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Sunday 30th June 2019
FY sales fall 4.3% in year of transition for Carluccio’s
FY sales fall 4.3% in year of transition for Carluccio’s, ‘visible’ like-for-like sales improvement in past three months as Fresca programme takes shape: Carluccio’s, the Italian all day-dining restaurant and deli chain, saw sales decl … view
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Friday 28th June 2019
Exclusive: Heineken UK to sell 150-strong package of pubs
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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Friday 28th June 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Consistency is king; visits down, spend up; and hospitality has X-factor for Generation Z
Authors: Glynn Davis, Dominic Allport and Joe Walker

Consistency is king by Glynn Davis

view
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Friday 28th June 2019
Merlin board recommends £6bn offer
Merlin board recommends £6bn offer: The board of Merlin Entertainment has a recommended a cash offer worth almost £6bn from private equity firm Blackstone, Canandian pension firm CPPIB and Kirkbi, a company operated by the Danish family tha … view
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Friday 28th June 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
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
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Thursday 27th June 2019
Tokyo Industries acquires Red's True Barbecue from administration
Tokyo Industries acquires Red's True Barbecue from administration: Tokyo Industries, the bar and nightclub operator led by Aaron Mellor, has acquired smokehouse brand Red's True Barbecue from administration. James Douglas and Scott Munro, who … view
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Thursday 27th June 2019
Update: Greene King results, Ramsay receives investment for US expansion, Starbucks et al
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
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Thursday 27th June 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
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
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Thursday 27th June 2019
Henry Dimbleby to lead review of England’s food system
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 syste … view
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Wednesday 26th June 2019
Chris Phillips steps down as Upham chief executive, company no longer looking at sale
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
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Wednesday 26th June 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
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
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Tuesday 25th June 2019
Coffeesmiths Collective bought Filmore & Union for £350,000
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
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Tuesday 25th June 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
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
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Tuesday 25th June 2019
Government announces mandatory introduction of full ingredient labelling
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
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Monday 24th June 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
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
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Friday 21st June 2019
Azzurri Group buys Pod in pre-pack administration, nine sites to close
Azzurri Group buys Pod in pre-pack administration to accelerate Coco di Mama roll-out, nine Pod sites to close: Pod, the 22-strong, London-based healthy eating operator, has been sold to Azzurri Group, owner of the ASK Italian, Zizzi, Coc … view
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Friday 21st June 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Indecision is a killer, communicating cancellations, promoting pubs as a career, and dealing with dine and dash
Authors: James Hacon and Michael Ingemann, Sally Whelan, Andy Holness, and Ann … view
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Friday 21st June 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Pod to be sold in pre-pack administration after shareholders fail to approve Azzurri Group offer: Pod, the 22-strong, London-based healthy eating operator, is to be sold in a pre-pack administration after its shareholders failed to appro … view
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Thursday 20th June 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Axe-throwing operator Whistle Punks secures investment as it eyes growth: Urban axe-throwing operator Whistle Punks has secured new investment from Edition Capital, the backer of Incipio Group, to aid growth, Propel has learned. Whistle P … view
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Wednesday 19th June 2019
Bakeries sees strongest on-premise growth thanks to sharper food-to-go focus
Bakeries sees strongest on-premise growth thanks to sharper food-to-go focus: Bakery outlets have seen the strongest growth in on-premise sales and visits among British quick service restaurant (QSR) channels – up more than 19% and almost 18 … view
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Wednesday 19th June 2019
Whitbread reports UK like-for-likes down 3.7% in first quarter
Whitbread reports UK like-for-likes down 3.7% in first quarter: Whitbread has reported UK like-for-like sales fell 3.7% in its first quarter “due to weak trading conditions”. Like-for-like UK accommodation sales were down 4.6% while U … view
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Wednesday 19th June 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Peach to undergo sale and leaseback deal on its four freehold sites: Peach Pub Company is to undergo a sale and leaseback deal on its four freehold sites as it looks to raise funds for acquisitions and invest in its estate. The freehold i … view
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Wednesday 19th June 2019
Peach to undergo sale and leaseback deal on its four freehold sites
Peach to undergo sale and leaseback deal on its four freehold sites: Peach Pub Company is to undergo a sale and leaseback deal on its four freehold sites as it looks to raise funds for acquisitions and invest in its estate. The freehold invest … view
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Tuesday 18th June 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Boston Tea Party chief – we’re due to have our best year ever despite banning single-use cups: Sam Roberts, chief executive of all-day casual dining cafe Boston Tea Party (BTP), has said the brand is due to have its “best year ever … view
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Tuesday 18th June 2019
BII appoints Steven Alton as chief executive elect
BII appoints Steven Alton as chief executive elect: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has appointed Steven Alton, managing director of Vianet, as its chief executive elect. Alton, who has been at Vianet for almost nine years, will … view
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Monday 17th June 2019
Black Sheep Coffee raises £13m from private investors to support expansion
Black Sheep Coffee raises £13m from private investors to support expansion: Black Sheep Coffee, the speciality coffee shop operator, has raised £13m in a new funding round to support its growth ambitions. The company has raised the funds fro … view
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Monday 17th June 2019
Puttshack hires new chief executive, raises £27m as it goes into expansion overdrive
Puttshack hires new chief executive, raises £27m as it goes into expansion overdrive: The UK leading indoor mini golf experience, Puttshack, has appointed Joe Vrankin as chief executive as the business reveals rapid expansion plans foll … view
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Monday 17th June 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Ex-Cote backer interested in Giggling Squid: CBPE, the former backer of Cote, is one of the private equity firms to have shown an early interest in Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand founded by Andy and Pranee Laurillard, which was … view
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Friday 14th June 2019
Shoreditch Bar Group buys remainder of Novus late-night estate
Shoreditch Bar Group buys remainder of Novus late-night estate: Shoreditch Bar Group has bought the remainder of London bar and restaurant operator Novus’ late-night business for an undisclosed sum. The deal incorporates five sites – Tiger … view
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Friday 14th June 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Roll out the barrel, bean and definitely not gone, and celebrities? get them out of here
Authors: Glynn Davis, Andy Grelak and Paul Chase

