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Friday 31st January 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Delivering decisions, the centenary of prohibition, and unlocking great reputation and customer loyalty
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase and Sally Whelan

Delivering decisions by Glynn Dav … view

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Friday 31st January 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Roadchef eyes two new F&B brands for estate in 2020 as it looks to rival quality at airports and train stations: Roadchef chief executive Mark Fox has told Propel the company is set to add two brands this year to its offering to ensure th … view
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Thursday 30th January 2020
Update: Fuller's and Diageo trading, Wetherspoon boss receives investor group support
Fuller’s reports managed like-for-likes up 4.3% over Christmas and 2.5% year to date: Fuller’s, the premium pubs and hotels business, has reported like-for-like sales in its managed division were up 4.3% for the six weeks encompassing … view
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Thursday 30th January 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
McDonald’s to invest £1bn in UK and Ireland business in next three years, plans 60 openings in 2020: McDonald’s is to invest £1bn in its UK and Ireland business during the next three years. The company also plans to open 60 restaura … view
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Wednesday 29th January 2020
Peach reduces debt by £6m in sale and leaseback of four freehold pubs
Peach reduces debt by £6m in sale and leaseback of four freehold pubs: Gastro-pub operator Peach has announced the sale and leaseback of the freeholds of four of its pubs in a property deal that secures further investment in its 19-strong por … view
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Wednesday 29th January 2020
McDonald’s results, Yumpingo raises $10m
McDonald’s reports like-for-likes up 5.9% in fourth quarter as full-year system-wide sales pass $100bn: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-likes rose 5.9% in its fourth quarter ending 31 December 2019. Global like-for-like sales were … view
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Wednesday 29th January 2020
Starbucks reports half of its China stores now closed at it admits ‘material’ impact of coronavirus
Starbucks reports half of its China stores now closed at it admits ‘material’ impact of coronavirus: Starbucks has become the first major US company to warn of a financial hit from the new coronavirus outbreak in China, as it closed thousa … view
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Wednesday 29th January 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Adam Breeden – new bingo concept has potential to grow across UK and abroad: Adam Breeden, founder of Social Entertainment Ventures (SEV), has told Propel the company is looking to grow its new bingo concept Hijingo across the UK and ev … view
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Tuesday 28th January 2020
Stonegate spent almost £60m on Bar Fever acquisition and Novus sites, full-year like-for-likes up 1.7%: Stonegate Pub Company spent almost £60m on its acquisition of Bar Fever and 17 sites from Novus. The details were revealed in Stonegate's accoun … view
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Tuesday 28th January 2020
Stonegate spent almost £60m on Bar Fever acquisition and Novus sites, full-year like-for-likes up 1.7%
Stonegate spent almost £60m on Bar Fever acquisition and Novus sites, full-year like-for-likes up 1.7%: Stonegate Pub Company spent almost £60m on its acquisition of Bar Fever and 17 sites from Novus. The details were revealed in Stonegate's … view
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Tuesday 28th January 2020
Update: Just Eat and McDonald’s, Chipotle and AG BARR
Just Eat to partner McDonald’s: Just Eat, the online food delivery company, is to partner with McDonald’s across the UK and Ireland. Meanwhile, in a trading update, it stated that 2019 concluded in line with the board’s expectations … view
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Tuesday 28th January 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Pod administrators begin investigation into directors’ conduct: Administrators of Pod, the 22-strong healthy eating operator acquired by Azzurri Group, are investigating the conduct of its directors. A progress report by administrators … view
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Monday 27th January 2020
Deliveroo to invest £1m supporting partner restaurants develop healthy meals and menus
Deliveroo to invest £1m supporting partner restaurants develop healthy meals and menus: Deliveroo is to spend £1m promoting healthy eating across the UK and support partner restaurants in developing healthy meals and menus. The investm … view
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Monday 27th January 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
‘Prime fast food’ concept Jacu Restaurant & Coffee secures debut UK site, plans five more London launches this year: Jacu Restaurant & Coffee, the brainchild of German leisure experts Arif and Diana Graca, will make its debut in the U … view
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Friday 24th January 2020
Deliveroo to start charging ‘service fee’ to every customer
Deliveroo to start charging ‘service fee’ to every customer: Deliveroo is to start charging a “service fee”, which will cover all customers including those signed up to its unlimited free delivery subscription service. The change will … view
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Friday 24th January 2020
Exclusive: Hawthorn Leisure acquires 29-strong package of Marston’s pubs
Exclusive – Hawthorn Leisure acquires 29-strong package of Marston’s pubs: Hawthorn Leisure, the pub operations arm of NewRiver, has acquired a 29-strong package of pubs from Marston’s for an undisclosed sum, Propel has learned. Propel u … view
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Friday 24th January 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Low to no chance, stick to the roots, and eight characteristics of a great leader
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott and Julie Phillips

