White Ale House brand in Felixstowe through his franchising arm, Black & White Hospitality (B&W). These will be located in the former The Brook Hotel in the town’s Orwell Road, which has been transformed into a boutique-style hotel called Hotel Coco. B&W, which owns and manages the master franchise rights to eight Marco Pierre White restaurant concepts, has now opened the 70-cover restaurant Steakhouse Bar & Grill, with the pub to follow soon. The new Steakhouse Bar & Grill will replace what was the hotel’s restaurant and follows a deal between B&W and the hotel owners, the Govindasamy family. B&W chairman Nick Taplin said: “We’re delighted that this latest Steakhouse is now open. We have found an incredible owner who believes in the core values of hospitality. The Steakhouse is our leading brand and fits perfectly with the boutique style of Hotel Coco. As a business, we are looking at a host of new and exciting opportunities both here in the UK and abroad while working closely with business owners and investors to realise the potential of their dining spaces. We have a few more sites in the pipeline with another two openings this year already planned, and it’s great that we are bucking the trend when it comes to opening new restaurants.” In May, B&W and Pierre White, in partnership with Holiday Inn, opened a 90-cover Marco’s New York Italian restaurant in the new, 127-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel in Blackpool.
 
Manchester Italian sandwich shop concept to open deli for third site: Manchester Italian sandwich shop concept Ad Maiora is to open a third site in the city. Ad Maiora, which started out from a small flat a couple of years ago, has revealed it will launch an Italian deli. Ad Maiora is the brainchild of Sardinian couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinna, who started their business out of their flat in Manchester's Northern Quarter. They both quit their jobs at the end of 2022 to start selling authentic Italian sandwiches. The business has sites in Radium Street in Ancoats and inside the Salford Quays’ food hall, Kargo Mkt. In an Instagram post, the duo wrote: “We started trading from a small flat. A year later we have two small kitchens, one in Ancoats and one in Salford. Now we are ready for the next step, opening an authentic Italian deli shop. It will be something crazy and we are sure you will love it.”
 
Yotel opens third London site as it debuts ‘flexible stay’ brand in Europe: Yotel, the London-based budget accommodation brand launched by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe, has opened a third site in the capital. Yotelpad London Stratford is the seventh UK property for the business and sees a European debut for its “flexible stay” Yotelpad aparthotel brand, which currently had two sites, both in the US. Yotelpad London Stratford offers 62 “pads”, each with multifunctional work and sleep areas, bathroom and kitchenettes, plus access to a grab-and-go snack station and retail space. Yotel chief executive Hubert Viriot said: “This marks an exciting step for us, as we target growth for the Yotelpad brand globally, to meet the surging demand for flexible, extended stay accommodation worldwide.” The opening is one of four planned in 2024 for the company, alongside Yotels in Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Bangkok in Thailand) and Tokyo in Japan). Yotel has 23 sites worldwide split among 14 Yotels, six airport-based Yotelair sites and three Yotelpads. The company’s other UK sites are Yotels in City of London and Shoreditch in the capital as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester and a Yotelair at Gatwick airport.
 
East Midlands coffee shop concept to open in Nottingham for third site: East Midlands coffee shop concept Public is to open its third site. The company, which has branches in Loughborough and Mountsorrel, is launching its first cafe outside Leicestershire, in Nottingham. Public will be opening in the former TSB in Low Pavement, which shut down in May 2021. Conversion work is currently underway. Public stated: “Our worst kept secret is finally out. Public is coming to Nottingham. Get ready for good coffee, our signature sourdough, flaky croissants and you best believe we’re bringing the Nutella with us! You know how we feel about cool buildings so turning a bank into a coffee shop is our idea of heaven. We can’t wait to share our progress so far and bring Public to Nottingham.”

Japanese noodle bar concept to join Gloucester Food Dock line-up for second site: Japanese noodle bar concept Daikoku is to join the line-up at Gloucester Food Dock. Daikoku is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Hugo and Mixuki Lonsdale, who have been making ramen since 2010. Having already opened a site in nearby Stroud, the Lonsdales are now bringing their dishes to Gloucester Food Dock in August. Daikoku is one of the seven lucky Shinto gods – the god of good fortune and the kitchen. Hugo said: “We have an ambitious desire to create original flavours, and to redefine the classic ramen experience while striving for a healthy, nutritious and replenishing offer.” Ken Elliott, co-owner of Gloucester Food Dock, added: “We are hugely excited by this new name. Daikoku bring a new style of cuisine to the scheme and to Gloucester and one that will complement very well the existing line up of names.” Diakoku will be the tenth business joining the Gloucester Food Dock community, which includes London burger restaurant Chuck and Strip Steak Bar, which offers “premium quality, rapidly served steak in a street food style”.

Clermont Hotel Group set to open new bar and kitchen on upper foyer level of The Tower Hotel: Clermont Hotel Group is set to open a new bar and kitchen on the upper foyer level of The Tower Hotel in London’s St Katharine's Way. The hotel owner-operator, which has a portfolio of 5,000-plus bedrooms across brands as The Royal Horseguards Hotel, The Clermont and Thistle, will launch VU from The Tower in August. With 150 covers, the 2,345 square-foot venue will offer lunches, bottomless brunches, afternoon teas and tapas-style dinners with cocktails and Champagne. Dishes include lamb kofta with pomegranate, crispy fried chicken in gochujang sauce, a triple-decker club sandwich, steak frites, baked salmon supreme, a grilled asparagus and roasted pepper salad and a charcuterie board. Gavin Taylor, chief executive at Clermont Hotel Group, said: “This venue, with its spectacular views of Tower Bridge and the River Thames, offers a unique dining experience that we believe will captivate both locals and visitors. The opening of VU marks an exciting chapter for Clermont Hotel Group as we continue to update our portfolio with distinctive dining destinations that celebrate both location and culinary excellence.”