| Friday 31st January 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: The state of marketing in the hospitality sector in 2025, the death of pub grub, are young people really drinking less Authors: Elton Mouna, Phil Mellows, Glynn Davis The state of marketi … view |
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| Friday 31st January 2025 |
| Tortilla secures new investor, set to enhance technological capabilities |
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Tortilla secures new investor, set to enhance technological capabilities: Fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla has secured a new investor – Auctor Group, the backer of Kaikaku, a London-based technology and restaurant start-up. … view |
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| Friday 31st January 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Brother Marcus reports full-year like-for-likes up 27.2% as sales hit £10m, secures biggest site yet in London’s Canary Wharf: Brother Marcus, the five-strong eastern Mediterranean restaurant concept led by Tas Gaitanos and Alex Large, … view |
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| Thursday 30th January 2025 |
| Loungers shareholders back £354.4m takeover deal |
| Loungers shareholders back £354.4m takeover deal: Shareholders of café bar operator Loungers have backed its £354.4m takeover by US private equity firm Fortress. A total of 93.52% of shareholders voted in favour of the deal. A court sanctio … view |
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| Thursday 30th January 2025 |
| Honest Burgers hires Kevin Styles as CEO, forecast to hit full year revenue of £60m following record Christmas trading |
| Honest Burgers hires Kevin Styles as its new CEO, forecast to hit full year revenue of £60m following record Christmas trading: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has hired Kevin Styles as its new chief executive. Propel rev … view |
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| Thursday 30th January 2025 |
| Update: Hollywood Bowl reports strong Q1 trading, Fevertree US partnership |
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Hollywood Bowl reports strong Q1 trading: Hollywood Bowl has reported that trading over the three months to 12 January 2025 has been strong, including a record revenue month in both the UK and Canada in December. It said that total revenu … view |
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| Thursday 30th January 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Butcombe Group CEO – consolidation will come in the second half of the year, price increases will be restricted to an absolute minimum: Butcombe Group (formerly Liberation Group) chief executive Jonathan Lawson has told Propel he believ … view |
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| Thursday 30th January 2025 |
| Restaurants’ at-home sales flatten in December as consumers go out to celebrate |
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Restaurants’ at-home sales flatten in December as consumers go out to celebrate: Year-on-year growth in delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading restaurant groups slowed to 1.9% in December 2024, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospital … view |
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| Wednesday 29th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: Pizza Hut Restaurants UK business acquired out of administration for £10m |
| Exclusive – Pizza Hut Restaurants UK business acquired out of administration for £10m: Private equity firm Directional Capital paid £10m to acquire Heart With Smart (HWS), which manages the operations of the UK Pizza Hut dine-in restaurant … view |
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| Wednesday 29th January 2025 |
| Update: Turtle Bay CEO, Market Monitor, Starbucks Q1, Butcombe Group, Boxpark CFO |
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Turtle Bay confirms departure of CEO, appoints new COO: Turtle Bay, the Caribbean restaurant brand backed by Piper, has confirmed that after four years in the role Nick Crossley has decided to step down as chief executive of the 53-strong … view |
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| Wednesday 29th January 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Punch Pubs & Co CEO – Laine providing inspiration around growing talent, Fortress has made the business fitter: Andy Spencer, who took over as chief executive of the Fortress-backed, circa 1,350-strong Punch Pubs & Co in September, has … view |
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| Tuesday 28th January 2025 |
| Update: SSP sees strong Q1 trading momentum, WH Smith, AG Barr, Comptoir Group |
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SSP reports good trading momentum with Q1 lfl sales up 6%: SSP, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has reported good trading momentum with like-for-like sales up 6% for the first three months of it … view |
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| Tuesday 28th January 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Bread Ahead focusing on international growth as it eyes long-term estate of 1,000 sites globally, reports record-breaking Christmas: Independent bakery and baking school business Bread Ahead has told Propel it is focusing on international … view |
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| Tuesday 28th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: Red Engine to invite guests to design its next game as it gears up for tenth birthday celebrations |
| Exclusive – Red Engine to invite guests to design its next game as it gears up for tenth birthday celebrations: Red Engine, the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator, is inviting its guests to design its next game as it gears up for its … view |
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| Monday 27th January 2025 |