Roll out the barrel by Glynn Davis

Watne … view
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Friday 14th June 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Trade bodies to challenge PPL music tariff increase: UKHospitality and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) are to take the proposed increase in recorded music tariffs by music licensing company PPL to the Copyright Tribunal, Propel … view
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Thursday 13th June 2019
Exclusive: Pod founders urge shareholders to reject £2.7m Azzurri Group sale as it is ‘not in their best interests’
Exclusive: Pod founders urge shareholders to reject £2.7m Azzurri Group sale as it is ‘not in their best interests’: The founders of Pod, the 22-strong, London-based healthy eating operator, have urged shareholders to reject its sale to A … view
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Thursday 13th June 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Sector operators launch peer-to-peer tipping system: BrewDog retail director James Brown and Rosa’s Thai Cafe co-founder Alex Moore are launching a “peer-to-peer tipping and tip-sharing ecosystem”, which they say will “shake up th … view
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Wednesday 12th June 2019
Exclusive: Azzurri Group set to buy Pod for £2.7m in deal that values shares at 5p each
Exclusive: Azzurri Group set to buy Pod for £2.7m in deal that values shares at 5p each: Pod, the 22-strong, London-based healthy eating operator, is set to be sold to Azzurri Group for £2.7m, subject to shareholder approval, Propel has lear … view
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Wednesday 12th June 2019
Update: Loungers hits 150 site milestone
Loungers opens 150th site, updates on pipeline: Loungers, the operator of neighbourhood, café-bar-restaurants trading under the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, is today opening its 150thsite – Fosso Lounge in Wells, Somerset – which bri … view
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Wednesday 12th June 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Timothy Taylor ‘reviewing options’ for Harrogate Brasserie as it reports full-year turnover up 7%: Keighley-based brewer Timothy Taylor is exploring options for its Harrogate Brasserie site as it nears the completion of a restructure … view
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Tuesday 11th June 2019
Thwaites reports like-for-likes up 4% as pubs offset hotel performance, Ebitda up 1.5%
Thwaites reports like-for-likes up 4% as pubs offset hotel performance, Ebitda up 1.5%: North west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites has reported like-for-like sales increased 4% for the year ending 31 March 2019. Turnover rose 5.0% to £96. … view
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Tuesday 11th June 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Growth stays flat for UK pubs and restaurants in May, trading better outside London: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw trading flat-line in May, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Collective like-f … view
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Tuesday 11th June 2019
Growth stays flat for UK pubs and restaurants in May, trading better outside London
Growth stays flat for UK pubs and restaurants in May, trading better outside London: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw trading flat-line in May, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Collective like-for-like sa … view
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Monday 10th June 2019
Beds and Bars to invest £7.5m in FY20 as it reports turnover and Ebitda boost
Beds and Bars to invest £7.5m in FY20 as it reports turnover and Ebitda boost: Bed and Bars, the pan-European hostel operator led by Keith Knowles, is planning to invest £7.5m into its sites and upcoming acquisitions in the new financial yea … view
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Monday 10th June 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Redcomb Pubs founders secure first site for new venture, in Oxfordshire: Dan Shotton and Mark Draper, who founded 15-strong Redcomb Pubs, which was acquired by London pub retailer Young’s for £34m at the start of the year, have secured … view
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Friday 7th June 2019
Costa Coffee promotes Neil Lake to UK and Ireland managing director as Cotta steps down
Costa Coffee promotes Neil Lake to UK and Ireland managing director as Cotta steps down: Costa Coffee, which is owned by Coca-Cola, has promoted Neil Lake to the role of managing director of its UK and Ireland division. Lake joined Costa Coffe … view
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Friday 7th June 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Off my trolley, making sustainability stick, and kick out the jam
Authors: Glynn Davis, Stephen Oswald and Ann Elliott

