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Butchies plans ‘aggressive expansion’ in 2024: Garrett FitzGerald, founder of London chicken sandwich concept Butchies, said he plans “aggressive expansion” in 2024. Fitzgerald, who founded the company in 2013 after a visit to New York in which the chicken served up at Harlem restaurant Sylvia’s “blew him away”, opened his first site in 2017, in Shoreditch, before adding a 100-seater Oxford Street pop-up and a Market Halls Fulham site in 2018. Plans to open a 1,500 square-foot flagship restaurant near London Bridge in 2020 were shelved during the pandemic, but after “migrating 100% to Deliveroo” during covid and “attracting thousands of new customers”, FitzGerald hit the expansion trial again in 2021 with openings in Earls Court and Victoria. This continued into 2022, with the opening of the biggest Butchies yet, in Ealing, and two more to follow in the fourth quarter – in Wandsworth and at Borough Yards. “Next year, the plan is to open more sites, and the ambition is to continue rolling out, hopefully at a more aggressive rate, in 2024,” FitzGerald told the recent Propel Multi-Club Conference. “From the very first days of the business it has been profitable, and all the sites stand on their own two feet. Hiring an experienced general manager from Nando’s to take over at Shoreditch was transformational as it allowed me to start working on the business rather than be in it so much, and after that, we quickly grew the business to five sites. We’re also currently optimising our tech stock at every touch point (including touchscreen kiosks, digital promotions and kitchen management systems), which we think will further facilitate the growth we’re all striving for.” Backing that growth is Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, who joined the business as chairman in January 2020 with a view to “getting Butchies to scale”. FitzGerald added: “Getting an inspiring and experienced partner on board was the best decision I made. Having someone who backs you, believes in you and loves the product and brand is priceless. They will push you outside your comfort zone, but crucially, they will advocate and facilitate sustainable growth. A long time ago, before we were ready really, we were offered the opportunity to get institutional money involved in the business. Thankfully we turned it down, I think it would have been a disaster. We weren’t ready for that level of growth then, but have taken our time and built the foundations, and we’re now ready to take Butchies to that next level.”

Industry News:

Premium subscribers to receive videos from Propel Multi-Club summer conference next Friday: Premium subscribers are to be given exclusive access to the recording of the Propel Multi-Club summer conference. The videos will be sent next Friday (23 September), at 9am. They will include CGA’s managing director UK and Ireland Jonny Jones; Garrett FitzGerald, founder of Butchies; Steve Magnall, co-founder of Two Magpies Bakery; Johnnie Tate, founder of Yard Sale Pizza; Kam Dehdashti and Jamie Hazeel, co-founders of Little Door & Co; Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK; Will Beckett, co-founder of Hawksmoor; Richard Colclough, managing director of Parogon Group; David McDowall, president and chief operating officer at BrewDog; and Andrew Andrea, chief executive of Marston’s. Olivia FitzGerald, chief sales and marketing officer of Zonal, hosts a panel of industry leaders who will share their lived experiences and discuss ways hospitality can overcome the current challenges, including how they are working with Hospitality Rising to grow and come back stronger. Meanwhile, Fleet Street managing director Mark Stretton hosts a panel on the future of delivery featuring Just Eat’s head of strategic accounts Kirsten Bohlke; Mario Aleppo, founder of Fireaway Pizza; Nathan Wall, chief operating officer at Tiny Cloud Kitchens; and Joe Heather, general manager at Deliverect. Premium subscribers will also receive the latest edition of Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (16 September), at midday. Another 22 companies have been added, taking the total number to 619, while accounts have been updated for 42 businesses. Premium subscribers also receive the Multi-Site Operators Database, produced in association with Virgate, and the New Openings Database, which are also updated each month. Premium subscribers also have access to the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, which will be updated every two months. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £445 plus VAT for operators and £545 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription. Subscribers also receive access to Propel’s library of lockdown videos and Friday Wrap interviews, and to a curated video library of the sector’s finest leaders and entrepreneurs, offering their insights on running outstanding businesses in the sector. Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before our 6am send-out; plus regular video content and exclusive columns from Propel group editor Mark Wingett.