| Speaker line-up for first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025 revealed, open for bookings |
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Speaker line-up for first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025 revealed, open for bookings: The speaker line-up for the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025 has been revealed. The conference takes place on Thursday, 20 March, at the … view |
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| Monday 27th January 2025 |
| Update: Popeyes CEO on UK market, Britons turn backs on alcohol, Starbucks |
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UK’s booming fried chicken market can grow further, says Popeyes CEO: Britain’s seemingly insatiable appetite for fried chicken can spur further private equity interest in a sector ripe for “significant growth”, according to the … view |
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| Monday 27th January 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Black Sheep Coffee – our aim is to have 250 shops in the US by end of 2027, UK business is flying: Gabriel Shohet, co-founder of speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee, has told Propel that the company’s aim is to have 250 … view |
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| Monday 27th January 2025 |
| UK’s first returnable cup initiative between multiple national brands, Urban Pubs & Bars, Wingstop et al |
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UK’s first returnable cup initiative between multiple national brands launches: The UK’s first returnable cup initiative between multiple national brands launches today (Monday, 27 January). The scheme in Glasgow aims to cut into the … view |
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| Sunday 26th January 2025 |
| Update: Zip World acquired in £100m deal |
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Zip World acquired in £100m deal: Outdoor adventure specialist Zip World has been acquired by private equity firm Dolphin Capital in a deal worth £100m. Zip World was founded by former Royal Marine commando Sean Taylor in 2013 and opera … view |
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| Friday 24th January 2025 |
| Turtle Bay CEO steps down, PizzaExpress partners with SSP for new international airport restaurants |
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Turtle Bay CEO steps down: Turtle Bay, the Caribbean restaurant brand backed by Piper, has announced Nick Crossley has stepped down as chief executive, effective immediately. Crossley joined Turtle Bay in 2020, when the company operated 4 … view |
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| Friday 24th January 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Letter from Detroit (and Tampa), AI is an enhancement rather than a replacement, what will customer loyalty look like in 2025, kitchen efficiency Authors: Matt Kirby, Glynn Davis, Kara Purves, Alastair Scottview |
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| Friday 24th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: KFC UK names Rob Swain as new boss, Meg Farren promoted to president of North America for Taco Bell |
| Exclusive – KFC UK & Ireland names Rob Swain as new boss, Meg Farren promoted to president of North America for Taco Bell: KFC UK & Ireland has named Rob Swain as its new general manager, effective 1 March 2025, Propel has learned. Swain wil … view |
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| Friday 24th January 2025 |
| Tasty: closures have had a negative impact on sales but restructuring plan should enable return to profitability |
| Tasty – closures have had a negative impact on sales but restructuring plan should enable return to profitability, to launch loyalty platform: Wildwood operator Tasty has said while closures have had a negative impact on sales, its restructu … view |
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| Friday 24th January 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Burger King UK CEO – volumes are good, profitability an ongoing challenge: Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK has told Propel that volumes in the business are “good” but “profitability is an ongoing challenge”. … view |
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| Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
| Update: JD Wetherspoon, Drake & Morgan, Whitbread and SSP |
| JD Wetherspoon planning overseas expansion, with decision on first international site expected within six months: JD Wetherspoon is planning overseas expansion, with a decision on a first international site expected within six months. Founder … view |
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| Thursday 23rd January 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Bibi’s gearing up for major expansion with UK investor search, exploring overseas growth: Bibi’s, the London café concept founded by Turkish-born chef Bilur Yapici – nicknamed Bibi – has told Propel it is gearing up for its next … view |
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| Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
| Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards winners revealed |
| Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards winners revealed: The winners of this year’s Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards, staged by Propel and Think Hospitality, have been revealed. The winners were recognised for their success in marketin … view |
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| Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
| Stonegate sees managed like-for-likes up 9.7% over festive period |
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Stonegate sees managed like-for-likes up 9.7% over festive period, Craft Union delivers record £8m sales in Christmas week: Stonegate Group, the UK’s leading pub company, has reported its managed pubs saw an 9.7% uplift in like-for-lik … view |
