Wednesday 17th September 2025 |
Update: Young’s summer sales up 5.6%, Leon losses narrow, Tramp |
Young’s like-for-likes sales up 5.6%: Young’s has said that the strong trading momentum announced in its AGM trading update on the 9 July 2025 continued through the summer, with like-for-like sales up 5.6% and total sales up 5.3% in t … view |
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Wednesday 17th September 2025 |
Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
Chopstix planning France launch, trialling counter format in convenience stores: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix Group is planning to a launch in France and is trialling a counter format in convenience stores. Europe … view |
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Tuesday 16th September 2025 |
Update: Chuck E. Cheese signs deal to launch in the UK, RMI Awards, Harry Ramsden’s |
Chuck E. Cheese signs franchise deal to launch in the UK: Chuck E. Cheese, the US entertainment restaurant chain, has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to launch in the UK, which will mark the brand’s debut in Europe. Propel revea … view |
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Tuesday 16th September 2025 |
Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
Exclusive – NWTC promotes Amber Wood to CEO, hires new CFO, like-for-likes up 7.4%: Graphite Capital-backed pub restaurant group New World Trading Company (NWTC) has promoted Amber Wood to chief executive, Propel has learned. It comes a … view |
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Monday 15th September 2025 |
Propel Monday News Briefing |
Prezzo Italian CEO – working on a second brand, new London locations and QSR format: James Brown, chief executive of Prezzo Italian, the Cain International-backed group, has told Propel that the business is working on a second brand whi … view |
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Friday 12th September 2025 |
Friday Opinion |
Subjects: Improving efficiency can solve our people problem, built in Britain – why the UK is still the best place to grow F&B brands, every penny counts: why it’s time to talk about money in hospitality, why balancing technology and the … view |
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Friday 12th September 2025 |
Propel Friday News Briefing |
Burger & Lobster aiming to open at least three new UK sites next year, number of international launches planned: Dino Sura, the new chief executive of Burger & Lobster, has told Propel it is aiming to open at least three new UK sites next … view |
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Thursday 11th September 2025 |
Propel unveils details of dozen ‘deep-dive’ parallel sessions at Culture, Talent & Training Conference |
Propel unveils details of dozen ‘deep-dive’ parallel sessions at Culture, Talent & Training Conference: Propel has unveiled the details of a dozen “parallel sessions” at this year’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference, which o … view |
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Thursday 11th September 2025 |
Propel Thursday News Briefing |
Harden’s – number of restaurant net openings in London at highest since Brexit while closure rate lowest in decade, price rises at expensive venues double that of cheaper ones: The number of restaurant net openings in London is at the … view |
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Thursday 11th September 2025 |
Harden’s: number of restaurant net openings in London at highest since Brexit, closure rate lowest in decade |
Harden’s – number of restaurant net openings in London at highest since Brexit while closure rate lowest in decade, price rises at expensive venues double that of cheaper ones: The number of restaurant net openings in London is at the high … view |
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Wednesday 10th September 2025 |
Legal Briefing |
Papers, please by Chris GrunertI will openly admit that I am addicted to WhatsApp groups. Most are just for managing my kids’ jam-packed social lives, and the rest are my neighbours arguing about Wi-Fi (or each other). Out of all thes … view |
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Wednesday 10th September 2025 |
Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
Creams CEO – launching our own delivery service will give us the impetus to get that growth engine really going: Creams chief executive Everett Fieldgate has told Propel that launching its own delivery service will give the brand “the … view |
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Wednesday 10th September 2025 |
Kuvi Hospitality signs first franchise agreement, to bring Miami’s Coyo Taco to the UK |
Kuvi Hospitality signs first franchise agreement, to bring Miami’s Coyo Taco to the UK: Kuvi Hospitality, the London-based hospitality investment platform led by Shereen Ritchie, has signed its first franchise agreement, and will bring Miami … view |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 |
Exclusive: KFC franchisee Gastronomy signs deal to more than double restaurant count by 2030 |
Exclusive – KFC franchisee Gastronomy signs deal to more than double restaurant count by 2030: Long-term KFC franchisee Gastronomy has signed a deal to more than double the number of KFC restaurants it operates over the next five years, addi … view |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 |
Pret A Manger considering stock market float |
Pret A Manger considering stock market float: The new chairman of Pret A Manger has said there is a potential opportunity to float the brand on the stock market. José Cil, who became Pret’s chairman this year, said there were a number of av … view |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 |
Burger & Lobster founder Misha Zelman to step down as CEO as business reports ‘strong’ performance in 2024 |