Low to no chance by Glynn Davis

Redemption … view
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Friday 24th January 2020
Update: Marston's trading update, CMA launches Just Eat deal investigation, Chilango
Marston’s lfls sales up 1.0%; plans further disposals: Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, this morning announced that it saw a 1.0% increase in total managed and franchise like-for-like sales growth for the 16 weeks to 18 January … view
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Friday 24th January 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Wendy’s targets London as it starts search for debut UK site: Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant (QSR) chain in the US, has begun a search for its UK debut site with a focus on Greater London, Propel has learned. The … view
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Thursday 23rd January 2020
Handmade Burger Co placed in administration again, all sites closed
Handmade Burger Co placed in administration again, all sites closed: Burger Chain Ltd, owner of the 18-strong Handmade Burger Co brand, has been placed into administration, with all sites closing today (Thursday, 23 January). Leonard Curtis Re … view
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Thursday 23rd January 2020
Exclusive – Punch acquires seven pubs from Heartstone Inns
Exclusive – Punch acquires seven pubs from Heartstone Inns: Punch Pubs & Co has completed the acquisition of seven pubs from Heartstone Inns for an undisclosed sum. The package of pubs is spread across the south west of England and comprises … view
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Thursday 23rd January 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Hawthorn Leisure in talks with operators including McDonald’s over dark kitchen space, would consider partnership deal for Stonegate/Ei Group sites: Hawthorn Leisure chief executive Mark Davies has told Propel the company has been havin … view
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Wednesday 22nd January 2020
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 150 entries were judged by a 20-strong pane … view
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Wednesday 22nd January 2020
Update: JD Wetherspoon and Hawthorn Leisure trading
JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes up 4.7% in second quarter, Tim Martin calls for ‘sensible’ corporate governance system: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales increased 4.7% for the 12 weeks to 19 January 2019, with tot … view
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Wednesday 22nd January 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Stonegate launches enhanced maternity and paternity pay package including ‘industry first’ paid leave for fertility treatment: Stonegate Pub Company has enhanced its maternity and paternity provisions. The company has increased matern … view
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Tuesday 21st January 2020
Update: SSP trading, CMA invites comments on Stonegate/Ei Group pub sale remedy, Itsu plots stock market float
SSP reports like-for-likes up 1.2% in first quarter, acquires German company Station Food: SSP Group, the UK-based transport hub foodservice specialist, has reported like-for-like sales increased 1.2% for the 13 weeks to 31 December 2019, … view
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Tuesday 21st January 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Crowley to step down as BRG chief executive: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has announced Tom Crowley is to step down as chief executive after little more than three years in the role to move on to a “new challenge”. The company, whic … view
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Tuesday 21st January 2020
Crowley to step down as BRG chief executive
Crowley to step down as BRG chief executive: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has announced Tom Crowley is to step down as chief executive after little more than three years in the role to move on to a “new challenge”. The company, which ope … view
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Monday 20th January 2020
Update: Social Entertainment Ventures, Fever-Tree
Social Entertainment Ventures reports strong December growth and expansion plans: Social Entertainment Ventures (SEV), the operator of various experiential leisure concepts in the UK and US, has reported it delivered strong growth for the … view
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Monday 20th January 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Chopstix eyes further growth on back of strong end-of-year performance: Chopstix, the Asian quick service restaurant concept, is set for further expansion in 2020 on the back of a strong performance at the end of last year. The business, … view
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Friday 17th January 2020
Exclusive: Handmade Burger Co placed on the market amid administration speculation
Exclusive – Handmade Burger Co placed on the market amid administration speculation: Handmade Burger Co has been placed on the market again amid speculation a failure to sell the business could see it enter administration, Propel has learned … view
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Friday 17th January 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Got the T-shirt, searching for a silver lining, and digital maturity
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase and Tim Davis

