Latest Briefing Archive Tab News Tab Events Tab Advertising Tab Contact Tab
 
Search our Previous Briefings
 
New Archive Heading
Current
Feb 2024
Jan 2024
Dec 2023
Nov 2023
Oct 2023
Sep 2023
Aug 2023
Jul 2023
Jun 2023
May 2023
Apr 2023
Mar 2023
Feb 2023
Jan 2023
Dec 2022
Nov 2022
Oct 2022
Sep 2022
Aug 2022
Jul 2022
Jun 2022
May 2022
Apr 2022
Mar 2022
Feb 2022
Jan 2022
Dec 2021
Nov 2021
Oct 2021
Sep 2021
Aug 2021
Jul 2021
Jun 2021
May 2021
Apr 2021
Mar 2021
Feb 2021
Jan 2021
Dec 2020
Nov 2020
Oct 2020
Sep 2020
Aug 2020
Jul 2020
Jun 2020
May 2020
Apr 2020
Mar 2020
Feb 2020
Jan 2020
Dec 2019
Nov 2019
Oct 2019
Sep 2019
Aug 2019
Jul 2019
Jun 2019
May 2019
Apr 2019
Mar 2019
Feb 2019
Jan 2019
Dec 2018
Nov 2018
Oct 2018
Sep 2018
Aug 2018
Jul 2018
Jun 2018
May 2018
Apr 2018
Mar 2018
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
Dec 2017
Nov 2017
Oct 2017
Sep 2017
Aug 2017
Jul 2017
Jun 2017
May 2017
Apr 2017
Mar 2017
Feb 2017
Jan 2017
Dec 2016
Nov 2016
Oct 2016
Sep 2016
Aug 2016
Jul 2016
Jun 2016
May 2016
Apr 2016
Mar 2016
Feb 2016
Jan 2016
Dec 2015
Nov 2015
Oct 2015
Sep 2015
Aug 2015
Jul 2015
Jun 2015
May 2015
Apr 2015
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014
Nov 2014
Oct 2014
Sep 2014
Aug 2014
Jul 2014
Jun 2014
May 2014
Apr 2014
Mar 2014
Feb 2014
Jan 2014
Dec 2013
Nov 2013
Oct 2013
Sep 2013
Aug 2013
Jul 2013
Jun 2013
May 2013
Apr 2013
Mar 2013
Feb 2013
Jan 2013
Dec 2012
Nov 2012
Oct 2012
Sep 2012
Aug 2012
Jul 2012
Jun 2012
May 2012
Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
 
 
Nory Banner
 
Knorr Banner
 
Alcumus Banner
 
St Austell Brewery Banner
 
Solo Coffee Banner
 
Heinz Banner
 
Quorn Banner
 
Heinz Banner
 
Meaningful Vision Banner
 
Mccain Banner
 
Jameson Banner
 
NSF Banner
 
Thatchers Banner
 
HDI Banner
 
UCC Coffee Banner
 
Propel Banner
 
Wireless Social Banner
 
Payments Managed Banner
 
Deliverect Banner
 
Hospitality Rising Banner
 
John Gaunt Banner
 
HGEM Banner
 
Venners Banner
 
Zonal Banner
 
Access Banner
 
Propel Banner
 
Christie & Co Banner
 
Kurve Banner
 
Bristol Syrup Co Banner
 
CACI Banner
 
Sector Banner
 
Airship – Toggle Banner
 
 
Friday 28th February 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: An evergreen business model, focus group buzz, Early Morning Restriction Orders and the argument for craft beer producers to ditch supermarkets
Authors: Martyn Cornell, Ann Elliott, Kate Nicholls and Steve Nuttallview
................................................................................................
 
