Food prices in hospitality surge again as supermarket prices ease: Inflation as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index rose again to 22.6% year-on-year in June, close to the record high of 22.9% in December 2022. In sharp co … view

Food prices in hospitality surge again as supermarket prices ease: Inflation as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index rose again to 22.6% year-on-year in June, close to the record high of 22.9% in December 2022. In sharp co … view

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Swingers co-founder – 2024 could be a transformational year for business as we cement our position as a global hospitality brand: Matt Grech-Smith, co-founder of Competitive Socialising, the owner of crazy golf concept Swingers, has tol … view

M&B reports like-for-like sales up 10% year-to-date versus pre-covid levels as trading remains strong in third quarter, undergoes refinancing: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like sales for the 43 weeks ended 22 July 2023 … view

The Big Table Group appoints Lisa Gibbons MD of Las Iguanas: The Big Table Group, operator of the Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Banana Tree and Amalfi concepts, has appointed Lisa Gibbons as managing director of its 50-strong Las Iguanas bra … view

Ofgem to strengthen business energy contract protection: The UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has unveiled its intentions to improve protections for businesses. The proposed measures include extending micro-business protections to cover a … view

Hospitality loses one in 18 sites in latest 12 months as costs crisis bites: Britain has lost around one in 18 of its licensed premises in the last 12 months – that’s 5,736 pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes – the new Hospita … view

Hospitality loses one in 18 sites in latest 12 months as costs crisis bites: Britain has lost around one in 18 of its licenced premises in the last 12 months – that’s 5,736 pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes – the new Hospita … view

Brighton Pier Group reports ‘more difficult’ second quarter as it expects first-half earnings after tax to be below market expectations: Brighton Pier Group has warned trading during the second quarter has proved “more difficult” … view

Transactional activity in pub sector driven by independent market, pubco refinancings may unlock market further: The independent market drove deal activity in the first half of 2023, with an increase in demand for leasehold pubs, accordin … view

Exclusive – Stonegate moves to simplify structure after strategic review: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub group, has moved to simplify its structure after undertaking a strategic review, which may lead to up to 260 roles being m … view

Subjects: What McDonald’s me-too moment means, digitisation and the dowager duchess, leadership lessons from Lasso, challenging times for vegan restaurants

McDonald’s sets up investigations unit after sexual harassment claims: McDonald’s UK has appointed a new unit to crack down on sexual harassment and bullying after admitting the business has “fallen short”. Chief executive Alistai … view

Exclusive – Our Yummy Collection to begin rollout of new British seafood concept: Our Yummy Collection is to begin the roll out of its new British seafood-focused concept with an opening in London’s Hammersmith, with plans to open fiv … view

Fuller’s lfl sales up 15.1%: Fuller’s reports it has continued to make strong progress with total sales for the first 15 weeks to 15 July 2023 rising by 17.1% and like-for-like sales for the same period rising by 15.1%. The business … view

Tattu rebrands as Permanently Unique, plans international debut in 2024: Independent restaurant group Tattu has rebranded as Permanently Unique as part of plans to launch a new concept and grow the brand internationally. The high-end rest … view

TRG reports 5% rise in Wagamama lfls YTD, working with advisors to review strategic options: The Restaurant Group (TRG) has reported a 5% increase in like-for-like sales at Wagamama for the year to date (up 8% VAT adjusted) versus the pr … view

Rising prices pile pressure on sector with one in seven businesses at risk of failure in next 12 months: Hospitality’s post-covid-19 recovery is threatened by rising prices in multiple key areas, leaders have warned in the latest Busine … view

Stonegate first half managed like-for-likes up 6.1%, agrees new credit facility: Stonegate Group saw like-for-like sales across its managed estate increase 6.1% in the 28 weeks to 9 April 2023, as it agreed a new £50m credit facility, Pr … view

Turtle Bay reports record sales year, secures new £8m revolving credit facility: Caribbean restaurant brand Turtle Bay, which is backed by Piper, has reported a second record sales year in a row, posting sales of £90.1m in the year ende … view