Burger & Lobster founder Misha Zelman to step down as CEO as business reports ‘strong’ performance in 2024: Burger & Lobster founder Misha Zelman is to step down as chief executive as the business reported a “strong” performance in 202 … view |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 |
Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
Itsu CEO – ‘we are looking to reinvigorate our franchising’, aiming to open just three to five equity stores a year, hires new food and property directors: Clive Schlee, chief executive of Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, has tol … view |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 |
Pret to accelerate growth in UK and key international markets as global system sales increase to £1.2bn |
Pret to accelerate growth in UK and key international markets as global system sales increase to £1.2bn: Pret A Manger has said it will accelerate its growth in the UK and key international markets after its global sales increased by 10% … view |
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Monday 8th September 2025 |
JD Wetherspoon signs new franchise agreement with The Papas Group |
JD Wetherspoon signs new franchise agreement with The Papas Group: JD Wetherspoon has signed a new franchise agreement with The Papas Group. The multi-unit agreement will result in 15 new Wetherspoon pubs. The first pub to open will be na … view |
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Monday 8th September 2025 |
Update: Domino’s launches new chicken brand across the UK |
Domino’s launches new chicken brand across the UK: Domino’s Pizza Group is pushing into the booming fried chicken market as the company seeks to diversify beyond pizza amid mounting pressure from activist investors. The company will u … view |
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Monday 8th September 2025 |
Propel Monday News Briefing |
Raising Cane’s founder – ‘we are investing in the UK in a big way, it is all about having a craveable product’: Todd Graves, founder and owner of Raising Cane’s, the third-largest chicken brand in the US by sales, has told Prope … view |
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Saturday 6th September 2025 |
Exclusive: Itsu full-year sales top £175m, Merlin Entertainment revenue falls |
Itsu full-year sales top £175m driven by continued success of grocery business, set to top £200m in 2025: Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, saw total sales increase 9.6% in 2024 to £175,944,000, driven by the continued success of its … view |
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Friday 5th September 2025 |
Friday Opinion |
Subjects: Why confidence in pubs is holding firm even as costs climb, just a tip, let’s be more crisp with pub snacks Authors: Stephen Owens, Ben Fordham, Glynn Davis Why confidence in pubs is h … view |
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Friday 5th September 2025 |
Adnams – ‘we’ve made good progress with debt reduction on target and some successes in turnaround plan’ |
Adnams – ‘we’ve made good progress in implementing simplified strategy with debt reduction on target and some successes in turnaround plan’: Suffolk brewer and retailer Adnams has said the business has made “good progress” in imple … view |
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Friday 5th September 2025 |
Propel Friday News Briefing |
Harts Group building up a pipeline of international opportunities, open to taking more of its brands to the Middle East: Harts Group – the London restaurant company that owns Barrafina, El Pastor, Quo Vadis and Parrillan – has told Pr … view |
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Thursday 4th September 2025 |
Gail’s comes out on top of the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker |
Gail’s comes out on top of the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker: Gail’s, the bakery/cafe business which has grown to 175 sites, has come out on top of the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker, the new industry benchmarking initiative that m … view |
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Thursday 4th September 2025 |
Harts Group to make international debut by taking Barrafina to Dubai |
Harts Group to make international debut by taking Barrafina to Dubai: Harts Group – the London restaurant company that owns Barrafina, El Pastor, Quo Vadis and Parrillan – is to make its international debut. The company has partnered … view |
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Thursday 4th September 2025 |
Update: Domino's, Raising Cane’s confirms UK launch, interest rates, Diageo |
Domino’s Pizza urged to return £100m to shareholders and pause second brand plans that could lead to take-private deal: An activist investor has urged Domino’s Pizza to pause plans to acquire a second brand for six months and immediately … view |
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Thursday 4th September 2025 |
Propel Thursday News Briefing |
Neos Hospitality – ‘trading ahead of expectations’, secures Brighton site: Neos Hospitality, the bar and nightclub operator, has told Propel its trading levels in the first half of 2025 have been “ahead of expectations”, as it l … view |
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Thursday 4th September 2025 |
Shereen Ritchie hired as group CEO of investment platform Kuvi Hospitality |
Shereen Ritchie hired as group CEO of investment platform Kuvi Hospitality: Kuvi Hospitality, the London-based hospitality investment platform, has hired Shereen Ritchie, formerly of Leon and Buns from Home, as its new group chief executi … view |
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Wednesday 3rd September 2025 |
Exclusive: Clare Clough to step down as Pret UK and Europe MD, shareholders back Wildwood operator's recapitalisation plans |
Exclusive – Clare Clough to step down as Pret UK and Europe MD: Clare Clough is to step down as the UK and Europe managing director of Pret A Manger, and leave the JAB Holdings-backed business after 15 years, Propel has learned. Clough … view |