Friday 28th February 2014
Breaking News - Punch outlines dates for administrative receivership
Punch outlines dates for administrative receivership: Punch Taverns has issued a timetable for putting itself into administrative receivership should it be unable to agree a consensual restructuring of its debts, held in two securitisation veh … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 28th February 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Better burger branded boom bottoms out in the US: Influential US magazine Restaurant Finance Monitor has questioned whether the branded better burger boom in the US is fizzling out after lacklustre performances from a number of major play … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 27th February 2014
Cafe Rouge owner sees losses climb
Cafe Rouge owner sees operating profits fall 13% as losses climb: Tragus Group, owner of the Cafe Rouge, Bella and Strada chains, saw operating profits for the 53 weeks to 2 June 2013 fall 12.9% to £34.59m from £39.71m in the 52 weeks to 27 … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 27th February 2014
Breaking News - Whitbread reports 6.8% like-for-likes
Whitbread reports 6.8% like-for-like growth: Whitbread has reported 6.8% like-for-like sales growth in its 11-week fourth quarter to 13 February. The sales growth is an acceleration of full-year trends in the 50 weeks to 13 February, whic … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 27th February 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Sector lines are blurring as operators morph: The eating-out market is changing and traditional segmentation lines are blurring, four casual dining pioneers argued at the Casual Dining show in Islington, London yesterday. While the trade … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 26th February 2014
Breaking News - Small brewers report 7.9% rise in volumes
Small brewers report 7.9% rise in volumes: Independent brewers are reaping the benefits of the scrapping of the beer duty escalator in last year’s Budget with increased sales. According to Beer Report 2014, published today by the Society of … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 26th February 2014
Breaking News - Restaurant Group reports 3.5% rise in like-for-likes
Restaurant Group like-for-likes up 3.5%: The Restaurant Group, which operates 440 restaurants and pubs, has reported like-for-like sakes grew 3.5% in the eight weeks to 23 February with total sales up 10%. Total sales grew 9% to £580m in … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 26th February 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
15 branded Bristol restaurants join forces to offer deals: A total of 15 branded restaurants in the Cabot Circus area of Bristol have joined forces to offer diners a deal. The Come Dine with Cabot campaign offers customers special deals o … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 25th February 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
A Red tape costs government £3m in lost taxes as McMullen opens new-build: Hertford-based McMullen has opened its first new-build pub in 25 years in Milton Keynes – The Prince George. But the project has taken six years to come to frui … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 24th February 2014
Breaking News - Horizons: Pubs close pricing gap with restaurants
Horizons – food prices in pubs close gap with restaurants: Eating out in a pub is becoming more expensive with menu prices increasing year-on-year, according to the latest Menurama research from foodservice expert Horizons. The biannual Menu … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 24th February 2014
Breaking News – Opinion Special: Tim Martin on saving pubs

Saving the pub will take sensible taxes and sensible business models by Tim Martin

“Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin…” Unlike the sparrow, no one has stepped forward to accept b … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 24th February 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Jamie Rollo – managed pubs worst hit by a 5% rise in wage bill through National Minimum Wage: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has argued that the UK’s managed pub operators would be worst hit by a 5% rise in their wage bill … view
................................................................................................
 
Sunday 23rd February 2014
Sunday Breaking News
Patisserie Valerie prepares for float: Patisserie Valerie is planning a float that would value the company at more than £150m, according to The Sunday Times. A listing would deliver a large profit to Risk Capital, the investment business … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 21st February 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Debt versus equity, landlords and tenants, liberty and public health and reinventing the wheel in Nottingham
Authors: Martyn Cornell, Stephen Evans, Paul Chase and Matt Shelton

Debt versu … view

................................................................................................
 
Friday 21st February 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Giggling Squid founder criticises VAT non-enforcement: Andy Laurillard, founder of the Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid, has criticised VAT non-enforcement, claims his company is undercut 20% by restaurants not paying VAT. He reports … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 20th February 2014
Breaking News - Le Pain Quotidien reports profit boost in 2013
Le Pain Quotidien reports increase in profits in 2013: Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien has reported UK pre-tax profit rose to £802,887 in the year to 29 December 2013 compared to £585,108 the year before. Sales rose 3.9% to £30, … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 20th February 2014
Breaking News - NPD - doughnuts lead UK snacking growth categories
NPD – doughnuts lead UK snacking growth categories: Doughnuts were the fastest growing UK ‘out of home’ snack items in the year ending December 2013, growing by 11.1% servings compared to the previous year, new research by insights firm … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 20th February 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Hakkasan buys US nightclub company as its eyes development of “multi-faceted global lifestyle brand”: Hakkasan Group, the company that was founded in London’s Hanway Place in 2001 and runs eponymous Michelin-starred Cantonese restau … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 19th February 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
BrewDog woos Europe’s top beer bloggers with five-star visit to brewery: BrewDog has flown ten top beer writers and bloggers from Europe and the UK to its brewery in Elen, Aberdeenshire in a charm offensive. The writers on Monday’s tr … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 18th February 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Nick Batram – Domino’s franchisees done less well that the company since 2007: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Nick Batram has argued that the traditional split of profit between Domino’s UK and its franchisees – one third to two-thirds … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 17th February 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Allegra – foodservice market will grow by 3% in the coming year: Insights firm Allegra Foodservice has found that emerging fast food concepts, coffee shops and the further proliferation of the street food movement will be the sales grow … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 14th February 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Blackpool’s EMRO, excessive feedback, great experiences from the front-line and opening on Christmas Day
Authors: John Gaunt, David Martin, Ann Elliott and Alastair Scott

Early Morning … view

................................................................................................
 
