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Monday 30th April 2018
McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 5.5% in first quarter, UK particularly strong
McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 5.5% in first quarter, UK particularly strong: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-like sales rose 5.5% in its first quarter ended 31 March. “We continued to build upon the broad-based mome … view
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Monday 30th April 2018
Propel Monday News Briefing
Wagamama founder opens Singapore site, argues doner kebab market ‘ripe for brand leader': Wagamama founder Alan Yau has opened his first site in south east Asia, a concept called Madame Fan at The NCO Club in Singapore's South Beach tha … view
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Friday 27th April 2018
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Talking Italian, how CAMRA is evolving and the dead licensees’ fund 
Authors: Glynn Davis, Tim Page and Paul Chase

Talking Italian by Glynn Davis

What have Prezzo, Zizzi, ASK … view
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Friday 27th April 2018
Propel Friday News Briefing
Starbucks UK trial leads to 150% rise in re-usable cup use: Starbucks UK has seen a 156.6% rise in re-usable cup use in the first six weeks of a trial that charges customers 5p for ordering drinks supplied in a paper cup. The three-month … view
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Thursday 26th April 2018
Sector skills organisation People 1st collapses into administration
Sector skills organisation People 1st collapses into administration: People 1st, the sector skills organisation for the hospitality industry, has collapsed into administration. FRP Advisory has been appointed administrators of the East Finchle … view
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Thursday 26th April 2018
Update: Rollo on Whitbread, Domino's results
Jamie Rollo – no quick caffeine fix for Whitbread, ten questions: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has said Whitbread investors need to believe in more than a demerger of Costa Coffee to make an outsized return. Issuing an ‘ … view
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Thursday 26th April 2018
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Staff to strike next week at five McDonald’s UK branches: McDonald’s workers at five UK branches are set to strike next week as a union demands £10 an hour for staff. Workers will strike at both the company’s restaurants in Watford … view
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Wednesday 25th April 2018
Whitbread: Costa demerger, pricing flexibility, food development, expansion
Chief executive Alison Brittain and finance director Nicholas Carbury provide further insight into Whitbread’s full-year results:

Costa demerger details: Brittain said the demerger process would run paral … view
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Wednesday 25th April 2018
Whitbread to demerge Costa
Whitbread to demerge Costa: Whitbread has announced its intention to demerge Costa Coffee. The company stated: “Over the last few years Whitbread’s board has rigorously and regularly reviewed its strategy and structure and has for som … view
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Wednesday 25th April 2018
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Wagamama strengthens US management team: Wagamama has strengthened its US management team with the appointments of Scott Burger as chairman and Janine DiGioacchino as managing director. The move follows a decision by the group’s current … view
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Wednesday 25th April 2018
Wagamama strengthens US management team
Wagamama strengthens US management team: Wagamama has strengthened its US management team with the appointments of Scott Burger as chairman and Janine DiGioacchino as managing director. The move follows a decision by the group’s current US m … view
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Tuesday 24th April 2018
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Boston Tea Party becomes first coffee chain to ban disposable cups, owner admits move is ‘huge risk’ as £1m in sales under threat: Sam Roberts, owner of all-day casual dining cafe Boston Tea Party, has admitted to Propel its move to … view
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Tuesday 24th April 2018
Boston Tea Party becomes first coffee chain to ban disposable cups
Boston Tea Party becomes first coffee chain to ban disposable cups, owner admits move is ‘huge risk’ as £1m in sales under threat: Sam Roberts, owner of all-day casual dining cafe Boston Tea Party, has admitted to Propel its move to … view
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Monday 23rd April 2018
Karen Jones to head Prezzo as Hendry Pickup leaves
Karen Jones to head Prezzo as Hendry Pickup leaves: Prezzo chief executive Jon Hendry Pickup is to leave the company after steering it through a restructuring that will result in the closure of almost 100 outlets. Hendry Pickup, who joine … view
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Monday 23rd April 2018
Welcome Break boss to step down to become global Sticks ‘n’ Sushi boss
Welcome Break boss to step down to become global Sticks ‘n’ Sushi boss: Rod McKie will step down from his role as chief executive of Welcome Break at the end of May 2018 to take up a new position as worldwide chief executive officer of res … view
