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Thursday 31st January 2019
Harry Ramsden makes international debut as new leisure format lands in Malaysia
Harry Ramsden makes international debut as new leisure format lands in Malaysia: Fish and chip chain Harry Ramsden, owned by Boparan Restaurant Group, has made its international debut with a new leisure format, Propel has learned. Harry Ramsde … view
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Thursday 31st January 2019
Update: Patisserie Valerie auditor castigated, UK leading delivery at McDonald's et al
Patisserie Valerie auditor castigated after telling MPs it is not set up to spot fraud: The long-term auditors of collapsed chain Patisserie Valerie have been castigated for claiming they are “not set up” to spot fraud. MPs told Grant … view
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Thursday 31st January 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Leisure vacancy rate hits five-year high although bar and restaurant numbers continue to grow: The number of vacant units in the leisure sector is at its highest level in five years, new research has revealed. Data from Local Data Company … view
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Wednesday 30th January 2019
McDonald’s reports like-for-likes up 4.4% in fourth quarter helped by ‘continued UK growth’
McDonald’s reports like-for-likes up 4.4% in fourth quarter helped by ‘continued UK growth’: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-like sales rose 4.4% in its fourth quarter to 31 December 2018 helped by continued growth in the UK. C … view
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Wednesday 30th January 2019
Caffe Nero acquires Coffee#1
Caffe Nero acquires Coffee#1: Caffe Nero Group has become the majority owner of Coffee#1, the coffee chain that has sites across Wales, Midlands and southern England. Caffe Nero Group has bought shares from Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain, … view
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Wednesday 30th January 2019
Update: Turnaround specialists eye Patisserie Valerie leftovers, Greene King, BigDish
Turnaround specialists eye Patisserie Valerie leftovers: Rcapital, the private equity firm that rescued Little Chef from collapse is among the front-runners in the race to acquire most of the remaining Patisserie Valerie business from adm … view
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Wednesday 30th January 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Domino’s Pizza reveals Just Eat trial as part of UK growth plans, dismisses suggestions store base is nearing maturity: Domino’s Pizza Group chief executive David Wild has outlined the opportunities for growth in the UK and dismissed … view
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Tuesday 29th January 2019
Hickory’s reports turnover and Ebitda boost
Hickory’s reports turnover and Ebitda boost: Hickory’s Smokehouse has reported turnover increased 28% to £21.4m for the year ending 30 April 2018, compared with £16.6m the previous year. Group Ebitda before exceptional costs was up 8% to … view
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Tuesday 29th January 2019
Update: Patisserie Valerie sales on slide for three years, Domino's Pizza fourth quarter results, Stonegate bond
Patisserie Valerie sales in ‘secret’ decline for at least three years: Patisserie Valerie sales were in “secret” decline for at least three years before the discovery of the accounting black hole that triggered its collapse. A pri … view
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Tuesday 29th January 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Electra – TGI Friday’s valuation fell £37m in 2018 but business remains highly profitable and cash generative: Electra, which is looking to sell all its assets and return cash to shareholders, has reported the valuation of TGI Friday … view
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Monday 28th January 2019
Update: The Times – lid lifted on £40m hole at heart of Patisserie Valerie
The Times – lid lifted on £40m hole at heart of Patisserie Valerie: Cheques worth millions of pounds were bounced at HSBC and Barclays in Solihull in the West Midlands, artificially inflating the cash reserves of accounts belonging to … view
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Monday 28th January 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Tim Foster – appeal of purely eating out market diminishing at a ‘fast rate’: Yummy Pubs head of awesome Tim Foster has told Propel the appeal of the purely eating out market is diminishing at a “fast rate” as consumers seek ope … view
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Monday 28th January 2019
UK consumer confidence drops to 18-month low with spending continuing to slow
UK consumer confidence drops to 18-month low with spending continuing to slow: UK consumer confidence dropped to an 18-month low in the last quarter of 2018 with spending expected to continue to slow, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer … view
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Friday 25th January 2019
Update: Douglas Jack on Fuller's, McDonald's, allergen labelling consultation begins
Douglas Jack – ‘transformative’ £250m beer division sale provides Fuller’s with foundation for many years of strong growth: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Douglas Jack has said Fuller’s “transformative” £250m sale of its beer d … view
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Friday 25th January 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: A year of transformation, it’s about more than just the beer and opportunity knocks in challenging times
Authors: Ian Dunstall, Glynn Davis and Charlie McVeigh