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| Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
| JD Wetherspoon and Revel Collective trading updates |
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JD Wetherspoon lfl sales up 5.1% in first half and 6.1% over Christmas period: JD Wetherspoon has said its like-for-like sales were up 5.1% in the first half of its financial year and 6.1% over Christmas period. In a trading update for th … view |
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| Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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December delivers growth for hospitality groups after late festive surge for pubs: Britain’s leading restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved solid year-on-year sales growth of 3.2% in December 2024, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Busine … view |
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| Wednesday 22nd January 2025 |
| December delivers growth for hospitality groups after late festive surge for pubs |
| December delivers growth for hospitality groups after late festive surge for pubs: Britain’s leading restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved solid year-on-year sales growth of 3.2% in December 2024, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tr … view |
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| Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
| Knoops reports festive like-for-like sales up 22%, expects to open sites in US and China this year |
| Knoops reports festive like-for-like sales up 22%, expects to open sites in US and China this year: Luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops has reported like-for-like sales in the UK were up 22% for the five weeks ended 29 December 2024 and exp … view |
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| Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
| RMI Rising Stars finalists unveiled, Marston's and Esquires trading updates |
| Industry’s top young marketers and innovators unveiled: Propel and Think Hospitality have unveiled the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Rising Stars finalists for 2023. The Rising Stars programme recognises talented future leaders under 30 in … view |
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| Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – Atis secures £8m of new funding, 2025 set to be ‘transformational year’: Atis, the London salad concept co-founded by former Noble Rot sommelier Eleanor Warder and Philip Honer, has told Propel that 2025 is set to be a … view |
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| Tuesday 21st January 2025 |
| 774,000 hospitality workers to be dragged into new NICs threshold, costing sector £1bn |
| 774,000 hospitality workers to be dragged into new NICs threshold, costing sector £1bn: Hundreds of thousands of hospitality workers are set to be dragged into the new national insurance contributions (NIC) threshold, costing the sector £1bn … view |
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| Monday 20th January 2025 |
| Nick Ayerst to join Gail’s as its new MD |
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Nick Ayerst to join Gail’s as its new MD: Nick Ayerst, who will step down as chief executive of Comptoir Group next month, is to join fast-growing bakery brand Gail’s as its new managing director. Ayerst, who will report into Marta Po … view |
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| Monday 20th January 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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MJMK – beginning to explore international opportunities, festive like-for-like sales up circa 12%: London restaurant operator MJMK Restaurants, which is behind Casa do Frango, AngloThai, KOL, Lisboeta and Fonda, has told Propel that it … view |
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| Monday 20th January 2025 |
| Caffe Nero reports record Christmas trading |
| Caffe Nero reports record Christmas trading, registering its highest ever single day of sales at £1.5m: Caffè Nero has reported record sales for the five-week Christmas trading period in the UK, recording two record sales weeks and its highe … view |
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| Friday 17th January 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Hospitality performance in 2024: challenges, optimism and the road ahead, drinking: a normal pleasure, don’t burn your profit, mourning the loss of Locanda Authors: Mark Bentley, Phil Mellows, Richard Felgate, Gly … view |
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| Friday 17th January 2025 |
| Update: US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s set for UK debut, Young's, Everyman and Whitbread |
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US fast-casual seafood brand set for UK debut after signing 20-store multi-unit franchise agreement: US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s is set to make its UK debut after signing a 20-store multi-unit franchise agreement. Propel re … view |
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| Friday 17th January 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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White Rabbit Projects founder to launch new wellness concept to provide ‘a healthier, social alternative to traditional nightlife’: Chris Miller, ex-Soho House director and founder of hospitality incubator White Rabbit Projects, and A … view |
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| Thursday 16th January 2025 |
| Directional Capital confirms acquisition of Pizza Hut Restaurants UK |
| Directional Capital confirms acquisition of Pizza Hut Restaurants UK: Heart With Smart (HWS), which manages the operations of the UK Pizza Hut dine-in restaurant business, has confirmed it has been acquired by private equity firm Directional C … view |
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| Thursday 16th January 2025 |