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Wednesday 3rd September 2025 |
Update: RedCat first-quarter like-for-like sales up 6.7% driven by premium rooms business |
RedCat first-quarter like-for-like sales up 6.7% driven by premium rooms business: RedCat Hospitality, the operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has reported a 6.7% increase in like-for-like sales in the three months … view |
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Wednesday 3rd September 2025 |
Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
The Breakfast Club – painful decisions paying off as Ebitda grows 36% in first half, company significantly more profitable than it’s ever been: Jonathan Arana-Morton, co-founder of all-day dining concept The Breakfast Club has told Pr … view |
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Tuesday 2nd September 2025 |
Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
Azzurri Group CEO – we can go faster if Dave’s Hot Chicken continues to do well, could open door for other brands to enter Europe: Steve Holmes, chief executive of Azzurri Group – the ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Boojum and Zizzi owne … view |
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Monday 1st September 2025 |
Update: Dave’s Hot Chicken, Escape Hunt, Deliveroo midweek family meal deal initiative et al |
Azzurri Group signs deal to expand Dave’s Hot Chicken into Europe, builds UK pipeline: Azzurri Group – the ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Boojum and Zizzi owner – has signed an exclusive agreement to roll out US brand Dave’s Hot Chic … view |
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Monday 1st September 2025 |
Propel Monday News Briefing |
Hospitality groups' like-for-like sales flat again in July but new openings fuel growth: Britain’s top pub, bar and restaurant groups continued a flat summer of trading with a fractional year-on-year drop of 0.1% in like-for like sales … view |
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Monday 1st September 2025 |
Hospitality groups' like-for-like sales flat again in July but new openings fuel growth |
Hospitality groups' like-for-like sales flat again in July but new openings fuel growth: Britain’s top pub, bar and restaurant groups continued a flat summer of trading with a fractional year-on-year drop of 0.1% in like-for like sales in Ju … view |
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Friday 29th August 2025 |
Exclusive: Tequila Mockingbird acquires Snug Bars |
Exclusive – Tequila Mockingbird acquires Snug Bars: South London bar operator Tequila Mockingbird has acquired neighbourhood-style bar and kitchen concept Snug Bars for an undisclosed sum, Propel has learned. Tequila Mockingbird operate … view |
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Friday 29th August 2025 |
Friday Opinion |
Subjects: Zoning out, the danger of digital, a growing desire for in-store experiences Authors: Katherine Doggrell, Phil Mellows, Glynn Davis Zoning out by Katherine DoggrellThe image c … view |
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Friday 29th August 2025 |
Propel Friday News Briefing |
The UK’s top 25 sector companies for profit growth, featuring in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker, revealed: The top 25 food and beverage companies in the UK hospitality sector in terms of profit growth in the past three years have b … view |
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Friday 29th August 2025 |
Stonegate CEO – we are becoming a partnership-led pub business |
Stonegate CEO – we are becoming a partnership-led pub business, reaches 200th managed to leased and tenanted conversion: David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has told Propel the business is beco … view |
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Thursday 28th August 2025 |
Update: Ping Pong hit by £500,000 increase in annual costs, loss of VAT-free shopping costs West End millions |
Ping Pong experienced 25% drop in revenues ahead of administration: The four-strong Ping Pong restaurant business, which ceased trading earlier this summer, fell into administration off the back of seeing revenues decline by up to 25%, dr … view |
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Thursday 28th August 2025 |
Propel Thursday News Briefing |
Byron faces further restructure as parent company gears up to appoint administrators: Better burger brand Byron, which at one time grew to an £80m-turnover, 70-strong business, is set for a further restructuring, after its parent company … view |
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Wednesday 27th August 2025 |
Robinsons reports record turnover of £97.7m as business remains ‘resilient’ |
Robinsons reports record turnover of £97.7m as business remains ‘resilient’: North west brewer and retailer Robinsons has reported turnover increased to a record £97.7m for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £92.3m the previ … view |
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Wednesday 27th August 2025 |
Denny’s eyes UK expansion as master franchise hits market |
Denny’s eyes UK expansion as master franchise hits market: American diner chain Denny’s is again looking to expand in the UK, with offers being considered for its master franchise for the region. Advisory firm FRP Corporate Finance ha … view |
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Wednesday 27th August 2025 |
Update: We Do Play secures new investment, Hall & Woodhouse results, Chopstix |
We Do Play secures new investment from the Frasers Group: We Do Play – the multi-concept experiential leisure operator, has secured new investment from Frasers Group plc, formerly Sports Direct International, which is set to fund its n … view |
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Wednesday 27th August 2025 |
Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