A year of transformation … view

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Friday 25th January 2019
Fuller’s sells beer business to Asahi for £250m
Fuller’s sells beer business to Asahi for £250m: Fuller’s has entered into an agreement for the sale of its entire beer business to Asahi Europe Limited for an enterprise value of £250 million on a debt free, cash free basis. The bu … view
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Friday 25th January 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Los Angeles study tour to take in ‘restaurant of the future’ where everything is measured: Propel and UKHospitality’s Los Angeles study tour, which takes place in May, will include a visit to the “restaurant of the future”, whic … view
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Thursday 24th January 2019
The Restaurant Group reports like-for-likes down 2% in 2018, a ‘pivotal year’
The Restaurant Group reports like-for-likes down 2% in 2018, a ‘pivotal year’: The Restaurant Group has reported like-for-like sales down 2.0%, with total sales increasing by 1.0% in the 52 weeks ended 30 December 2018. The company st … view
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Thursday 24th January 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Tim Martin – JD Wetherspoon could have 30 pubs in Ireland: JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has told Propel he believes the company could have a 30-strong estate in Ireland. The company currently operates five sites in the country wit … view
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Wednesday 23rd January 2019
Administrators reveal Patisserie Valerie site closures
Administrators reveal Patisserie Valerie site closures: The joint administrators of Patisserie Holdings have confirmed the closure of a number of loss-making outlets including 27 Patisserie Valerie stores and 19 Druckers stores. In additi … view
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Wednesday 23rd January 2019
Stonegate buys 32-strong Fever Bars plus six more Novus sites in London
Stonegate buys 32-strong Fever Bars plus six more Novus sites in London: Stonegate Pub Company has acquired 32-strong Fever Bars, for an undisclosed sum – and six central London Novus sites. The company stated: “Established in 2007 with it … view
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Wednesday 23rd January 2019
Young’s buys Redcomb Pubs for £34m
Young’s buys Redcomb Pubs for £34m: Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs, founded by managing directors Dan Shotton and Mark Draper, has sold the group to Young & Co’s for £34 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis, representin … view
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Wednesday 23rd January 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Patisserie Valerie to shut 70 sites following administration, resulting in 'significant' number of redundancies: Patisserie Valerie is to shut 70 of its 200-odd sites, resulting in a "significant number of redundancies" after its parent c … view
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Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Patisserie Valerie falls into administration
Patisserie Valerie falls into administration: Patisserie Holdings has announced, as a direct result of the significant fraud referred to in previous announcements, “it has been unable to renew its bank facilities, and therefore regrettably t … view
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Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Time Out sells Flyt stake to Just Eat for £9.6m
Just Eat buys Flyt for £22m, including Time Out's stake for £9.6m: Online food delivery business Just Eat has acquired the remaining outstanding share capital of Flyt for £22m from existing investors, including Time Out and Entree Capital. … view
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Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Star Pubs & Bars signs Wireless Social to provide estate-wide Wi-Fi and analytics: Heineken has selected Wi-Fi solutions provider Wireless Social to be Wi-Fi partner for its 2,700 Star Pubs & Bars sites. The move has been driven by Heinek … view
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Monday 21st January 2019
Update: Patisserie Valerie, Just Eat, Elephant Park
Patisserie Valerie still in discussions with bank: Patisserie Holdings, the parent company of Patisserie Valerie, has announced, in a short announcement to the market this morning, that, further to the announcement on 16th January, the co … view
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Monday 21st January 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
James Horler – Notes can become leading mid-market cafe brand, reports 9% like-for-like trading: Industry veteran James Horler, chairman of nine-strong Notes Coffee Roasters & Bars, has told Propel the company is forging ahead with plan … view
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Sunday 20th January 2019
Imbiba makes investment in new immersive entertainment concept The Dream Corporation
Imbiba makes investment in new immersive entertainment concept The Dream Corporation: The Dream Corporation has secured $1.1m of investment to introduce a new leisure and hospitality concept with immersive entertainment at its heart. The … view
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Friday 18th January 2019
Update: Young's, Domino's and D&D London
Young’s appoints interim chief financial officer: London pub retailer Young’s has appointed Daniel Quint as interim chief financial officer. The appointment comes after Steve Robinson resigned and left the business last month to pursu … view
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Friday 18th January 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: How leaders build trust, growing into the overcoat and return to rationing
Authors: Chris Edger, Glynn Davis and Paul Chase