Summer holidays see 4.1% ‘staycation reversal’ decline in hospitality sales, tourism back up in London: Hospitality sales declined 4.1% over the six-week summer holiday period between 25 July and 4 September this year compared to 2021. Drink sales were up 1.2% and food sales saw a drop of 9.6%, according to figures from S4labour. The data also reveals that across the four weeks of August alone, hospitality sales dropped 5.7% against 2021. Food sales were down nearly 12% and drink sales improved 0.5%. Although this decrease seems drastic, it is, in a great part, the result of the 2021 staycation boom, with 2022 seeing more Brits travelling abroad for their holidays. This year, the industry is seeing the reversal of 2021 trends. Tourism is back up in London, with sites up 12.7% on sales, while non-London sites suffered a 6.8% drop. This turnaround sits in correlation with the low base point for London sales in 2021, as UK coastal regions saw staggering increases in footfall and sales during the 2021 summer holidays. S4labour’s chief innovation officer, Richard Hartley, said: “As well as the reversal of the 2021 staycation phenomenon, this summer, the sector has faced the headwind of industry challenges, albeit there is evidence of resilience. Tourism is back up in London, a much-needed boost for the capital after last year’s decline, and on the whole, drinks sales were up as a result of the warmer weather.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing hospitality brand that is seeking a head of people. The business has a strong pipeline of upcoming sites and a very ambitious national rollout is on the cards in the coming months/years. This is a private equity-backed business and has 20-plus sites in the UK. A COREcruitment spokesman said: “The ideal candidate will be an experienced, knowledgeable, and charismatic head of people who will lead the people department, to implement and deliver exceptional training and development programmes and to elevate and evolve the employees’ overall experience within the business.” The salary is up to £80,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email gemma@corecruitment.com

Company News:

McDonald’s franchisee K&G Restaurants in advanced negotiations to sell eight-strong portfolio: McDonald’s franchisee K&G Restaurants has revealed it is advanced negotiations to sell its portfolio of eight sites in north London and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. The company revealed the plans as it reported turnover increased to £32,329,076 for the year ending 31 December 2021 compared with £22,025,328 the previous year. The figure also exceed the £26,047,018 reported in 2019 – the last full year before the pandemic. Pre-tax profit was up to £3,174,509 from £1,249,234 the year before (2019: £276,529). Interim dividends of £821,392 were paid during the year (2020: £713,849). No final dividend was paid. In his report accompanying the accounts, owner Kurt Jansen said: “At the date of signing these accounts (11 August 2022), the directors are in advanced discussions in relation to the sale of the franchise business with sales transactions likely to be concluded during September 2022. The current intention of the directors is to dispose of the restaurant portfolio and to liquidate the company.”

Stonegate Group launches new Social Pub & Kitchen format: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub operator, has launched a new format called Social Pub & Kitchen (SPK), which it said takes in the “best of both” from its Town Pub & Kitchen and Common Room concepts, Propel has learned. The new format, which is not a guest facing brand, comprises circa 150 pubs and is described as combining “the traditional with the new”. It is thought the business will use references related to the brand DNA of SPK for all touch points for venues underneath the format’s umbrella. Simon Longbottom, chief executive of Stonegate, told Propel: “We've been working on a ‘best of both’ project with two formats, Town Pub & Kitchen and Common Room. We have watched guest trends coming out of covid and measured/monitored key data to inform our views on satisfying this market segment. This has culminated with the launch of a new format Social Pub & Kitchen.” Earlier this year, Stonegate launched a new premium food-led format, with the opening of The Clerk and Well pub in London’s Clerkenwell Road. The new division will feature unbranded sites but is understood to come under the umbrella of The Chapter Collection internally at Stonegate. It has since reopened the former Henry Holland site in Duke Street, Marylebone, under the name The Duchess, and also added its to the Chapter Collection, with the Elephant & Castle in Amersham, and The Anglers in Walton-on-Thames also set to come under the new umbrella division.

Domino’s franchisee reports turnover up to £277m boosted by new openings: Domino’s Pizza franchisee Santio has reported turnover increased to £277,163,604 for the year ending 30 September 2021 compared with £238,790,364 the year before with the business adding ten stores to its portfolio during the period. The figure was also above the £252,826,885 reported in 2019 – the last full year before the pandemic. Pre-tax profit rose to £509,871 from £498,494 the previous year. The business, which employs 6,000 people, received government grants of £10,000 during the period (2020: £3,315,000). No dividend was paid. (2020: zero). In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Looking ahead, we believe the company will continue to perform well within the sector. Trading conditions are expected to remain challenging but the directors remain confident the business will continue to deliver profitable future growth.” The business began trading in July 2018. The agreement in place with Domino's operates on an annual 12-month contract period. A party may give three months' notice at any time to end the agreement with effect from the end of the next agreed term.

