Turtle Bay UK operations director steps down: Karen Turton, UK operations director of Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay, has stepped down, Propel has learned. Turton joined Turtle Bay, which is backed by private equity firm Piper, in March … view

Patty & Bun in talks over further London sites, ‘new project’ to launch outside capital next year: Joe Grossman, founder of better burger brand Patty & Bun, has told Propel the company is in discussions over further London sites and i … view

Nando’s reports sales near £1bn: Nando’s has reported sales rose £121.4m to £969.3m in the year to 25 February 2018 (2017: £847.9m), an increase of 14.3%. Operating profit decreased to £42.8m from £46.7m the year before “large … view

Time Out secures management contract to run Time Out Market in Prague: Time Out Group, the global media and entertainment business, has entered into a management agreement with CRESTYL Group to open a new Time Out Market in Prague, the ca … view

Restaurant numbers fall 2% although managed groups continue to grow, total of licensed premises down 3.2%: The number of restaurants in Britain fell 2.0% during the year to September 2018 although managed groups continued to grow, the lat … view

Restaurant numbers fall 2% although managed groups continue to grow, total of licensed premises down 3.2%: The number of restaurants in Britain fell 2.0% during the year to September 2018 although managed groups continued to grow, the lat … view

Patisserie Holdings hires interim chief financial officer: Patisserie Holdings has hired Nick Perrin as interim chief financial officer. The company stated: “Perrin is an experienced and successful finance director, most recently of AIM … view

Just Eat reports record UK order numbers, reaches 100,000 restaurant partners globally, GBK joins line-up: Online food delivery business Just Eat has reported record UK order numbers and revealed it has reached more than 100,000 restauran … view

Pret pilots full ingredient labelling: Pret A Manger is trialling full ingredient labelling at its store in Victoria as part of its pledge to better protect people with allergies. The company has vowed to “drive change” in the industr … view

NPD Group reveals five eating out trends that will shape the industry in 2019: Insights firm The NPD Group has identified five new trends that will shape Britain’s £56bn out-of-home (OOH) foodservice industry in 2019. The company said … view

Patisserie Valerie’s former marketing boss makes £325,000 claim against the company over unpaid bonuses: The Times has reported that the former marketing head of Patisserie Valerie is suing the company for £325,000 in a claim over the … view

Facebook methodology change leads to increased market share of reviews: Facebook’s polarised methodology change in August is now translating to increased usage across the platform, according to new statistics from Feed It Back’s month … view

Veeno co-founder steps down as company welcomes new partner: Andrea Zecchino, co-founder of Italian wine cafe Veeno, has stepped down as the company welcomes a new partner. Veeno has appointed Rodrigue Trouillet as commercial director, wh … view

Cuisi … view

Rooney Anand – customer service scores are increasing because we’re not distracted by Spirit integration: Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand has told Propel the increases in its customer services scores are driven by the fact th … view

Greene King reports Pub Company like-for-likes up 2.7% in first half: Greene King has reported like-for-like sales in its managed Pub Company division increased 2.7% in the 24 weeks to 14 October 2018. It said the performance was driven … view

Hospitality businesses falling short of maximising apprenticeship levy, 40% don't properly understand scheme: Fewer than half of hospitality businesses have used the majority of their apprenticeship levy despite some funding expiring with … view

Patisserie Holdings prepares to drop auditor: Patisserie Holdings is preparing to drop the auditing firm that oversaw its books before a £40m black hole was discovered in its accounts. The move to replace Grant Thornton comes days after … view

Sunday Times 100 Best Employer eyes profit share scheme as it aims to grow turnover to £40m by 2025: Buzzworks Holdings managing director Kenny Blair has said the company is looking to grow turnover to £40m by 2025, while it also hopes … view

Turtle Bay reports revenue up 7% to £68.1m: Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay has reported revenue increased 7% to £68.1m for the year ending 24 February 2018, compared with £63.7m the previous year. Group Ebitda before exceptional costs … view

Greggs reports like-for-likes up 4.5%: Food-on-the-go retailer Greggs has reported like-for-like sales increased 4.5% for the eight weeks to 24 November 2018 with total sales up 9%. The company said like-for-like performance was “ahead … view

M&B still has ‘huge opportunity’ around apprenticeships: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) group HR director Susan Martindale has said the company still has a “huge opportunity” around apprenticeships, with apprentices now in half of its … view

Restaurant Group shareholder reports it is ‘likely’ vote against Wagamama deal: A Restaurant Group shareholder, Castlefield, which holds 2% stake in the company, has announced that it will ‘likely’ vote against the plan to acquir … view

