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Monday 18th March 2024
Update: Nightcap, Knoops, tourism spend and Nespresso
Nightcap – trading expected to remain challenging until later in 2024 but believe hospitality has seen worst of the downturn: Nightcap – owner of the Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group o … view
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Monday 18th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Soho House CEO – rebuts Glasshouse claims, to focus on growing membership over openings, to introduce Berenjak to Soho Farmhouse: Soho House has said an independent review of its accounting practices had “shown no material issues” f … view
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Saturday 16th March 2024
Exclusive: Prezzo returns to profitability as it looks to ‘create its own space in the casual dining market’
Exclusive: Prezzo returns to profitability as it looks to ‘create its own space in the casual dining market’: Dean Challenger, chief executive of Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, has told Propel that the bu … view
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Friday 15th March 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Trying not to be a jack-of-all-trades, solid strategies, enquiries this way, labour management excellence
Authors: Glynn Davis, Phil Mellows, Sarah Travell, Alastair Scott

Trying not to b … view

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Friday 15th March 2024
Soho House doubles Ebitda as it narrows losses, UK membership shoots up 46% in two years
Soho House doubles Ebitda as it narrows losses, UK membership shoots up 46% in two years: Members’ club group Soho House has reported it doubled adjusted Ebitda in 2023 as it made “significant progress” on improving profitability with lo … view
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Friday 15th March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Kebhouze targets 15-20 London sites over next four years and eventual UK estate of 40-45 stores, aiming to be a ‘new kind of kebab chain’: Kebhouze, the international kebab house brand, has told Propel it is targeting 15-20 London sit … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Update: Deliveroo reports resilient year of growth
Deliveroo reports resilient year of growth: Deliveroo has said that 2023 was a “resilient year of growth” for the business, given macroeconomic conditions, with gross profit up 13% and revenue and Gross Transaction Value (GTV) up … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Morgan – TRG leisure division integration going very well, confident Frankie & Benny’s has a place in our portfolio: Alan Morgan, chief executive of Big Table Group – the operator of Las Iguanas, Banana Tree, Café Rouge and Bella I … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Hospitality groups deliver 1.4% like-for-like growth in February as spending pressures continue
Hospitality groups deliver 1.4% like-for-like growth in February as spending pressures continue: Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracke … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2024
Legal Briefing

Night mayors – the answer to our nightmares? By Chris Grunert

At present, there are 24 directly elected mayors in England, with several inaugural elections planned in May that will introduce another three across the north east and East … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Domino’s CEO – lunch is a growth opportunity for us, looking to enter more villages: Andrew Rennie, chief executive of Domino’s, has said the business sees the lunch daypart as a key opportunity for growth as it gears up to offer ne … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2024
Update: Domino’s FY lfl sales up 5.7%, upgrades growth targets
Domino’s FY lfl sales up 5.7%, upgrades growth targets: Domino’s has upgraded its growth targets for the UK and Ireland, targeting to have in excess of 2,000 stores by 2033, as the overall reported a 5.7% increase in like-for-like sys … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Dishoom to focus on Permit Room this year: Brian Trollip, managing director of restaurant group Dishoom, has told Propel that the business will not open a site under its eponymous brand this year but focus on perfecting its new all-day ba … view
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Monday 11th March 2024
Wells & Co reports ‘significant increase’ in Ebitda to £9.5m as sales up £7m to £62.3m
Wells & Co reports ‘significant increase’ in Ebitda to £9.5m as sales up £7m to £62.3m: Bedford brewer and retailer Wells & Co has reported a “significant increase” in Ebitda as its sales shot up by £7m to £62.3m in the year to 1 … view
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Monday 11th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Caravan starts discussions on funding options, current trading ‘strong’, confirms regional launch: Laura Harper-Hinton, co-founder of Caravan, the restaurant, bar and coffee-roasting concept, has told Propel that the business has begu … view
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Friday 8th March 2024
Friday Opinion: International Women’s Day Special
Subjects: Still plenty of work to be done; is downplaying playing us down; fix the system, not the women; equality, diversity, inclusion and its importance to brewing and hospitality businesses; my nuanced relationship with notable dates; dis … view
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Friday 8th March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
D&D London – progress has been ‘encouraging’ but transformational projects currently taking place will be ‘key to our long-term success’: Simon Wilkinson, director at D&D London, which owns and operates circa 30 restaurants acro … view
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Thursday 7th March 2024
Opinion Special: A cut-and-paste Budget