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Monday 23rd April 2018
Update: Sector executives launch artisan ketchup, YO! Sushi acquisition
Industry figures to launch artisan organic ketchup under resurrected Curtice Brothers banner: A group of restaurant leaders and food lovers, including former Vapiano executive board member Mario C Bauer and Sticks ‘n’ Sushi UK boss An … view
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Monday 23rd April 2018
Propel Monday News Briefing
Consumers and operators clash over importance of menu versus experience: There is a divide between what consumers want from a place to eat and what the industry thinks they want, according to a new survey by ordering-technology provider P … view
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Monday 23rd April 2018
UK consumer confidence grows but spending stutters
UK consumer confidence grows but spending stutters: UK consumer confidence improved in the first quarter of 2018, rising by one percentage point from the previous quarter, according to the latest Consumer Tracker report from Deloitte. However, … view
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Friday 20th April 2018
Update: Pizza Hut sale completes, Lebanese chain makes UK debut, £2.3bn coffee opportunity
Pizza Hut UK management completes buy-out: Pizza Hut’s UK bosses have taken control of the restaurant brand in a deal estimated to be worth £100m. Rutland Partners, which bought the UK franchise from US owners Yum! Brands in 2012 for … view
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Friday 20th April 2018
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Social suicide or sensationalised stunt? Small Brewers Relief, JD Wetherspoon's timeless success and how to handle the surge in food hall popularity
Authors: James Hacon, Rupert Thompson and Collin Wood, Ann Elliott … view
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Friday 20th April 2018
Update: CGA report reveals brand momentum, Pizza Hut UK sale
CGA report reveals UK brands with ‘momentum’: Costa, JD Wetherspoon, M&B’s Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery and Miller & Carter and Greggs are among the businesses or brands with the most momentum in the out of home eating and drinking se … view
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Friday 20th April 2018
Propel Friday News Briefing
Just Eat-backed CityMunch returns to Seedrs in £150,000 expansion bid: London-based startup CityMunch, which aims to fill restaurants at quieter times of the day and has received investment from Just Eat, has return to crowdfunding platf … view
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Thursday 19th April 2018
Takeaway delivery expected to be worth £5bn in two years as market soars
Takeaway delivery expected to be worth £5bn in two years as market soars: The delivery phenomenon is continuing to shake up Britain’s takeaway foodservice industry, growing 73% in the past decade to £4.2bn as of February 2018, accordi … view
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Thursday 19th April 2018
Update: Success with food at Debenhams, Choccwoccydoodah expands, Ten Entertainment
Debenhams report success of Loaf & Bloom food format as food sales increase 10%: Debenhams has reported food sales have grown 10% in its First Half to 3 March driven by further roll-out of new offers and operational improvements introduce … view
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Thursday 19th April 2018
Propel Thursday News Briefing
UK’s ‘first dedicated hospitality festival’ to launch in August: The UK’s “first dedicated hospitality festival” is to launch in August. PX+ Festival will take place at Duchess Farms in Sawbridgeworth, Essex, from Friday, 24 A … view
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Wednesday 18th April 2018
Byron appoints Steve de Polo as commercial and brand director
Byron appoints Steve de Polo as commercial and brand director: Better burger brand Byron has appointed Steve de Polo as commercial and brand director. De Polo joins from Ei Group, where he was customer director in charge of sales and marketing … view
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Wednesday 18th April 2018
Update: Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger and Vianet
Costa Coffee pledges to boost coffee cup recycling scheme: Whitbread’s Costa Coffee brand has pledged to recycle as many disposable cups as it sells by 2020 in a bid to reduce landfill waste. Under the scheme 500m coffee cups a year wou … view
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Wednesday 18th April 2018
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Restaurant numbers hold up, licensed premises fall just 0.3% as drink-led venues lead closures: Restaurant numbers have held up while there was only a small decline in licensed premises in 2017, according to the latest Market Growth Monit … view
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Wednesday 18th April 2018
Restaurant numbers hold up, licensed premises fall just 0.3% as drink-led venues lead closures
Restaurant numbers hold up, licensed premises fall just 0.3% as drink-led venues lead closures: Restaurant numbers have held up while there was only a small decline in licensed premises in 2017, according to the latest Market Growth Monit … view
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Tuesday 17th April 2018
Update: Diversey and Zenith merge, Christie Group, Majestic Wines
Diversey and Zenith merge: Diversey and Zenith Hygiene Group have announced the completion of the transaction by Bain Capital Private Equity which will combine the two companies, creating the UK and Ireland’s largest manufacturer and su … view