Got the T-shirt by Glynn Davis

When designer and restaurateur … view
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Friday 17th January 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Christie & Co – ‘operators have never had a better chance to strike a bargain with landlords’: Simon Chaplin, senior director – corporate pubs and restaurants – at Christie & Co, has told Propel operators have never had a better … view
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Thursday 16th January 2020
Number of small pubs and bars rises for first time in more than 15 years
Number of small pubs and bars rises for first time in more than 15 years, sector ‘real’ turnover at highest level since financial crisis: The number of small pubs and bars in the UK has increased for the first time in more than 15 years, a … view
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Thursday 16th January 2020
Update: Whitbread trading, Stephen Glancey to retire
Whitbread reports its confidence is developing in Germany opportunity for Premier Inn: Whitbread has reported UK total sales growth 0.3% for the third quarter, marginally improving the year-to-date run rate. It said further development in … view
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Thursday 16th January 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Asda to expand Food For Now trial as it eyes further partnerships with ‘well-known brands’: Asda is to expand its Food For Now concept as it looks to seal “new and innovative in-store brand partnerships” to cater for changing cons … view
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Wednesday 15th January 2020
Legal Briefing

Three issues to keep an eye on in 2020 by Michelle Hazlewood

Of all the issues set to affect operators in 2020 from a legal and licensing perspective, three should be front of mind – the escalating problem of under-18s using pub and ba … view
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Wednesday 15th January 2020
Update: Revolution, Ten Entertainment and Everyman results
Revolution reports like-for-likes up 1.2% in first half, record festive period, reaches landlord agreement on nine sites: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolución de Cu … view
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Wednesday 15th January 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Sector like-for-likes up 2.5% over festive period as wet-led businesses lead the way: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales grow 2.5% in the six weeks to 5 January 2020 compared with the previous year, acco … view
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Wednesday 15th January 2020
Sector like-for-likes up 2.5% over festive period as wet-led businesses lead the way
Sector like-for-likes up 2.5% over festive period as wet-led businesses lead the way: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales grow 2.5% in the six weeks to 5 January 2020 compared with the previous year, according … view
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Tuesday 14th January 2020
Greene King ‘confident’ proposed Unite strike action will have ‘little impact’ on pub deliveries
Greene King ‘confident’ proposed Unite strike action will have ‘little impact’ on pub deliveries: Brewer and retailer Greene King has said it is confident a threat by Unite members in its brewing division to potentially strike thi … view
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Tuesday 14th January 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Clive Watson – City Pub Group has had a ‘wake-up call’: City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson has told Propel the company has had a “wake-up call”. The group, which owns and operates 47 premium pubs across southern England and Wa … view
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Monday 13th January 2020
City Pub Group reports Ebitda to be ‘slightly below market expectations’
City Pub Group reports Ebitda to be ‘slightly below market expectations’: The City Pub Group, the owner and operator of 47 premium pubs across southern England and Wales, has reported total turnover for the year to 29 December 2019 wa … view
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Monday 13th January 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Bassadone invests in Various Eateries and becomes its non-executive chairman: Andy Bassadone, the co-founder of Strada and Cote, has invested in Various Eateries, the Coppa Cub and Strada operator, and at the same time become its new non- … view
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Friday 10th January 2020
Takeaway.com seals victory in Just Eat battle with £5.9bn deal
Takeaway.com seals victory in Just Eat battle with £5.9bn deal: Dutch delivery firm Takeaway.com has announced it has received the necessary acceptance level from Just Eat shareholders to complete its £5.9bn acquisition of the UK delivery pl … view
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Friday 10th January 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Downsizing, predictions for 2020, new-style resolutions, and year of the circular economy
Authors: Glynn Davis, Think Hospitality, Ann Elliott and Karen Lynch

