Trof Group founders to launch new quick-service pizza restaurant concept and aims to roll out nationwide: Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen, founders of the Trof Group, are to launch a new quick-service pizza restaurant concept that it aims to roll out nationwide. Detroit Slims is set to open at the Circle Square development in Manchester’s Oxford Road this autumn with a second site planned to follow in Greater Manchester by the end of the year. The trio – who are behind Manchester's venues Detroit-pizza style concept Ramona, “creative neighbourhood” Diecast and wood-fired restaurant concept The Firehouse – will be bringing a “fresh and hot twist” on quick-service Detroit-style pizza to the city centre. The 1,800 square-foot space will have 30 covers with the menu featuring ten-inch long rectangle shaped pizza baked fresh to order, featuring toppings such as the Cheese Burger Slim, Barbecue Meat Feast, the Shroom Slim and The Pepperoni Crown. There will also be a variety of house-made dips and a selection of sides including chicken tenders tossed in homemade Cajun pepper and crispy scooper fries. The drinks menu will feature “Slim Shaky” milkshakes. Mullen said: “Detroit Slims has been in the works for a while now and we are so excited to finally introduce this new concept. Detroit has been a city close to our hearts since we first visited, so much so, we brought a piece of it back home when we opened Ramona in 2021. Detroit Slims is the newest iteration of our love for Detroit-style pizza! We’re so excited to finally introduce Slims to our home city of Manchester, and eventually bring Detroit-style pizza to everyone UK-wide.” Wilkinson, Winter and Mullen joined forces with Revolution founders Neil McLeod and Roy Ellis to form hospitality group Mission Mars and launch the Albert’s Schloss concept but have since left the business.

Honest Burgers reports record year of delivery as it eyes UK-wide expansion: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has reported a record-breaking year of delivery, with like-for-like delivery sales up 22% over the last six months, driven by covers growth of 16%. The burger business has extended its exclusive partnership with Uber Eats until 2026, and said it will “leverage its popularity on Uber Eats to help its UK expansion over the next 12 months”. The 39-strong business plans to launch its long mooted smashed burger concept later this year, and The Smashed Burger, Honest Burger and Plant Vegan Burger are currently the most popular menu items being ordered from Honest Burgers on Uber Eats. Marcus Denison-Smith, chief marketing officer at Honest Burgers, said: “We are delighted to extend our exclusive partnership with Uber Eats and look forward to continuing our exceptional sales momentum we have achieved together since launching two years ago. Over the last six months, our like-for-like delivery sales are up 22% driven by covers growth of 16%. This demonstrates the demand for fantastic quality burgers beyond our restaurants.” Matthew Price, general manager UK, Ireland and northern Europe at Uber Eats, said: added: “We've seen an exceptional reaction from our customers, who love being able to enjoy these elevated burgers from wherever they are.” 

Greene King hires 250th prison leaver: Brewer and retailer Greene King has hired its 250th prison leaver through its Releasing Potential programme. The programme was launched in May 2019 to support those leaving prison to find employment with the company. The programme works with more than 65 prisons across the UK, providing information and support for prisoners to develop their skills in food preparation, customer service, barista training and housekeeping to prepare them to work in Greene King pubs and hotels upon their release. Greene King has invested in two training kitchens within prisons at HMP Thameside in London and HMP Grampian in Peterhead in Scotland. Each site emulates a Greene King kitchen and delivers bespoke training programmes. As part of its commitment to hiring prison leavers, Greene King became one of the first employers in the UK to take part in a pilot programme offering apprenticeships to prisoners in open prisons in October 2022. Earlier this year, Greene King’s first apprentice through the programme, who started their apprenticeship while in custody, has become a full-time kitchen team member for Greene King. It is currently working with a number of other candidates who are planning on starting an apprenticeship before their release date. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “We are committed to championing social mobility through providing everybody, regardless of their background, with the chance to pursue a long-term career in the hospitality industry. With pubs at the heart of local communities across the country, our Releasing Potential scheme supports prison leavers nationwide on their journey to successful rehabilitation. We are proud to have offered a second chance to 250 individuals and look forward to welcoming many more.”