Tortilla reports resilient H1 trading: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has reported “resilient trading” for its half year ended 2 July 2023, with group like-for-like revenue increasing by 8.4% during … view

Toridoll CEO – we will look to make further UK acquisitions, plans to franchise Fulham Shore brands in UK: Takaya Awata, president and chief executive of Toridoll Holdings, the new owner of Fulham Shore – the operator of the Franco Ma … view

Collins – evolution and value for money continue to drive sales increase, evening growth ‘encouraging’: Nick Collins, chief executive of cafe bar operator Loungers, has said the group’s focus on evolution and value for money conti … view

Tim Martin – right size for JD Wetherspoon is about 1,000 pubs, we’ve done everything we possibly can to mitigate costs: JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has told Propel he believes the right size for the business now is about 1,000 … view

As we enter a bustling summer holiday season, with schools about to break up and the possibility of June’s splendid weather extending throughout the rest of the summer, we begin to t … view

Reilley – time to celebrate success stories across the sector, not all doom and gloom: Alex Reilley, executive chairman of Loungers, has said “we need to start to provide some balance to the way the sector portrays itself” and that … view

Midlands burger franchise targets 50 UK locations by 2026 as it signs first overseas partnership, launches sister chicken concept: Midlands burger franchise Burger Boi has targeted 50 UK locations by 2026 and signed its first overseas par … view

Pizza Pilgrims seeing ‘exponential growth in every single pizzeria’, builds regional pipeline: Gavin Smith, managing director at Pizza Pilgrims, the London based pizzeria brand, has told Propel the business is witnessing “exponenti … view

UK hospitality sector still short staffed and fears for busy summer season: The UK’s hospitality sector is still short staffed and businesses fear they will struggle to cope over the busy summer holiday season, reports the BBC. It comes … view

Jeremy King gears up to make return to London’s restaurant scene: Jeremy King, co-founder of Corbin & King and arguably the best-known figure in London’s upmarket dining scene, is gearing up to make a return. King left Corbin & King l … view

McMullen reports current trading ‘strong’ but costs hitting profit levels as full-year turnover exceeds £100m for first time: Hertfordshire brewer and retailer McMullen has said current trading is “strong” but increasing costs me … view

Stonegate places 11-strong investment package on the market: Stonegate Group, the David McDowall-led, TDR Capital-backed business, has placed an 11-strong investment package of freehold pubs based in London, with a combined value of circa … view

Young’s reports like-for-likes up 6.8%: London pub operator Young’s has reported revenue in the first 13 weeks of its new financial year was up 8.3% in total and 6.8% on a like-for-like basis compared with last year. Speaking ahead of … view

Le Pain Quotidien CEO – brand in talks with potential UK franchisees, Brexit has made London a ‘difficult market’: Annick Van Overstraeten, chief executive of Le Pain Quotidien, has told Propel that the Belgian boulangerie brand is … view

FB Taverns intending to have hundreds of sites within the next few years: James Maizels, co-founder of FB Taverns, the new vehicle targeting wet-led community pubs, has told Propel the business is intending to have “hundreds [of pubs] w … view

Exclusive – FB Taverns acquires Camerons’ tenanted pub division: FB Taverns, the pub vehicle backed by high-net-worth individual Alexander Embiricos, the co-founder of the US-based virtual office provider Remotion, has grown its fledg … view

Bloomberg – HMRC objects to Prezzo’s restructuring plan: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is objecting to the restructuring plan from Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, arguing that it is being used to avoid paying … view

Heartwood Collection secures £100m funding to support ambitious growth plans, group trading positively: Heartwood Collection, formerly Brasserie Bar Co, has secured £100m of funding to support its ambitious growth plans. A new facility … view

Krispy Kreme planning to open more UK stores and expand delivery offering, turnover up but profits and Ebitda down: Krispy Kreme has said it is planning to open more UK stores and expand its delivery offering, as it reported a rise in tur … view