Leon owner EG Group eyeing £8bn Subway takeover: The billionaire Issa brothers behind Leon owners EG Group are thought to be eyeing up fast-food giant Subway in a reported £8bn takeover. It is thought Mohsin, 51, and Zuber, 50, are look … view

Tortilla reports record revenue driven by new site openings, current trading remains strong with ‘healthy pipleline’ of openings for later in 2023: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has reported record … view

Bowland Inns & Hotels appoints advisors to aid with next stage of growth: Lancashire hotel, pub and restaurant operator Bowland Inns & Hotels has appointed advisors as it looks at its funding options for its next stage of growth, Propel h … view

JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-like sales up 9.1% on pre-pandemic levels in past seven weeks but inflationary pressures for industry ‘ferocious’: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales in the seven weeks to 19 March 2023 hav … view

Hollywood Bowl looking to add up to ten more Puttstars, would consider standalone sites only in ‘five-star locations’: Chief financial officer Laurence Keen has told Propel that Hollywood Bowl would look to add up to ten more Puttstar … view

Neame – it will take up to 12 months before it feels like we’ve got a normal pulse in the business: Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Kent brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame, has told Propel that in the face of inflationary pressures … view

Shepherd Neame says demand encouraging but expects further cost pressures as it reports record first-half revenue: Kent brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame has said consumer demand has been encouraging but expects further cost pressures as … view

Survey paints ‘bleak picture’ of employee engagement across sector, but ‘big opportunity’ to avoid staff churn: A new survey has painted a “bleak picture” of employee engagement across the sector, but said it presents a “big … view

Pubs, restaurants and bars grow sales again in February but battle soaring costs: February sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 3.9% ahead of last year on a like-for-like basis, the latest Coffer CGA Bu … view

Grind completes £15m investment round, acquires Bottleshot Coffee: Coffee brand Grind has completed a new £15m investment round, which has been used in part to complete the acquisition of ready-to-drink coffee company, Bottleshot Coffee … view

Prezzo continuing to monitor estate in response to market conditions after closing four sites: Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, has told Propel it continues “to monitor our estate in response to market conditi … view

Deliveroo making “excellent progress on path to profitability”: Deliveroo has said that its revenue increased and its pre-tax loss narrowed in 2022, as it optimised consumer fees, made efficiency gains in the rider network and efficie … view

Carl’s Jr sees room for upwards of 300 UK sites: Tim Lowther, general manager for Carl’s Jr in Europe, has told Propel the business believes the UK has room for upwards of 300 sites under the US burger brand over the next ten to 15 ye … view

Sector warns further business closures ‘inevitable’ after lack of energy support in Budget but welcomes duty freeze: Industry leaders have warned further closures are “inevitable” following a lack of energy bills support for busin … view

Bones Daddies appoints new MD: Bone Daddies Group – which comprises the eponymous ramen restaurants, Shack-Fuyu and Flesh & Buns – has appointed Steve Hill as its new managing director, Propel has learned. Hill joined the Bone Daddies … view

Quick service US burger brand Carl’s Jr steps up plans to enter UK market: Quick service US burger brand Carl’s Jr has stepped up its plans to enter the UK market, and is seeking franchise partners to aid its launch and roll out here. … view

Sticks ‘n’ Sushi backer appoints advisors as it seeks exit: Maj Invest Equity has appointed advisors to assess options for a sale of its stake in Japanese restaurant group Sticks ‘n’ Sushi. The Copenhagen-based private equity firm … view

Crosstown appoints Howard Ebison as new chief executive: Crosstown, the artisan doughnut and speciality coffee concept, has appointed Howard Ebison as its new chief executive. Ebison joins Crosstown, in which Foresight, the backer of Mow … view

Industry calls on government to take action against energy firms: Operators have called on the government to take action against energy firms, as some in the industry come up against 500-600% price hikes. Alex Reilley, chairman of caf� … view

Nightcap – ongoing rail strikes lead to H1 lfl decrease of 5.8%: Nightcap – the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars – has reported a 5.8% like-for-like revenue decrease in the 26 … view