A cut-and-paste Budget by Kate Nicholls

I’ve heard the chancellor say it is not governments that create dynamic economies and growth but businesses and people, a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, the Budget he … view
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Thursday 7th March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Lebanese street food concept secures first franchise partners and aims to open more stores in 2024, targeting 20 sites in next five years: Lebanese street food concept Mayyil has secured its first domestic and international franchise part … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Sector calls Hunt’s Budget a ‘missed opportunity’
Sector calls Hunt’s Budget a ‘missed opportunity’: The sector has called chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “cut-and-paste” spring Budget a “missed opportunity” and warned it will lead to job losses and even more business closures. Among … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Kerb appoints Andrew Stones MD of its Ventures division
Kerb appoints Andrew Stones MD of its Ventures division: Kerb has appointed Andrew Stones, formerly of Imbiba and Be At One, as managing director of its Ventures division, where he will lead on the development and global growth of the group’ … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greggs overtakes McDonald’s to become UK’s most popular breakfast spot, workers to share £17.6m bonus pot: Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, has said that the food-to-go business has overtaken McDonald’s to become the UK’ … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Exclusive: Nando’s appoints Mark Standish as new chief executive of its UK & Ireland business
Exclusive – Nando’s appoints Mark Standish as new chief executive of its UK & Ireland business: Nando’s, the peri-peri chicken chain, has appointed Mark Standish, formerly of MotoNovo Finance, as the new chief executive of its circa … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Greggs lfl sales up 8.2% in 2024 following record performance in 2023, targeting 140-160 net openings this year
Greggs lfl sales up 8.2% in 2024 as inflationary pressure ease following record performance in 2023, targeting 140-160 net openings this year: Greggs has said its like-for-like sales are up 8.2% in 2024 as “inflationary pressure are reducing … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Exclusive – Vagabond placed on market: Vagabond, the Imbiba-backed wine bar business, has been placed on the market. Propel understands that Quantuma is advising the 12-strong business, with offers due by Thursday, 14 March. Offers are … view
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Monday 4th March 2024
CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index shows inflation slowing but challenges lie ahead
CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index shows inflation slowing but challenges lie ahead: The CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index recorded year-on-year inflation of 12.6% in January – a drop of 1.2 percentage points from December's rate of 13. … view
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Monday 4th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Itsu – there is a lot of the country we are not in, seeing growth across all aspects of business: Greg Thorp, chief financial officer at Itsu, has told Propel the business is seeing growth across all aspects of the business, that there … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Kids ain’t what they used to be, beyond the bucket: KFC’s commitment to improving nutrition, pricing pressures: navigating the minimum wage hike in hospitality leadership
Authors: Phil Mellows, Jo Tivers, Karen … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Exclusive: Papa John’s to shut 50 UK company-owned stores
Exclusive – Papa John’s to shut 50 UK company-owned stores: Papa John’s has revealed it is to shut 50 of its UK company-owned restaurants in the second quarter of 2024 but said it is making progress in its repositioning of the market and … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’: The Zero Carbon Forum has said the Which? Sustainable Restaurants report does not accurately assess the sector’s progress in s … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’: The Zero Carbon Forum has said the Which? Sustainable Restaurants report does not accurately assess the sector’s progress in s … view
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Thursday 29th February 2024
Coffee#1 first-half lfl sales up 8%
Coffee#1 first-half lfl sales up 8%: Coffee#1, the Caffe Nero-owned business, has reported an 8% increase in like-for-like sales for the six months to November 2023, with sales of £29.5m, representing total sales growth of 18.8% over the … view
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Thursday 29th February 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
More than 100 hospitality leaders sign letter to chancellor asking for ‘urgent action’ in Budget: More than 100 hospitality leaders have signed a letter to chancellor Jeremy Hunt asking him to take “urgent action” in his forthcomi … view
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Thursday 29th February 2024
More than 100 hospitality leaders sign letter to chancellor asking for ‘urgent action’ in Budget
More than 100 hospitality leaders sign letter to chancellor asking for ‘urgent action’ in Budget: More than 100 hospitality leaders have signed a letter to chancellor Jeremy Hunt asking him to take “urgent action” in his forthcomi … view
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Wednesday 28th February 2024
Update: Just Eat, Black Sheep Brewery CEO to depart, Pubs Code adjudicator reappointed
Just Eat Takeaway reports ‘strong momentum’ in UK and Ireland business: Just Eat Takeaway has reported “strong momentum” in its UK and Ireland business with adjusted Ebitda improving “significantly” to €135m in 2023 from €23m i … view
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Wednesday 28th February 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
New York’s number one rated immersive experience plans UK launch: Spyscape, the number one-rated immersive concept in New York, is planning to launch its Spygames experience in the UK and has begun searching for sites in London, Propel … view