| Christie & Co: 2025 will continue to see gradual recovery in casual dining sector and polarisation in pub market |
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Christie & Co – 2025 will continue to see gradual recovery in casual dining sector and polarisation in pub market: Christie & Co has forecast that 2025 will continue to see a gradual recovery in the casual dining sector while the pub ma … view |
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| Thursday 16th January 2025 |
| Update: Young's, Whitbread and Deliveroo trading, Loungers shareholder snubs improved offer |
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Young’s reports festive like-for-like sales up 11.6%: Young’s has reported it traded “exceptionally well” over the Christmas and new year period, with total managed revenue, reflecting contributions from both Young’s and City Pu … view |
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| Thursday 16th January 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Naroon co-founder looking to focus expansion on KIN concept, with ‘potential for up to 30 locations’: The co-founder of Persian restaurant group Naroon has told Propel he is focusing his expansion plans on his KIN concept and sees the … view |
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| Wednesday 15th January 2025 |
| Legal Briefing |
Safety first and slogans second by Michelle HazlewoodEfforts to protect vulnerable people have come a long way in the hospitality sector, but I must admit that sometimes it feels as though we are too focused on catchy campaigns without … view |
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| Wednesday 15th January 2025 |
| Update: Fortress increases offer for Loungers, M&B and Fuller's trading |
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Fortress increases offer for Loungers, chair and CEO would find ‘their positions untenable’ if deal voted down: US private equity firm Fortress has increased its offer to takeover café bar operator Loungers from 310p a share to 325p … view |
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| Wednesday 15th January 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – Tossed to go down franchise route once more as it eyes national presence: Healthy eating brand Tossed, which operates 13 stores in Central and Greater London, has unveiled plans for a nationwide growth and is set to welcome … view |
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| Tuesday 14th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: Six by Nico reports record results after doubling in size |
| Exclusive – Six by Nico reports record results after doubling in size: SixCo, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, has reported record results after doubling in size. The group also said it continues to work with advisors … view |
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| Tuesday 14th January 2025 |
| Update: Comptoir Group, XP Factory, The Gym Group et al |
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Comptoir Group reports improved performance and most successful Christmas to date, announces CEO change: Comptoir Group, the owner of the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brands, has reported an improved performance and its most successful Chr … view |
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| Tuesday 14th January 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Ellen Chew open to rolling out smaller cafe versions of her new Singaporean restaurant, third Shan Shui set to be new concept: Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew has told Propel she is open to rolling out smaller café versions of her ne … view |
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| Monday 13th January 2025 |
| Private equity firm Directional Capital in talks to acquire Pizza Hut’s biggest UK restaurant franchisee |
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Private equity firm Directional Capital in talks to acquire Pizza Hut’s biggest UK restaurant franchisee: Pizza Hut’s biggest UK restaurant franchisee is closing in on a rescue deal that would salvage the vast majority of its circa 14 … view |
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| Monday 13th January 2025 |
| Update: Various Eateries appoints new CEO, more rail strikes |
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Various Eateries appoints new CEO: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business, has appointed Mark Loughborough as chief executive, effective 20 January 2025. Loughborough has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality indu … view |
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| Monday 13th January 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – Sector headwinds and cashflow ‘drag’ force Patty & Bun to explore options: Patty & Bun, the better burger concept led by Joe Grossmann, has appointed advisors to explore its strategic options, which could result in a re … view |
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| Friday 10th January 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: The hottest fast casual food trends set to dominate 2025, it’s all in the timings, setting off in January Authors: Laura Bruce and Sanj Sanghera, Glynn Davis, Alastair Scott The … view |
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| Friday 10th January 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Greggs CEO – we are trying to limit price increases to pennies and protect entry-level prices: Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, has said the company is trying to limit price increases to “pennies and protect entry-level pric … view |
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| Thursday 9th January 2025 |
| Update: Greggs Q4 lfls impacted by “subdued High Street footfall”, Groucho Club, Doughnut Time |