Sessions set to launch Manchester food hall in early 2024: Sessions, the growth platform for food brands and food hall concept operator led by former Deliveroo managing director Dan Warne, is set to open a new site in Manchester early nex … view

Exclusive – Papa John’s turnover passes £100m in UK for first time, store estate exceeds 500: Papa John’s has reported turnover has passed the £100m mark in the UK for the first time. The business reported revenue of £102,339,000 … view

Hostmore in talks with banks to amend bank facilities: Hostmore – the parent company of Fridays and 63rd+1st, has said it is currently in discussions with its lending banks to amend its existing facilities. The company indicated in an a … view

Hornby – signs are promising for Wagamama in the US: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has said although it is still early days, the signs are promising when it comes to Wagamama’s growth strategy in the US. … view

Soho House reports strong fourth quarter with lfl revenue up 47%, name change to become effective ‘in a few weeks’: Soho House, owned by New York-listed Membership Collective Group (MCG), has reported a strong FY2022 fourth quarter, w … view

Hornby – I am confident our main shareholders are behind our strategy, seeing proper volume growth: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), the Wagamama and Brunning & Price owner, has said he is confident that the c … view

Sector vacancies drop but wage bills climb: Labour shortages at Britain’s top managed hospitality groups may be starting to ease, the 2023 Business Leaders’ Survey from CGA by Nielsen IQ and Fourth has shown – but rising wage bills … view

The boys in black is a long-standing euphemism describing those talented men and women who stand guard on the door (regardless of the often-miserable British weather) and patrol the dance fl … view

Exclusive – Marston’s places 61-strong freehold pub package on the market: Marston’s has placed a 61-strong portfolio of freehold pubs on the market, Propel has learned. The assets, which are a selection of Marston’s non-core prop … view

Exclusive – Marston’s places 61-strong freehold pub package on the market: Marston’s has placed a 61-strong portfolio of freehold pubs on the market, Propel has learned. The assets, which are a selection of Marston’s non-core prop … view

Greggs lfl sales up 18.8% in first nine weeks of 2023, strongest growing daypart is now post-4pm: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has said it started 2023 well, with like-for-like sales in company-managed shops growing by 18.8% in the first ni … view

Daily Telegraph reports 50% inflation on prices at leading high street brands: Leading high street retailers, such as Pret a Manger and Costa Coffee, have raised their prices on hot drinks and sandwiches by as much as 50% in the wake of r … view

Caffè Nero set to open more 90 sites this year as FY revenue nears £350m: Caffè Nero, which operates more than 1,000 sites across ten markets, has said it is set to open more than 90 sites this year as revenue increase … view

Floozie Cookies targets up to 100 US sites over five years after striking franchise partnership deal: Floozie Cookies, the all-vegan stuffed cookie concept founded by Kimberly Lin in 2020, has targeted up to 100 US sites over five years a … view

The Wolseley owner plans offshoots across UK, Asia and Middle East: The owner of London’s The Wolseley restaurant plans to open offshoots across the UK, Asia and the Middle East as the dining group seeks to move on from a bruising clash … view

El Mexicana business sold via pre-pack administration: The bulk of the El Mexicana business has been sold via a pre-pack administration, Propel has learned. Propel revealed in January the Mexican burrito brand, which was founded in 2011 b … view

Pret A Manger to give staff third pay rise in 12 months: Pret A Manger has announced a third pay rise in 12 months for its 7,870 UK shop staff, which it said would further support its workforce amid the high cost of living. From 1 April 2 … view

Pret A Manger to give staff third pay rise in 12 months: Pret A Manger has announced a third pay rise in 12 months for its 7,870 UK shop staff, which it said would further support its workforce amid the high cost of living. From 1 April 2 … view

BBPA warns 2,000 pubs facing closure as it calls on government to support sector in Budget: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned 2,000 pubs are facing last orders as it called on the government to extend a lifeline to the … view