Giggling Squid to replace Bill’s in Muswell Hill: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand backed by BGF, is to open a second site in London, after securing a site in Muswell Hill, Propel has learned. The 45-strong business, which also operates a site in Wimbledon, is believed to have secured the ex-Bill’s site at 107 Muswell Hill Road. In July, Propel revealed Giggling Squid had secured its first site in Shropshire, in Shrewsbury. It will open at 25 High Street, in a former retail unit in the town. The business is also planning to open a site in The Lexicon in Bracknell, which will be part of the former McDonald’s unit in Eagle Lane. It will join The New World Trading Company brand The Botanist and Hollywood Bowl in the Berkshire town, both of which are set to open as part of the new development area, The Deck. Giggling Squid, which earlier this summer made several changes to its executive team, including two new operations directors, also has openings lined up in Winchester, Manchester, Cardiff Mermaid Quay and Cardiff St David’s. Jake Bernstone, of Stonebrook London, acted on the Muswell Hill deal.

Burger & Sauce franchisee opens company’s fifth site and first outside Birmingham: Burger & Sauce franchisee Subhan Munir has opened the burger concept’s fifth site and first outside of Birmingham. The restaurant, in Alfreton Road, Nottingham, is also a second Burger & Sauce site for Munir, who runs the Alum Rock one in Birmingham. The company, which was set up two years ago, also has sites in Coventry, Walsall, Leicester and West Bromwich “coming soon”, alongside two more in Birmingham. “Demand is such that as soon as I opened the Alum Rock Burger & Sauce during the pandemic, I realised there was an opportunity to grow and operate multiple restaurants,” said Munir. “I’ve already agreed to open four more outlets in the near future. Alfreton Road is the first of these, and we are now located right in the heart of a popular food and restaurant area of the city. We chose Nottingham as it has a vibrant student population and believe our great food and prices will really hit the sweet spot for those who’ve come to study at the university, as well as tempting those who live in the area too. We know from running our UberEats numbers for other Burger & Sauce restaurants that we have a 75-80% customer retention rate, which means customer loyalty is strong.” As previously reported, Burger & Sauce aims to establish 300-plus stores across the UK and is on target for double-digit store openings by the end of 2022. Burger & Sauce features in Propel’s UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, which is available exclusively to Propel Premium subscribers. The fourth edition will be published later this month – providing insight on the offer, locations, cost, business background, contacts and other key details of companies offering a food and beverage franchise in the UK. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £445 plus VAT for operators and £545 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Tortilla to make Manchester debut: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, is to make its debut in Manchester later this month, when it rebrands its Chilango site in the city, Propel understands. The Richard Morris-led business announced the acquisition of its eight-strong rival Chilango for a total consideration of up to £2.75m from investment firm RDCP Group in May. Last month, it rebranded three Chilango sites in the City of London – at Brushfield Street, London Wall and London Bridge –to the Tortilla fascia, reflecting the expansion of the Tortilla brand across the capital. Existing Chilango sites in Upper Street, Islington, and Brewer Street, Soho, will continue to trade as Chilango branded restaurants, “complementing the Tortillas trading nearby”. The Chilango offer will also be utilised as a “virtual brand” across the group’s delivery kitchens. It will reopen the Chilango in Manchester’s Oxford Street under its eponymous brand on Tuesday, 27 September. The company also has further openings lined up in Canterbury, Coventry, Leicester and Durham.

Wagamama to grow US estate to ten sites by year end: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned brand, plans to grow its US estate to ten sites by the year end, with three new openings lined up. The brand, which made its debut in the US 15 years ago, opened its seventh site in the States earlier this summer, in Atlanta. The company, which also operates three sites in New York and three in Boston, has further openings lined up in Arlington, Tampa and Dallas. In February 2020, it entered into a joint venture partnership with financial partners Conversion Venture Capital and Robert Cornog Jnr and Richard Flaherty as operating partners, to aid its growth in the US. TRG chief executive Andy Hornby told Propel: “I am touching wood because we have literally only just started the expansion programme. By the end of the year, we will have opened in Atlanta, Arlington, Dallas and Tampa, and they will be on top of the existing sites – three in New York and three in Boston. I'm really excited, but we have to see how they trade. The concept of going to a really large population, such as in Atlanta and Dallas, parts of the States where property costs and operating costs are significantly lower, is really exciting. In six months’ time I will be able to provide you with a good view on them, but providing they go well we will do a similar number of new openings over there next year.” On the launch of the US joint venture, Wagamama said it expected the new partnership to be opening between 30 and 40 restaurants over a five to six-year period. TRG retains the option to repurchase the remaining 80% of the business starting in 2026.