Off my trolley by Glynn Davis

Within minutes of being seate … view
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Friday 7th June 2019
Krispy Kreme UK turnover up 9.4%, AG Barr takes stake in spirits brand
Krispy Kreme UK reports full-year turnover up 9.4% to £83m: Krispy Kreme UK has reported turnover increased 9.4% to £83,052,000 for the year ending 30 December 2018, compared with £75,906,000 the previous year. Adjusted Ebitda was up s … view
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Friday 7th June 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Liberation Group appoints new managing director as it secures further investment: Jonathan Lawson, who was appointed chief executive of Channel Islands and West Country-based brewer and retailer Liberation Group in November, has told Prop … view
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Thursday 6th June 2019
Update: Loungers trading update, new Admiral Taverns chief executive
Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 6.9% as revenue passes £150m: Loungers, the operator of 148 cafe / bar / restaurants across England and Wales which trade under the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, has reported a 6.9% increase like-fo … view
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Thursday 6th June 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Laine Pub Company reports Ebitda and turnover boost as it accelerates growth: Multiple pub operator and brewer The Laine Pub Company has reported an Ebitda and turnover boost as it accelerates growth. The company said it is also planning … view
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Wednesday 5th June 2019
Update: St Austell reports record FY turnover, Go Ape seeks new investment, Applegreen AGM
St Austell reports ‘steady’ trading in 2019 as full-year turnover hits record £179.6m: Cornwall-based St Austell Brewery has reported a “steady” start to trading in 2019 while it is looking to add three sites to its portfolio per … view
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Wednesday 5th June 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Biff’s Kitchen secures six-figure investment: Biff’s Kitchen, the vegan fast food operator that specialises in jackfruit-based “junk” food and sauces, has secured an initial six-figure fund-raise to drive expansion. Having grown f … view
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Tuesday 4th June 2019
Update: Peel Hunt on Loungers, Vianet results
Douglas Jack – Loungers is ‘UK’s leading hospitality business’: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Douglas Jack has said cafe bar group Loungers is the “UK’s leading hospitality business”. Issuing a ‘Buy’ note on the shares with … view
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Tuesday 4th June 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
CGA acquires CPL Training: CGA has acquired CPL Training Group, which delivers hospitality-based training and development, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition reunites CPL Training with CPL Online, which became part of CGA in March la … view
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Tuesday 4th June 2019
CGA acquires CPL Training
CGA acquires CPL Training: CGA has acquired CPL Training Group, which delivers hospitality-based training and development, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition reunites CPL Training with CPL Online, which became part of CGA in March last ye … view
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Monday 3rd June 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Jungle Creations tests virtual restaurant model outside London, working on new pizza brand: Social media group Jungle Creations has been testing its virtual restaurant concept Twisted London outside the capital, Propel has learned. Jungle … view
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