Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Young’s reports 4.7% like-for-like sales increase: Young’s has reported a 4.7% increase in like-for-like sales for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2026, with total managed house revenue up 4.6%. The company said that its trading for the full year is expected to be “in line with management’s expectations”. The company said: “This positive performance, which has been delivered against considerable and well publicised challenges facing the sector, is testament to Young’s proven strategy and its commitment to making continuous investments in its premium estate. While we remain mindful of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, including volatile energy costs and the associated potential impact on consumer discretionary spending, Young’s consistent strategy of operating a premium, well-invested managed pub estate, alongside its extensive hedging programme, leaves it well-positioned to withstand ongoing uncertainty and deliver profitable growth for the year ahead.” The business said it has now completed the acquisition of the London-based, eight-strong Cubitt House business and that it is now embarking on a period of integration as “we get to know further its exceptional teams and its unique culture, which has ultimately underpinned its success”. Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd said: “Our proven strategy of operating premium, well-invested pubs continue to deliver strong resilient results. Another year of strong performance demonstrates that, even amid ongoing pressures and uncertainty, customers continue to choose Young’s pubs, consistently attracted by the quality of our offer and the environments created by our brilliant teams. The acquisition of Cubitt House further demonstrates this strategy. We are delighted to welcome this exceptional collection of pubs and their teams to the Young’s family as we enter a new era on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.”

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,572 operators and 20 new companies tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Multi-Site Database tomorrow (Friday, 24 April), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,572 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,028 (29%) casual dining operators, 808 (23%) pub and bar operators, 639 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 502 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 296 (8%) hotel operators, 242 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 20 new companies. The database includes new companies in the hotel sector such as Scottish hospitality group Turas Hotels and Liverpool boutique hotel operator Sefton Collection. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Domino’s reports encouraging start to the year: Domino’s Pizza Group has this morning reported that the first quarter of 2026 represented an encouraging start to the year, with positive total system sales, like‑for‑like sales and order growth compared with the same period last year. It said that total system sales increased by 5.8%, including like‑for‑like growth of 4.5%, while total orders rose by 2.3%, with like‑for‑like orders up 0.9%. The group also launched its Chick ‘N’ Dip brand, and said that initial trading performance was meeting expectations with “positive feedback and advocacy from our customers”. It said: “Despite the well documented macroeconomic backdrop, our costs are hedged for the current financial year with some costs hedged into 2027 and we do not currently foresee any supply-related issues. The board currently expects to achieve our earnings expectations for the full year.” Chief executive Nicola Frampton said: “We have carried the positive momentum seen at the end of 2025 into 2026, with trading performing in line with our expectations. We are pleased with the early performance of Chick ‘N’ Dip and excited for our Italianos range which has recently launched and is built on a thin crust pizza collection with delicious new toppings, further strengthening our core pizza offer. As we move through 2026, we remain firmly focused on growing the core business and improving our operational execution for current and future years.”

London smoothie bar concept secures Selfridges concession for second site: London smoothie bar concept Elevate has secured a concession within Selfridges for its second site. Julia Badet, who opened the original Elevate at 29 Royal Exchange in Threadneedle Street last summer, is now preparing to launch within the Oxford Street store’s food hall. Offering smoothies and shakes “designed to help with energy, digestion and recovery”, the menu will feature Elevate favourites such as The Glow and Lean Berries, alongside the exclusive Selfridge smoothie – which will include collagen, hyaluronic acid, biotin, Vitamin C and charcoal among its ingredients. “Opening in Selfridges feels incredibly special,” Badet told Hot Dinners, adding she launched the concept with a simple idea – “wellness should fit into real life”.