How leaders build trust by Chris Edger 

Trust … view
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Friday 18th January 2019
Update: Richoux Group board bids to go private, Rollo on Whitbread
Richoux Group board bids to quit AIM stock market and go private: Richoux Group, the owner and operator of Richoux, Friendly Phil’s, Villagio and The Broadwick restaurants, has announced the proposed cancellation of admission of its ord … view
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Friday 18th January 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Number of vegan restaurants in Britain rises 55%: The number of vegan restaurants in Britain has increased 55% in the past year to 48, according to new research. The findings by the Local Data Company showed the majority of new businesses … view
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Thursday 17th January 2019
Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Award winners revealed
Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Award winners revealed: The winners of this year’s Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards, staged by Propel and Think Hospitality, have been revealed. More than 100 entries were judged by a 20-strong panel of … view
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Thursday 17th January 2019
Update: Whitbread, NewRiver, SSP, Ten Entertainment Group, Everyman
Whitbread reports like-for-like sales down 0.6% in third quarter, total UK sales increase 2.5%: Whitbread has reported like-for-like sales fell 0.6% in the 13 weeks to 29 November 2018, with total UK sales up 2.5% (year-to-date 2.7%). The … view
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Thursday 17th January 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Clive Watson – City Pub Group will be last venture but plenty of growth still ahead: City Pub Company executive chairman Clive Watson has told Propel this will be the last pub venture he’ll lead but he foresees many years’ growth ah … view
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Wednesday 16th January 2019
Patisserie Holdings appoints KPMG to review options as it reveals balance sheet was ‘significantly manipulated’
Patisserie Holdings appoints KPMG to review options as it reveals balance sheet was ‘significantly manipulated’: Patisserie Holdings has hired KPMG to review options for the business as it revealed its balance sheet was “significantly ma … view
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Wednesday 16th January 2019
Update: City Pub Group and Cineworld results, UKHospitality on Brexit, BigDish
City Pub Group reports full-year like-for-likes up 1.6%, updates on pipeline: City Pub Group, led by Clive Watson, has reported like-for-like sales increased 1.6% for the year ending 30 December 2018. The company said the majority of the … view
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Wednesday 16th January 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Boost for eating and drinking-out market as Christmas and New Year like-for-likes rise 4.1%: While the retail sector struggled, Britain’s managed pub and restaurant companies had cause to celebrate during the six-week Christmas and New … view
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Wednesday 16th January 2019
Boost for eating and drinking-out market as Christmas and New Year like-for-likes rise 4.1%
Boost for eating and drinking-out market as Christmas and New Year like-for-likes rise 4.1%: While the retail sector struggled, Britain’s managed pub and restaurant companies had cause to celebrate during the six-week Christmas and New Year … view
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Tuesday 15th January 2019
Greene King appoints new chief executive
Greene King appoints new chief executive: Brewer and retailer Greene King has appointed Nick Mackenzie as its new chief executive. Mackenzie will join the company on 1 May in succession to Rooney Anand, who announced in November he would step … view
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Tuesday 15th January 2019
Charles Wells plans to double UK managed estate in 2019 as it reports turnover and profit boost
Charles Wells plans to double UK managed estate in 2019 as it reports turnover and profit boost: Bedford-based brewer and retailer Charles Wells plans to double the size of its UK managed estate and grow its portfolio in France during the next … view
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Tuesday 15th January 2019
Update: Rockfish, Elegant Hotels and Rodizio Rico
Gresham House invests in Rockfish: Rockfish has received investment from the Gresham House Ventures team, ahead of a planned three openings in 2019. Rockfish has five coastal sites in the South-West and also owns the Seahorse restaur … view
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Tuesday 15th January 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Charlie McVeigh looks at making up to three more investments following BBQ Dreamz backing: Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh has told Propel he is looking to make two or three more investments in sector businesses by April. It comes fo … view
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Monday 14th January 2019
Andrew Stones and Toby Rolph to step down at Be At One as brand aligns to Stonegate structure
Andrew Stones and Toby Rolph to step down at Be At One as brand aligns to Stonegate structure: Managing director Andrew Stones and financial director Toby Rolph are to step down at specialist cocktail bar operator Be At One as the brand a … view
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Monday 14th January 2019
Novus appoints new chief executive as Toby Smith steps down
Novus appoints new chief executive as Toby Smith steps down: Toby Smith has stepped down as chief executive of Novus. He has been replaced by Sharon Badelek, who has been chief financial officer for the past two-and-a-half years. Smith is step … view
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Monday 14th January 2019
Update: Revolution trading, PizzaExpress debt and Patisserie Valerie audit
Revolution reports like-for-likes up 2.6% in December: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 79 premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba brands, has provided a trading update for the 26 weeks to 29 D … view
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Monday 14th January 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Morgan Stanley – pub sector good choice for investors due to positive trading and strong private market interest in buying assets: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has argued the pub sector is a good choice for investors becau … view
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Friday 11th January 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: A world of difference, time for lunch and delivery is here to stay
Authors: James Hacon, Glynn Davis and Ann Elliott