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Greggs Q4 sales up 2.5% reflecting more subdued High Street footfall: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has reported that its company-managed shop like-for-like sales increased 2.5% for its fourth quarter, reflecting the “more subdued High Str … view |
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| Thursday 9th January 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – Professionals at Play to open at least six new venues across its brands this year to deliver more than £50m of revenue: Professionals at Play – the Foresight-backed, parent company of the Roxy Lanes, Roxy Ball Room and Ki … view |
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| Thursday 9th January 2025 |
| Restaurants’ at-home sales jump 6.2% in November as takeaway revival continues |
| Restaurants’ at-home sales jump 6.2% in November as takeaway revival continues: Britain’s leading restaurant groups achieved like-for-like growth in delivery and takeaway sales for the 18th month in a row in November, CGA by NIQ’s latest … view |
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| Wednesday 8th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: Tesco Hospitality sees full-year pre-tax profit break the £20m mark |
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Exclusive – Tesco Hospitality sees full-year pre-tax profit break the £20m mark: Tesco’s 315-strong estate of in-store cafes posted a pre-tax profit of close to £21m in the year to 25 February 2024, Propel has learned. The business, … view |
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| Wednesday 8th January 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Yolk sees runway to ‘in excess’ of 100 sites as it plans expansion outside of London and internationally, current trading ‘strong’ as coffee subs … view |
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| Tuesday 7th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: The Alchemist festive trading ahead 7.2% and set for Middle East debut, NWTC festive lfls up 5.5% and secures CVA approval |
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Exclusive – The Alchemist reports record year, festive trading ahead 7.2%, set for Middle East debut: Bar and restaurant brand The Alchemist has reported year-on-year sales growth of 7.2% over the five-week festive period following a re … view |
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| Tuesday 7th January 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – D&D London reports record breaking festive period as transformational projects near completion, hires new FD: D&D London, the Breal Capital and Calveton-backed operator of circa 35 restaurants across the UK a … view |
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| Tuesday 7th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: D&D London reports record breaking festive period as transformational projects near completion, hires new FD |
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Exclusive – D&D London reports record breaking festive period as transformational projects near completion, hires new FD: D&D London, the Breal Capital a … view |
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| Monday 6th January 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – State of Play Hospitality secures new £15m debt facility, increasingly confident 50-plus site opportunity exists in the US: State of Play Hospitality, the Toby Harris-led international experiential leisure operator, has s … view |
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| Monday 6th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: State of Play secures £15m debt facility, Shereen Ritchie steps down as Buns from Home CEO |
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Exclusive – State of Play Hospitality secures new £15m debt facility, increasingly confident 50-plus site opportunity exists in the US: State of Play Hospitality, the Toby Harris-led international experiential leisure operator, has sec … view |
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| Saturday 4th January 2025 |
| Exclusive: Daylesford Organic, Pieminister, Dakota Hospitality |
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Drew Brown steps down as MD of Grosvenor Pubs & Inns: Drew Brown has stepped down as managing director of Grosvenor Pubs & Inns, the 11-strong business led by sector entrepreneurs Jason Myers and David Ramsey, to become managing director … view |
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| Friday 3rd January 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Inbound investment: a cautionary tale post-Budget, books, beer and brief encounters, you want to go where everybody knows your name Authors: James Hacon, Phil Mellows, Glynn Davis Inbou … view |
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| Friday 3rd January 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Pre-Christmas trading provides welcome boost to bars as wider market sees more modest growth: Britain’s leading hospitality groups recorded year-on-year sales growth of 2.7% in the run-up to Christmas (week commencing 16 December 2024 v … view |
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| Friday 3rd January 2025 |
| Pre-Christmas trading provides welcome boost to bars as wider market sees more modest growth |
| Pre-Christmas trading provides welcome boost to bars as wider market sees more modest growth: Britain’s leading hospitality groups recorded year-on-year sales growth of 2.7% in the run-up to Christmas (week commencing 16 December 2024 versus … view |
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| Thursday 2nd January 2025 |
| Update: Tasty, Kricket, Temper et al |
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Tasty settles insurance claim for £2.5m, outlook ‘cautious’ following ‘disappointing’ December and ‘challenging’ second half: Wildwood operator Tasty has settled an insurance claim after agreeing a final settlement of £2.5m. … view |
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