While walking along Upper Street in no … view

Exclusive: Black Sheep Coffee acquires eight Taylor St Baristas cafes: London-based independent coffee shop Black Sheep Coffee has acquired eight Taylor St Baristas cafes, Propel has learned. Black Sheep Coffee is understood to have acqui … view

Ei Group accepts 285p per share offer from Stonegate Pub Company: The boards of directors of Ei Group (EIG) and Stonegate Pub Company Bidco Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stonegate Pub Company, have reached agreement on the terms a … view

Roxy Ball Room appoints advisors as it eyes new growth fund: Roxy Ball Room, the Leeds-based, competitive socialising concept, has appointed advisors to review its options as it looks to secure new investment, Propel has learned. The seve … view

Businesses and customers join forces to oppose late-night tax in London: Local businesses, residents and customers in Southwark have joined forces to oppose the introduction of a late-night levy. UKHospitality and local businesses have ga … view

David Page – we’re securing better deals with landlords by broadening number of sites we negotiate on, Franco Manca like-for-likes up 5%: Fulham Shore chairman David Page has told Propel he is able to secure better deals with landlord … view

Franco Manca chairman David Page reports rents dropping as much as 30% on re-let: Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has reported sales rose 17% to £64m in the year ended 31 March 2019. Profit before tax was £1.4m (2018: loss of £0.1m) … view

Just Eat aims for ‘majority’ of restaurants with three-star hygiene rating or above by end of year as it begins publishing FSA details: Graham Corfield, UK managing director of online food delivery business Just Eat, has told Propel t … view

Sector like-for-likes up 1.4% in June as restaurants recover but pubs suffer hangover: Sector managed like-for-likes were up 1.4% in June as restaurants recovered but pubs suffered a hangover from last year’s heatwave and football fever … view

Polpo … view

Just Eat buys City Pantry for £16m: Just Eat, the market place for takeaway food delivery, has acquired City Pantry for initial cash consideration of £16m. The company stated: “City Pantry, founded by Stuart Sunderland in 2014, is Eur … view

Homeslice to carry out strategic review: London-based better pizza brand Homeslice has hired advisors as it carries out a strategic review of its business, Propel has learned. The company, which was founded by Mark Wogan, Alan Wogan and R … view

Muzinich takes controlling stake in Busaba: Muzinich, the New York-based fixed-income specialist, has acquired a controlling stake in Busaba Eathai, the Thai chain founded by Alan Yau. The US company, which provided the then 14-strong gro … view

Pubs Code Adjudicator launches investigation into Heineken's Star Pubs & Bars business: The Pubs Code Adjudicator has launched an investigation into Star Pubs & Bars, part of the Heineken Group. This is the first investigation by the Pubs … view

London Union looks to Manchester as it gears up for expansion, reports full-year Ebitda boost: London Union, the street food operator led by Jonathan Downey, is set to turn its attention to Manchester as it gears up for expansion. Downey … view

Patisserie Valerie to shut 14 sites following estate review: Patisserie Valerie is to close 14 of its smaller sites following a review of the estate, Propel understands. Owner Causeway Capital is believed to have been carrying out a detai … view

Bridgepoint paid circa £43m for franchisee Caspian when it set up new Burger King UK business: Private equity firm Bridgepoint paid circa £43m to acquire Caspian UK Group, one of the UK’s largest Burger King franchisees with 74 restau … view

Puttshack boss sees potential for 50 UK and 300 US sites: Joe Vrankin, the new chief executive of indoor mini-golf experience Puttshack, has told Propel there’s potential for up to 50 sites in the UK and 300 in the US. The company is se … view

MeatLiquor completes fund-raising, average like-for-likes up more than 5%: MeatLiquor, the Scott Collins-led concept, has strengthened its balance sheet with a further fund-raise from existing shareholders, as it reported like-for-like sa … view

C&C Group reports ‘solid start’ to current financial year: C&C Group, the drinks company which manufactures, markets and distributes branded beer, cider, wine, spirits, and soft drinks across the UK and Ireland, has issued a trading u … view

Duck and Rice to open two or three more sites in London before Asia roll-out: Ted Kennedy, director of Alan Yau’s Duck and Rice restaurant in Soho, has said the concept will look to open “two or three” more sites in London before ey … view

Hodgson – YO! Sushi no longer having to take unnecessary risks on UK restaurant sites having diversified business model: YO! Sushi chief executive Richard Hodgson has told Propel the company no longer has to take unnecessary risks on re … view

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds to step down: British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds is to step down after ten years in the role. Simmonds is leaving to become chairman of the new Betting and Gaming Cou … view

SSP appoints Richard Lewis as UK and Ireland chief executive: SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has appointed Richard Lewis as chief executive of SSP UK and Ireland, effective from 1 Septe … view

Five Guys UK reports £150m turnover: Five Guys JV, the UK joint venture between Sir Charles Dunstone and Five Guys founders Janie and Jerry Murrell and their three sons, has reported turnover rose by 23% to £149.6m in the year to 28 Dec … view

Supply and demand playing big part in salary levels amid large rises for UK management and leadership roles: Supply and demand is playing a big part in salary levels with large increases seen across senior management and leadership roles … view

Jones – Carluccio’s sales increase coming from covers growth, Fresca gaining traction: Mark Jones, chief executive of Carluccio’s, has told Propel the recent overall increase in sales at the brand has come from covers growth, driven … view

Late-night leisure spend continues to rise but pubs decline as cinemas find favour: Late-night leisure spend has continued to rise but the popularity of the pub is declining as cinemas find favour, according to the latest Deltic Night Ind … view

Heineken UK to sell 150-strong package of pubs: Heineken UK is looking to sell a package of 150 pubs with a value of circa £55m to £60m, Propel has learned. It’s thought the majority are former Punch pubs with good tenants and held on … view

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Greene King eyes further brand segmentation: Brewer and retailer Greene King is eyeing further segmentation of its brands as it looks to ensure each one delivers a “bespoke” offer. Responding to a question from Propel following Greene … view

Greene King reports adjusted profit before tax up 1.6% as revenue grows, trading since year end impacted by weather: Greene King has reported revenue was up 1.8% to £2,216.9m for the 52 weeks to 28 April 2019. Adjusted profit before tax … view

Henry Dimbleby to lead review of England’s food system: Leon founder Henry Dimbleby is to lead an independent review that aims to ensure England’s food system is fit for the 21st century. It is the first major review of the UK food … view

Chris Phillips steps down as Upham chief executive, company no longer looking at sale: Chris Phillips has stepped down as chief executive of Upham Pub Company, the operator of 15 premium pubs across the south of England, Propel has learne … view

Bridgepoint makes ‘significant investment’ in Market Halls: Bridgepoint Growth has confirmed making a “significant investment” in food hall operator Market Halls. Last month it was reported Market Halls, which operates venues in F … view

Coffeesmiths Collective bought Filmore & Union for £350,000: Coffeesmiths Collective, the acquisitive coffee shop company led by Toby Smith, bought 11 Filmore & Union coffee sites at the end of May for £350,000 in a pre-pack administrat … view

Government announces mandatory introduction of full ingredient labelling: The government has announced a new law requiring food businesses to include full ingredient labelling on pre-packaged foods. The announcement comes after a governme … view

Government announces mandatory introduction of full ingredient labelling: The government has announced a new law requiring food businesses to include full ingredient labelling on pre-packaged foods. The announcement comes after a governme … view

Leading US delivery firm DoorDash considers UK launch: DoorDash, one of the largest delivery firms in the US, is considering entering the UK market, Propel has learned. It is understood the company, which was founded in 2013 by Stanford s … view