Chick-fil-A to open in Leeds this autumn led by ex-Nando’s employee for England return: US brand Chick-fil-A, which made its debut site in Northern Ireland earlier this year as it begins its return to these shores, has confirmed it will … view |
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Tuesday 26th August 2025 |
Closures in Britain's late-night venues reach all-time high, ‘night-time deserts’ being created |
Closures in Britain’s late-night venues reach all-time high, ‘night-time deserts’ being created: Closures in Britain’s late-night venues have reached an all-time high with one in four businesses lost since 2020, according to resea … view |
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Tuesday 26th August 2025 |
Update: Time Out update, Fairgame US expansion, BrewDog, inflation, tourism |
Time Out Group – Markets revenue up, agrees new loan facility: Time Out Group has reported that its Markets FY25 revenues grew to £47m, an increase of 10% versus FY24 (£42m), but said that trading performance in the final quarter of F … view |
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Tuesday 26th August 2025 |
Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
Loungers launches first loyalty scheme: Café bar operator Loungers, which opened its landmark 300th site earlier this month, has launched its first loyalty scheme across its 261-strong Lounge estate. The company, which also operates Cosy … view |
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Monday 25th August 2025 |
Almost 89,000 jobs lost in hospitality since Budget as another 5,000 go in past month |
Almost 89,000 jobs lost in hospitality since Budget as another 5,000 go in past month: Almost 89,000 jobs have been lost in hospitality since last October’s Budget, according to new analysis of Office for National Statistics data by UKH … view |
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Saturday 23rd August 2025 |
Coca-Cola explores Costa sale |
Coca-Cola explores Costa sale: The Coca-Cola Company is exploring a sale of Costa, Britain’s biggest high street coffee brand, more than six years after acquiring the business in a move aimed at helping it reduce its reliance on sugary soft … view |
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Saturday 23rd August 2025 |
Exclusive: Krispy Kreme UK begins multi-year turnaround plan as it reports £6.5m loss |
Exclusive – Krispy Kreme UK begins multi-year turnaround plan as it reports £6.5m loss: Krispy Kreme UK has said it has begun a multi-year turnaround plan as it reported a pre-tax loss of £6,465,000 for the year ending 31 December 2024 com … view |
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Friday 22nd August 2025 |
Subjects: Authors: Beam me up Elon by Myles Doran I was recently passing through Los Angeles on a hospitality research tour of California, which conveniently coincided with the new opening of the firs … view |
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Friday 22nd August 2025 |
Friday Opinion |
Subjects: There’s no maybe about it – Oasis have definitely been a shot in the arm for hospitality, good news for pubs, the benefits of central kitchensAuthors: Katy Moses, Glynn Davis, Alastair Scott |
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Friday 22nd August 2025 |
Propel Friday News Briefing |
Tigermilk – we want to open three more London sites over the next 12 months and see long-term potential for meaningful footprint in UK: The team behind French Latin American dining concept Tigermilk has told Propel it wants to open thre … view |
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Friday 22nd August 2025 |
London mayor wants alfresco dining to become permanent feature, hospitality leaders’ confidence nudges up |
London mayor wants alfresco dining to become permanent feature for capital as new analysis shows licensing changes could boost economy by £2bn a year: Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has said he wants alfresco dining to become a permane … view |
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Thursday 21st August 2025 |
Update: McDonald’s UK CEO to step down, Joseph Holt results |
Alistair Macrow to step down as CEO of McDonald’s UK: Alistair Macrow, who has been with McDonald’s for 18 years, will step down as chief executive of its UK and Ireland business next month, after four years in the role. The Times rep … view |
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Thursday 21st August 2025 |
Propel Thursday News Briefing |
Fledgling salad concept Pick.Your.Own secures funding to aid rollout across London, targeting 20 sites by 2030: Pick.Your.Own, the fast-casual concept that launched last December in the City, has secured investment from Frontive Group and … view |
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Wednesday 20th August 2025 |
Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
F1 Arcade to launch smaller format F1 Box that offers ‘significant global growth potential’: F1 Arcade, the Formula 1-licensed experiential brand, is to launch a smaller format called F1 Box on Friday (22 August), in London. The compa … view |
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Wednesday 20th August 2025 |
Almost three quarters of hospitality businesses have less than six months of cash reserves |
Almost three quarters of hospitality businesses have less than six months of cash reserves as tax rises force workforce cuts: Almost three quarters (73%) of hospitality businesses have less than six months of cash reserves, with one in fi … view |
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Tuesday 19th August 2025 |
Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
Brakspear CEO – trading so far in 2025 has been strong, secures additional borrowing: Tom Davies, chief executive of pub operator Brakspear, has told Propel that trading for the business in 2025 has been strong, helped by acquisitions … view |
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