Greene King lines up ex-Loch Fyne site for Crafted Pubs concept: Brewer and retailer Greene King has lined up an ex-Loch Fyne site for the fourth opening under its fledgling Crafted Pubs premium format. Propel understands the Nick Mackenzie-led pub company is to convert its former Loch Fyne site in Wokingham, which closed late last month, into the Foundry Bell. The site in the Berkshire town’s London Road will reopen after a significant refurbishment under the Crafted Pubs format in November. Earlier this summer, Greene King invested a seven-figure sum to upgrade the Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield to the Crafted format, enhancing all areas including a new outdoor space. Last summer, the company invested a six-figure sum in transforming former Chef & Brewer The Boat in the Solihull borough of Catherine De Barnes into the format. The company said the trial site was the start of “fulfilling our strategy to explore how we might enhance our pub experiences and expand into the premium market”. A second Crafted site opened at The Watermill in Dorking, Surrey, near the end of last year. The closure of the Wokingham site leaves Greene King with nine sites under the Loch Fyne brand. The company is aiming to reopen the Loch Fyne in York in October under its Metropolitan Pub Company division, with the ex-Loch Fyne in Bath to follow a month later. In May, Greene King told Propel it is planning to double the size of its Metropolitan Pub Company estate over the next few years. The company currently operates circa 70 pubs under the more premium concept.

Marugame Udon secures ex-Pizza Hut site for regional launch: International udon noodles and tempura restaurant brand Marugame Udon will make its regional launch in the UK later this year, in Reading. Propel revealed in July the Keith Bird-led business had secured a site in the Berkshire town’s The Oracle scheme. It now understands it will take on the ex-Pizza Hut site, which closed last month. Marugame Udon will open its long-awaited flagship site in London’s Soho on Sunday (18 September), on the former Frankie & Benny’s in Argyll Street. The 5,756 square-foot venue will be Marugame Udon’s sixth in London. The brand made its UK and European debut in London last year with the opening of a flagship site off Liverpool Street, followed by further openings at The O2, Canary Wharf, St Christopher’s Place and Brent Cross. The company, which plans to open 12 new sites over the next 12 months, also has openings lined up in Waterloo station, Bromley and in The Strand. Richard Brown, of RAB Retail, acts for Marugame Udon.

Former Crepeaffaire operations director secures third south coast site: Jon Abrahams, formerly operations director at Crepeaffaire and Le Pain Quotidien, has secured his third restaurant on the south coast, in Worthing. Abrahams has added Lazy Brunch Kitchen in the West Sussex town’s Goring Road to his Jonny's Restaurant Group vehicle. He said: “A challenging time to be opening with a recession likely round the corner and sky-high energy prices. However, I believe it’s the right thing and a solid business on which to build on. We will be keeping it as the Lazy Brunch Kitchen for now and updating everyone with exciting plans in the coming weeks.” In the summer, the business opened all-day concept Kooks in Brighton’s Gardner Street, in the North Laines. Since taking over the business, Abraham’s has added a delivery service and started providing an evening service at the weekend which are “getting some traction”. Abraham, who was operations director at Crepeaffaire for a year and a half, launched his debut restaurant, Jonny’s, in Worthing in 2019.

200 Degrees appoints head of people: Coffee roaster and retailer 200 Degrees has appointed Charlotte Coore as head of people. The new position has been added to support the business and its people as it continues its expansion plans. 200 Degrees, which has 17 coffee shops across England and Wales, recently announced a significant milestone of reaching 200 team members during its tenth anniversary in business and has a strategy to open five new coffee shops each year. As head of people, Coore will be leading the business’ HR department; supporting the company’s core values and culture across all operations. She said: “With growth comes much opportunity and given the current job market, it is important to continue to champion 200 Degrees’ culture and values, as well as continuing our investment into our skilled team.” Rob Darby, chief executive of 200 Degrees, added: “I was given a great piece of advice a long time ago to invest in the very best people and that advice has paid dividends since Tom Vincent and I started the business ten years ago. Charlotte is a wonderful example of this, and we are all really pleased to welcome her to the 200 Degrees family. As we continue to expand, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure all our people at 200 Degrees have the same great experience.” 200 Degrees has also recently welcomed three other new roles to its central operations team – a financial controller, head of operations and digital marketing manager.

McCain acquires Netherlands frozen foods producer to expand appetiser offering: McCain Foods has acquired Scelta Products, adding the Netherlands-based producer of frozen foods to its product offering. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, represents a significant investment that will fuel McCain’s growth and expansion in the frozen vegetable appetiser space. Scelta Products marks the latest in a series of investments and acquisitions McCain has made in recent years to expand its appetiser and snacking offerings. Scelta Products has been driving innovation in the frozen vegetable industry for more than 22 years and has been a business partner of McCain’s for the past 13 years. McCain stated: “Scelta Products’ onion rings, battered and breaded mushrooms and other vegetable appetisers fit well within McCain’s existing appetisers portfolio and will allow us to serve growing consumer and customer demand for delicious snacking options. Scelta Products' plant assets will be integrated into McCain’s product network, creating increased production capacity to accelerate global prepared appetiser growth throughout European and international markets.”