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Tuesday 17th April 2018
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Wagamama highlights rise of the ‘nano lunch’: A new report compiled by Wagamama has revealed a rise in the “nano lunch” trend, where people take fewer than 15 minutes for their lunch break. Publication of the “Lunch Report” fo … view
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Monday 16th April 2018
Punch appoints Clive Chesser as chief executive, new operator for Jamie Oliver's Australia business
Punch appoints Clive Chesser as new chief executive: Punch has appointed Clive Chesser as its new chief executive. Chesser will join Punch on Monday, 4 June and brings more than 25 years of industry experience, having run Greene King’s … view
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Monday 16th April 2018
ETM Group secures £10m funding package
ETM Group secures £10m funding package to support growth plans: ETM Group, the 14-strong bar and restaurant company, has secured a £10m funding package from HSBC to support its growth plans. The next site to open will be Maple in Westfi … view
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Monday 16th April 2018
JD Wetherspoon to close Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts
JD Wetherspoon to close Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts: JD Wetherspoon is to close down its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for its individual pubs and head office. The company, which has almost 900 pubs across the UK a … view
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Monday 16th April 2018
Propel Monday News Briefing
Deliveroo trials delivering food to airport departure gate: Deliveroo and HMSHost International are trialling the delivery of food to passengers at the gate at Amsterdam Schipol airport. A pilot service has involved passengers flying from … view
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Friday 13th April 2018
Deliveroo helps UK operators create ‘virtual restaurants’, ten more launching
Deliveroo helps UK operators create ‘virtual restaurants’, ten more launching: Deliveroo is working with UK operators to create additional “virtual restaurants” in its state-of-the-art, delivery-only Editions kitchens. Deliveroo said i … view
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Friday 13th April 2018
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Buffets battle for survival, drinking by numbers and how to create the perfect coffee bar 
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase and Georgia Hall

Buffets battle for survival by Glynn Davisview

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Friday 13th April 2018
Propel Friday News Briefing
Sector enjoys strong Easter but sees March like-for-likes fall 3.1%: Strong trading over the Easter holiday weekend helped lift the gloom for Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups after a snow-hit March. The latest Coffer Peach Bu … view
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Friday 13th April 2018
Sector enjoys strong Easter but sees March like-for-likes fall 3.1%
Sector enjoys strong Easter but sees March like-for-likes fall 3.1%: Strong trading over the Easter holiday weekend helped lift the gloom for Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups after a snow-hit March. The latest Coffer Peach Busines … view
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Thursday 12th April 2018
SA Brain chief executive to depart
SA Brain chief executive to depart: Brewer and retailer SA Brain has announced chief executive Scott Waddington is to step down as part of a board succession planning process being undertaken by chairman John Rhys. The search for his succ … view
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Thursday 12th April 2018
Update: Greene King trading, City Pub Group results
Greene King has reported like-for-like sales down 1.8% in first 49 weeks: Greene King has issued a pre-close trading statement in which it reported like for-likes down 1.8% in its first 49 weeks of the financial year. The company stated: … view
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Thursday 12th April 2018
Propel Thursday News Briefing
TGI Friday’s UK staff ballot to strike over pay and tips: TGI Friday’s UK staff will ballot to strike in a dispute over wages and tips. The Unite union said it would hold strike ballots at two branches every week from Friday (13 April … view
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Wednesday 11th April 2018
Leon to launch Thai food brand, Martin Morales to open London’s first Peruvian bakery
Leon to launch first Thai fast food restaurant: Leon has announced the launch of a Thai fast food pop-up Tuk Shop – a joint venture with Bangkok-based food group Aylmer Aaharn. The restaurant will debut this spring in an existing … view
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Wednesday 11th April 2018
Update: Thai brand seeks investor, Easyhotel, Escape Hunt
Thai brand seeks equity investor as it opens its 13th site: An award-winning Thai brand is seeking an investor following the successful opening of its 13th branch, this time in Hove in Sussex. Led by Minhaz Nasir, who opened his first Lem … view
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Wednesday 11th April 2018