Wimpy boss – restaurants with new modern look are seeing turnover rise 22% on average: Wimpy UK general manager Chris Woolfenden has told Propel restaurants sporting the brand’s new modern look have seen turnover increase 22% on avera … view

Fuller’s expects another 65 weeks of closures in second half as it accelerates investment programme: Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has told Propel he expects another 65 closure weeks in the second half of the financial year as … view

M&B to expand delivery offer and focus on joint ventures: Mitchells & Butlers chief executive Phil Urban has said up to 400 of the company’s sites could “lend themselves to delivery”. The company is currently offering a delivery ser … view

M&B to launch Miller & Carter in Germany, reports full-year results: Mitchells & Butlers has reported full year like-for-like sales up 1.3% in the 52 weeks ended 29 September 2018 and up 2.2% in the most recent seven weeks. Total revenue … view

Eclectic Bars to launch Le Fez in Putney to spearhead ‘next generation of nightclub experiences’: Eclectic, a subsidiary of Brighton Pier Group, is to launch new concept Le Fez in Putney, south west London, to spearhead the “next ge … view

Marston’s – ‘we’ve performed well in a difficult market’: Marston’s has reported underlying profit growth in all trading segments for the 52 weeks ended 29 September. Underlying turnover was up 15% to £1.14bn and underlying p … view

Ei Group to look at monetising managed investments portfolio in 2020, ‘enough on plate’ to consider acquisitions: Ei Group chief executive Simon Townsend has told Propel the company has “enough on its plate” to consider making acq … view

BII appoints Mark Robson as chairman: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has appointed Red Mist Leisure managing director Mark Robson as its new chairman. Robson, who graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2000 with a degree … view

Ei Group reports full-year managed like-for-likes up 7.1%: Ei Group has reported its managed estate saw like-for-like sales increase 7.1% for the year ended 30 September 2018. Like-for-like net income in its leased and tenanted estate inc … view

Various Eateries now on ‘strong financial footing’ as it prepares for expansion, Coppa Club like-for-likes up 19.8% in 2018: Various Eateries has said the company is now on a “strong financial footing” as it prepares for expansion … view

Sector like-for-likes up 0.2% in October, London significantly outperforms regions: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales grow just 0.2% in October, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business … view

Fuller’s appoints interim finance director: London brewer and retailer Fuller’s has appointed Deborah Stevenson as interim finance director with effect from Monday (19 November). As a result James Douglas, who announced in September h … view

A … view

Liberation Group appoints Jonathan Lawson as chief executive: Channel Islands-based brewer and retailer Liberation Group has appointed Jonathan Lawson as chief executive. Lawson has more than 20 years’ experience in the retail and pub s … view

TRG gets Wagamama deal support from proxy advisor: The Restaurant Group’s (TRG) campaign to persuade shareholders to back its £559m takeover of Wagamama has received a boost after a proxy adviser backed the deal. Institutional Sharehol … view

Tony Hamlin – there’s never been a better time for operators to get a great leasehold deal in London: Tony Hamlin, managing director of hospitality business lender First Merchant, has said there’s never been a better time to get a g … view

Kate Nicholls outlines Brexit deal: UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has outlined the major points of the Brexit deal agreed by the cabinet yesterday. She told members: “I have just come off a call with No 10 on the detail a … view

Costa extends loyalty programme to self-serve machines in first for UK on-the-go coffee industry: Costa Coffee has extended its Coffee Club loyalty programme to Costa Express machines across the UK following a trial. Now available at Cost … view

Rooney Anand to become chairman of WorldSkills UK: WorldSkills UK, the education and skills charity, has announced the appointment of Rooney Anand as the new chairman of the WorldSkills UK board. Anand, who is chief executive of the natio … view

Supper club WeFiFo launches £400,000 crowdfunding campaign to recruit UK hosts and expand internationally: Supper club WeFiFo has launched a £400,000 fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to recruit UK hosts and expand internati … view

Giggling Squid rent to turnover percentage less than 6.5%, negotiates new supply chain deals: Giggling Squid co-founder Andy Laurillard has told Propel its rent as a percentage of turnover is now less than 6.5% on average across the estat … view

The Restaurant Group announces fully underwritten rights issue: The Restaurant Group has announced a fully underwritten rights issue, which is intended to raise gross proceeds of approximately £315 million, to be used to fund part of the … view

Mark Jones – Carluccio’s was ‘three weeks away from going bust’ but will ‘end year with 75 profitable and sustainable restaurants’: Carluccio’s chief executive Mark Jones has said the company was “three weeks away from goi … view