Friday 14th February 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Olympic legacy produces record number of visitors to the UK: The UK has begun to reap the legacy of the London Olympics in 2012 with a record number of visits by overseas residents last year, with foreign tourist spending during their tri … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 13th February 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Punch Taverns bondholders to table debt-for-equity swap: Punch Taverns’ bondholders are weeks away from presenting their own plan to restructure the company, involving a major debt-for-equity swap. A major bondholder group, which repres … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 12th February 2014
Breaking News - Punch withdraws restructuring proposals
Punch withdraws restructuring proposals: Punch Taverns has withdrawn its restructuring proposals “following feedback from a range of stakeholders”. The company looked to be on a collision course with bondholders over a vote on its res … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 12th February 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Pub and restaurant groups report 7.2% like-for-like January sales jump: Pub and restaurant groups enjoyed an upbeat start to 2014, thanks to the weather. Collective like-for-like sales were up 7.2% on January 2013, a month that was badly … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 11th February 2014
Breaking News - MPs call for reduction in VAT for tourism industry
MPs call for reduction in VAT for tourism industry: A number of MPs have called on the Government to reduce VAT for the tourism sector in a debate held this morning in Westminster Hall. Margaret Ritchie, MP for South Down, who won the debate a … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 11th February 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Cold weather sends US sales down by 3.3% for McDonald’s; strong in Europe: McDonald’s has reported better-than-expected global sales at established restaurants for January as gains in Europe and China helped the company offset a sharp … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 10th February 2014
Breaking News - Irish Examiner: M&B looks to enter Irish market
M&B examines entry into Irish market: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is sizing up expansion opportunities across Ireland, with up to six potential locations already thought to have been identified in Cork and Dublin, the Irish Examiner has rep … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 10th February 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Shimla Pinks bought in pre-pack after collapse: The upmarket Indian restaurant Shimla Pinks in Broad Street, Birmingham has been sold in a pre-pack deal after administrators were bought in last month. The restaurant’s owner, Grillfair L … view
................................................................................................
 
Saturday 8th February 2014
Breaking News - Results: Corney & Barrow, SSP UK, Di Maggio’s
Corney & Barrow reports disappointing year: London wine bar operator Corney & Barrow has reported a disappointing year with a 7% drop in like-for-likes sales that followed an 11% drop the year before – headline sales were down 3%. The c … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 7th February 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Tax policy, the VAT campaign, ‘purpose’ in business and new forms of addiction
Authors: Tim Martin, Luke Johnson, Simon Wright and Paul Chase

Why Ted Tuppen is targeting the wrong tax … view

................................................................................................
 
Friday 7th February 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Batemans launches “momentous” raft of new craft beers and rebrands: Innovative family brewer and retailer Batemans, winner of the Sainsbury’s Great British Beer Hunt for the past two years, has marked its 140th birthday by launching … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 6th February 2014
Breaking News - Enterprise appoints Adam Fowle as non-executive
Adam Fowle becomes Enterprise Inns non-executive: Adam Fowle, the former Mitchells & Butlers chief executive and current chief executive of Tesco Family Dining Group, has been appointed a non-executive at Enterprise Inns. His arrival come … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 6th February 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Punch creditors draft alternative plan: Punch Taverns bondholders are working on an alternative plan to restructure the company’s debt pile. It has emerged that Rothschild, which is advising an Association of British Insurers’ commit … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 5th February 2014
Breaking News - Loungers results/tube strike discounts
Cafe Loungers – costs ‘well-controlled’ in year sales rose 47%: Cafe bar concept Loungers, led by Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop and backed by Piper Private Equity, has reported costs were ‘well-controlled’ as turnover rose 47% to … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 5th February 2014
Breaking News - Punch chairman – failure to restructure will lead to default
Punch chairman – failure to restructure will lead to default: Punch Taverns chairman Stephen Billingham has issued a stark warning to its bondholders – a failure to restructure the company will lead to default on its securitisations. He de … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 5th February 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Drake & Morgan launches Facebook booking app: London-based bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan has launched its very own Facebook booking app to make bookings seamless with customers’ online social networking. Helping to create an i … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 4th February 2014
Breaking News - Inventive refinance/M&B senior resignation
Inventive Leisure reports successful re-finance: Inventive Leisure, the Revolution vodka bar operator, has reported the successful re-financing of its bank facilities, following continued strong trading in December and the roll-out of its … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 4th February 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Artisan Burger Co reveals rewards scheme for investors: The fledgling better burger concept Artisan Burger Co has unveiled a rewards scheme for investors. The company is looking to raise £240,000 in return for 15% of its equity through … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 3rd February 2014
Breaking News - Paveley steps down at Admiral Taverns
Paveley steps down at Admiral Taverns: Jonathan Paveley has decided to step down as executive chairman of Admiral Taverns after leading the business for four years. The group has appointed John Sands as non-executive chairman and Kevin Ge … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 3rd February 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Sector set for strong January results as companies report robust like-for-likes: The sector looks likely to have seen very strong January trading as smaller companies begin to report robust like-for-likes in the month, driven by the snow- … view
................................................................................................