A world of difference by James Hacon

The world is an ever-clo … view
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Friday 11th January 2019
Ei Group sells 370 pubs to investment fund
Ei Group sells 370 pubs to investment fund: Ei Group has entered into sale agreements, subject to shareholder approval, with Tavern Propco Limited in relation to 370 properties comprising public houses and other commercial properties for … view
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Friday 11th January 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
UK becomes vegan food market leader as number of products launched doubles to 16%: The UK developed the highest number of new vegan food products in Europe in 2018, toppling Germany from top spot, according to the Mintel Global New Produc … view
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Thursday 10th January 2019
Brighton Pier Group profit warning, M&B LfLs, C&C Group trading
Brighton Pier Group report profits will be 18% lower than expectations: Brighton Pier Group, announcing a trading update for the six-month period to 31 December 2018, has told the market profit before tax will be 18% lower than expectatio … view
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Thursday 10th January 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Chameleon Bar & Dining sells final three freeholds to Greene King, plans to assign remaining lease and close business: Chameleon Bar & Dining has sold its three remaining freeholds to brewer and retailer Greene King, with staff transferri … view
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Wednesday 9th January 2019
Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 11% over Christmas and New Year
Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 11% over Christmas and New Year: Loungers, the operator of 139 neighbourhood, cafe-bar-restaurants trading under the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, has reported like-for-like sales up 11% over the Chr … view
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Wednesday 9th January 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Papa John’s passes 400-store milestone in UK, eyes further openings following ‘excellent’ sales in December: Papa John’s has passed the 400-store milestone in the UK following openings at the end of 2018 in Dundee, Cannock, Leeds, … view
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Tuesday 8th January 2019
Inn Collection Group secures £10m from OakNorth to more than double portfolio to 21 sites
Inn Collection Group secures £10m from OakNorth to more than double portfolio to 21 sites: The Inn Collection Group, which is owned by Alchemy Partners, has secured a £10m loan from OakNorth to fund its expansion. The Inn Collection Group pl … view
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Tuesday 8th January 2019
Greene King reports like-for-likes up 10.9% over Christmas fortnight
Greene King reports like-for-likes up 10.9% over Christmas fortnight: Greene King has reported like-for-like sales over the two weeks to Christmas were up 10.9%. The company stated: “After 36 weeks of our financial year, Pub Company lik … view
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Tuesday 8th January 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Pod founder lines up two new sites for Three Joes as it launches £400,000 crowdfunding campaign for growth: Tim Hall, founder of London-based healthy eating brand Pod, has told Propel his sourdough pizza restaurant, Three Joes, has two n … view
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Monday 7th January 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Google increases market share of social reviews while TripAdvisor drives negative comments: Google increased its market share of reviews during December, according to new statistics from Feed It Back’s monthly social review tracker. The … view
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Friday 4th January 2019
Update: Whitbread launches UK’s first battery-powered hotel, Goodbody on Wagamama, AB InBev
Whitbread launches UK’s first battery-powered hotel: Whitbread has launched the UK’s first battery-powered hotel, at a Premier Inn site in Edinburgh. The company has installed a five-tonne battery at The Gyle in Edinburgh Park. It wil … view
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Friday 4th January 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Making hotels pay, the war on choice and making hospitality sexy
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase and James Hacon

Making hotels pay by Glynn Davis

Christmas is now sadly gone and … view
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Friday 4th January 2019
Stonegate reports 7.8% festive like-for-like sales growth
Stonegate reports 7.8% festive like-for-like sales growth: Stonegate Pub Company, the operator of 735 drink-led, pubs and bars, has reported 7.8% like-for-like sales growth over the festive period (1 December to 1 January). It reported al … view
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Friday 4th January 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Crussh converts Soho site to vegan pop-up as it explores viability of model: London-based healthy food and juice brand Crussh has turned its Soho site into a vegan store for the month. The outlet in Broadwick Street is serving an entire p … view
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Thursday 3rd January 2019
Wagamama reports UK like-for-likes up 12% in second quarter, Urban Pubs and Bars secures 20th site
Wagamama reports UK like-for-likes up 12% in second quarter: Wagamama has reported turnover increased 15.4% to £81.5m for the 12 weeks to 11 November 2018 – its second quarter – with one new site opening in the period. The company sa … view
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Thursday 3rd January 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Pubs and restaurants lead the way as consumers continue to prioritise spending on entertainment, overall spend grows 4.0% in 2018: Pubs and restaurants led the way as spending on entertainment continued to be a priority for consumers in 2 … view
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Tuesday 1st January 2019
Coaching Inn Group reports record December, Caprice Holdings results
Coaching Inn Group reports record December trading with like-for-likes up 9.4%: Coaching Inn Group has reported record festive trading with like-for-like sales up 9.4% for the five weeks to 31 December. The company saw net sales of £3,06 … view
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