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Tuesday 27th February 2024
Exclusive: Shares in Tortilla surge 17% as Luke Johnson takes stake in business
Exclusive – shares in Tortilla surge 17% as Luke Johnson takes stake in business: Shares in Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, climbed circa 17% in afternoon trading to 49.50p, after serial investor Luke … view
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Tuesday 27th February 2024
Breal rebrands as Keystone Brewing Group, plans to play pivotal role in brewing industry
Breal rebrands as Keystone Brewing Group, plans to play pivotal role in brewing industry: London-based investment firm Breal Group is set to rebrand as Keystone Brewing Group, a move it said is designed to reflect the company's “commitment t … view
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Tuesday 27th February 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Cornish Bakery lines up at least ten new stores this year, Ebitda close to £5m, lfl sales up 7%: Fast-growing independent chain Cornish Bakery has told Propel it is lining up at least ten new sites in 2024. Cornish Bakery recently hit th … view
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Monday 26th February 2024
Update: Flight Club operator sees sales exceed £100m, likely to fundraise towards end of 2024
Flight Club operator sees sales exceed £100m, likely to fundraise towards end of 2024: Red Engine, the team behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, saw sales rise to more than £100m in 2023 as the popularity of “competitive socialisi … view
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Monday 26th February 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Bob & Berts resets growth goal to 100 sites, set to open five more in 2024 with focus on north of England, first half lfl sales up 3.9%: Cafe brand Bob & Berts has reset its growth goal to 100 sites and told Propel it is set to open five … view
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Friday 23rd February 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Driving sales through sustainability – don’t ignore the green elephant, overstaffing is the biggest enemy, taking centre stage, can data help fight rising prices in the hospitality industry
Authors: Rachel Marsh … view
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Friday 23rd February 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Exclusive – Gong Cha relaunching franchise programme and looking to bring more franchisees on board to help realise ambitious UK expansion plans: Gong Cha, the fast-growing bubble tea brand headquartered in the UK, has told Propel it is … view
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Thursday 22nd February 2024
Tortilla announces CEO succession as Richard Morris steps down
Tortilla announces CEO succession as Richard Morris steps down: Tortilla has announced Richard Morris has decided to step down as chief executive after a 35 year career in hospitality and ten years with the company, at the end of March. Andy N … view
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Thursday 22nd February 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
The Vurger Co to cease trading: The co-founders of vegan fast-food concept The Vurger Co have decided to close its three restaurants “for the last time”. Rachel Hugh and Neil Potts, who founded the business in 2016, operated sites in … view
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Thursday 22nd February 2024
eee
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Purple Story to host exclusive webinar for Propel subscribers to help them empower their teams to mitigate the national minimum wage increase in five easy steps: Entrepreneurial performance consultancy Purple Story is to … view
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Wednesday 21st February 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Exclusive – Brasseria Family launches crowdfund to open third site, already raised almost £1.2m with YO! founder Simon Woodroffe among backers: Neighbourhood all-day Italian restaurant Brasseria Family has launched a crowdfunding campa … view
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Tuesday 20th February 2024
Update: Nightcap acquires The Piano Works
Nightcap acquires The Piano Works business, recent trading “been far softer than expected”: Nightcap – owner of the Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group of 46 bars – has acquired The Piano … view
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Tuesday 20th February 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Exclusive – Pho set to continue national expansion following strong 2023: Pho, the Vietnamese restaurant group led by Pat Marrinan and backed by TriSpan, plans to open a further six or seven sites in 2024 on the back of a strong 12 mon … view
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Monday 19th February 2024
Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et London sees turnover more than halve to £262,000 a week
Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et London sees turnover more than halve to £262,000 a week: Nusr-Et London, the Knightsbridge restaurant from Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe – also known as Salt Bae – has seen its turnover more than halve – to £ … view
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Monday 19th February 2024
Permanently Unique Group to launch new restaurant and music venue
Permanently Unique Group to launch new restaurant and music venue: Permanently Unique Group, the independent restaurant business formerly known as Tattu, is to launch a new restaurant and musical venue called Louis in Manchester, this aut … view
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Monday 19th February 2024
Exclusive: Kbox Global acquired by UAE-based virtual brand operator The Cloud
Exclusive – Kbox Global acquired by UAE-based virtual brand operator The Cloud: Abu Dhabi-based virtual brand operator The Cloud is set for expansion in the UK, after acquiring Kbox Global, the host kitchen business, out of administrati … view
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