Nightcap secures Barrio site in Watford: Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has secured a site for the Barrio brand in Watford. The venue will open in the former Bosleys bar premises at 107-115 The Parade later this year. The ground and first floor space spans 7,825 square feet, in addition to a large outside terrace area. It has a 1am licence Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a 12am licence Monday to Wednesday and a 11.30pm licence on Sunday. The Watford site marks the second new opening for Barrio since its acquisition by Nightcap in November last year. It takes the total number of Barrio sites to six with a flagship site set to open in London’s Covent Garden. Nightcap now has 37 sites within its estate and a further 19 premises under offer or in legal negotiations for all its brands. Chief executive Sarah Willingham said: “When we acquired Barrio Familia group in November last year, we immediately highlighted the potential of the brand for growth and rollout both within and outside of London and I am delighted to see Barrio take its next step on that journey so soon after the announcement of its opening in Covent Garden. Watford is a vibrant town with a limited night-time offering but a captivated audience. We are excited to bring Barrio to the neighbourhood in response to the growing consumer demand for high quality hospitality offerings, without the added expense of travel into central London.”

Virtual Hero set to launch second permanent Sides sites later this month: Virtual Hero – which is owned by Hero Brands, the company behind German Doner Kebab, Choppaluna and Island Poké – is set to launch a second permanent site for its virtual fried chicken concept, Sides, later this month. Developed in collaboration with YouTube collective The Sidemen, Sides already has a number of delivery sites across the UK – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Southampton – and earlier this year launched its first physical location, at Boxpark Wembley. It is now set to launch a second Boxpark venue, at Boxpark Croydon, from Thursday, 29 September. “Launching our second site has been a huge milestone for us, and we’re thrilled it could be in Boxpark Croydon”, said marketing director at Sides, Adam Maddock. “It’s been an incredible journey so far and the response to Sides has been phenomenal. With plans to launch into several new countries across the globe over the next 12 months, including India, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the USA, this is just the start of an epic era for us.” Joshua Bradley, aka Zerkaa, The Sidemen, added: “Seeing the response to our Boxpark Wembley restaurant has been mind-blowing. We’re proud to be in a position to do it all over again, and to be able to give the fans what they want!” In June, Virtual Hero announced it plans to launch 200 Sides sites globally, including 50 new UK Sides sites for delivery only by the end of 2022. It also continues to grow its presence in the US and the Middle East and is now understood to have more than 100 kitchens globally.

Papa John’s extends Haven partnership with ‘modular pod’ opening at Cornish holiday park: Papa John’s has further extended its partnership with holiday park business Haven with an opening at the Riviere Sands resort in Cornwall. The site is housed in a 12x5-metre “modular pod”. Lucy Greene, brand opening and development manager at Haven, said: “We lacked space within our existing buildings at Riviere Sands and so the pod is ideal. We have been able to place it precisely where we wanted – in the highest footfall area of the park – with minimal disruption for our guests.” Haven, part of the Bourne Leisure Group, owned by Blackstone, now has 29 Papa John’s located at its holiday parks around the UK. The business also opened new Papa John’s at Berwick holiday park, near Berwick-Upon-Tweed, and Wild Duck, near Great Yarmouth, earlier this year. Papa John’s operates more than 500 sites in the UK.

Gordon Ramsay converts Street Burger site in Islington to Street Pizza concept: Chef Gordon Ramsay has converted his Street Burger site in London’s Islington to his Street Pizza concept. The chef opened a Street Burger restaurant on the former Byron site in Upper Street, last summer. Ramsay currently operates five sites under his Street Pizza concept, with a sixth, and the first regional site under the format, set to open later this year in Edinburgh. The chef currently operates eight sites under the Street Burger brand, six in London, plus one each in Reading and Woking. Last month, it was revealed Ramsay is set to take his Lucky Cat concept, which he launched in London’s Mayfair in 2019, to Manchester. Ramsey has applied to open a branch of the “authentic Asian eating house and vibrant late-night lounge” concept in a former HSBC bank in King Street. The unit was most recently a Jamie’s Italian. Ramsay is also set to open a Lucky Cat site in London’s Shoreditch in Kingsland High Road, in the premises where chicken and waffles concept Bird used to operate.

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