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Online distributor EeBriaTrade launches craft beer tendering technology: Beer distributor EeBriaTrade has launched tap tendering technology that allows the UK on-trade to source craft beer from more than 400 breweries online. The process … view
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Tuesday 10th April 2018
Update: Coffee shops to overtake pubs by 2030, Meatliquor results
Coffee shops to overtake pubs by 2030: New research commissioned on behalf of The London Coffee Festival has found 3.3 new coffee shops opening daily across the nation. This growth sees the coffee shop industry pouring £9.6bn into the UK … view
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Tuesday 10th April 2018
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Dominion Hospitality appoints managing director to lead growth: Dominion Hospitality, which owns and operates 28 hotels and pubs in the south of England, has appointment Drew Brown as managing director. Brown joins to lead the develo … view
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Monday 9th April 2018
Propel Monday News Briefing
Innventure expansion on hold in high-cost environment, diversifies into holiday let and art gallery business: Innventure, the gastro-pub operator led by former Mitchells & Butlers executive Chris Gerard, has put its expansion plans on hol … view
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Friday 6th April 2018
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Top ten restaurant trends for 2018, don’t change Draft House, the benefits of getting stuck in, and millennials and delivery – their relationship explained
Authors: James Hacon, Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott and Caro … view
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Friday 6th April 2018
Propel Friday News Briefing
C&C Group managing director Andrea Pozzi – ‘failure of Matthew Clark and Bibendum would have had ripple effect on sector’: C&C Group managing director Andrea Pozzi has argued it’s good for the UK hospitality sector that Bibendum a … view
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Thursday 5th April 2018
Wahaca reports pre-tax loss of £4.7m following norovirus outbreak but says business has managed to recover
Wahaca reports pre-tax loss of £4.7m following norovirus outbreak but says business has managed to recover: Mexican restaurant brand Wahaca has reported a pre-tax loss following the norovirus outbreak that led to nine restaurants being closed … view
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Thursday 5th April 2018
Propel Thursday News Briefing
C&C Group to ‘go back to basics’ with Matthew Clark and Bibendum, ‘deal brings period of uncertainty to end for operators’: C&C Group managing director Andrea Pozzi has told Propel the company plans to “go back to basics” wit … view
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Wednesday 4th April 2018
Inception Group to add three sites to Mr Fogg’s brand
Inception Group to add three sites to Mr Fogg’s brand: Bar and nightclub operator Inception Group is to embark on its biggest expansion to date, doubling the size of its Around The World in 80 Days inspired, Mr Fogg’s Collection by opening … view
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Wednesday 4th April 2018
C&C Group to buy Bibendum and Matthew Clark
C&C Group to buy Bibendum and Matthew Clark: C&C Group has announced, that with the support of AB InBev, it is in advanced discussions to acquire the entire issued share capital of Matthew Clark (Holdings) Limited and Bibendum PLB (Topco … view
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Wednesday 4th April 2018
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Italian investors hit £300,000 crowdfunding target to expand clubhouse concept in London: Matteo and Ioana Cerri, who are behind venture capital company Made by Italians (i2i.london) and social media and events firm #EatDrinkLoveItalian, … view
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Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Be At One promotes Andrew Stones to MD, reports Ebitda boost as turnover exceeds £40m
Be At One promotes Andrew Stones to MD, reports Ebitda boost as turnover exceeds £40m: Cocktail bar specialist Be At One has made a trio of key strategic appointments as it looks to further accelerate its growth. The appointments come as … view
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Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Operators stand to lose £1bn as 25 to 34-year-olds curb eating out but over-50s can plug gap
Operators stand to lose £1bn as 25 to 34-year-olds curb eating out but over-50s can plug gap: British foodservice operators stand to lose the best part of £1bn of business as 25 to 34-year-olds curb their eating out habits, according to new … view
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Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Two-thirds of Brits would boycott brands that ‘lack ethical conscience’: Two-thirds (67%) of UK consumers would boycott brands that lack an ethical conscience, according to research by Fourth, the software partner to the hospitality i … view
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Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Two-thirds of Brits would boycott brands that ‘lack ethical conscience’
Two-thirds of Brits would boycott brands that ‘lack ethical conscience’: Two-thirds (67%) of UK consumers would boycott brands that lack an ethical conscience, according to research by Fourth, the software partner to the hospitality indust … view
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