Downsizing by Glynn Davisview

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Friday 10th January 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
UK coffee market growth to regain momentum in 2020 as major brands launch new channels: Growth of the UK coffee shop market is expected to regain momentum in 2020, with the landscape transforming further as major brands launch new channel … view
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Thursday 9th January 2020
Wireless Social receives £1m Imbiba investment
Wireless Social receives £1m Imbiba investment: Wi-Fi solutions provider Wireless Social has received a £1m investment from Imbiba, the specialist investor in the UK leisure and hospitality sector. The investment is Imbiba’s first in a tec … view
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Thursday 9th January 2020
Update: M&B, Stonegate/Ei Group, Coal Grill & Bar, McDonald’s
M&B reports 5.6% like-for-like sales growth over key three weeks of Christmas: Mitchells & Butlers has reported it traded well over the core three-week festive period, with like-for-like sales growth of 5.6%, including strong performance … view
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Thursday 9th January 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Salt launches restaurant division headed by Handley Amos and Neil Rankin, reveals host of projects: Salt, the partnership and experience agency specialising in food and drink, has launched a restaurant division headed by Handley Amos and … view
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Wednesday 8th January 2020
Campbell and Hills leave as Baton Berisha takes on Bill’s management
Campbell and Hills leave as Baton Berisha takes on Bill’s management: Bill’s, which is backed by Richard Caring, has reshuffled its management team with executive chairman David Campbell and managing director Sarah Hills stepping down from … view
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Wednesday 8th January 2020
Update: Doubts raised again over future of Handmade Burger Co
Doubts raised again over future of Handmade Burger Co: The future of Handmade Burger Co is again uncertain, after owner The Burger Chain Ltd filed notice of its intention to appoint an administrator for the 19-strong chain, over the festi … view
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Wednesday 8th January 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Barkby Group adds three pubs to estate, completes Workshop Coffee deal: Premium gastro-pub operator Barkby Group, which was admitted to AIM on Tuesday (7 January), has added a further three pubs to its portfolio. The company was formed in … view
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Tuesday 7th January 2020
Immersive restaurant company launches with stellar creative team
Immersive restaurant company launches with stellar creative team: James Bulmer, former Disney executive and chief executive of The Fat Duck Group, has formed immersive restaurant company Wonderland Restaurants. The company has pulled toge … view
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Tuesday 7th January 2020
Update: Bed and Bars, Fuller’s, Tokyo Industries, Wetherspoon
Beds and Bars reports group Ebitda up 16.5%, two new sites planned: Pan-European hostel and bar operator Beds & Bars, led by Keith Knowles OBE, has reported turnover rose 5.74% to £54.9m and group Ebitda rose 16.5% to £6.1m at constant … view
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Tuesday 7th January 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Hickory’s to accelerate expansion plans after securing £13m funding package: American-style smokehouse and barbecue brand Hickory’s Smokehouse, which is backed by Piper, is to accelerate its expansion plans after securing a £13m fun … view
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Monday 6th January 2020
Chilango CVAs approved
Chilango CVAs approved: Chilango’s company voluntary arrangement (CVA) proposals have been approved after receiving the support of the vast majority of Chilango’s creditors and shareholders, with 84% voting in favour of the arrangement for … view
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Monday 6th January 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
YO! to launch trial of new kiosk brand Panku with Asda: YO!, the Richard Hodgson-led global multi-brand, multi-channel Japanese food group, is to further ramp up its retail sector presence with the trial of a new kiosk concept with Asda, … view
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Friday 3rd January 2020
Update: December sales flat, Thai Leisure Group, Loui Blake
Christmas sales figures flat: According to analysis of more than 1,500 sector sites using S4labour software, overall like-for-like sales were broadly static in December 2019, compared with the same month in 2018, falling by 0.1%. There wa … view
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Friday 3rd January 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
McVeigh joins chicken sandwich concept Butchies as chairman: London-based chicken sandwich concept Butchies has appointed Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh as its new chairman, Propel has learned. Butchies, which currently has two sites … view
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Thursday 2nd January 2020
Tasty sells London site to Five Guys for £2m
Tasty sells London site to Five Guys for £2m: Wildwood operator Tasty has reported the exchange of contracts for the sale of its dim t More London site, close to London Bridge, for a gross cash consideration of £2 million. Propel source … view
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