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Monday 29th February 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Luke Johnson – rent regime is ‘deeply unfair, huge threat to sector prosperity’: Sector investor Luke Johnson, who has investments in ten companies in the sector, has described the current rent regime as a ‘fix’ that acts to ens … view
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Friday 26th February 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The reinvigoration of Café Rouge, the growing appetite for craft beer, and the art of the menu
Authors: James Spragg, Glynn Davis, and Ann Elliott

The reinvigoration of Café Rouge by Ja … view

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Friday 26th February 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
CGA’s Peach Market Growth Monitor – pace of restaurant openings slows: Restaurant openings continue to make up for the fall in licensed premises caused by pub closures across Britain – but the pace of expansion is easing, according … view
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Thursday 25th February 2016
Horizons – reinvention of macaroni cheese is success for Britain’s eating out sector
Horizons – reinvention of macaroni cheese is success for Britain’s eating out sector: The popularity of humble macaroni cheese continues with mac ‘n’ cheese clocking growth of over 550% on British restaurant menus since 2010, according … view
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Thursday 25th February 2016
CGA Peach 2016 Business Leaders Survey – optimism but caution for sector
CGA Peach 2016 Business Leaders Survey – optimism but caution for sector: Leaders in the eating and drinking out sector are optimistic about growth in 2016 – but there are concerns about intense competition, consumer spending and prop … view
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Thursday 25th February 2016
Casual Dining Show news: GBK, Revolution, Horizons et al
Revolution Bars Group eyeing five more sites by 2017, reveals some venues turning over £7m a year: Revolution Bars Group is aiming to add another five sites to its portfolio by 2017 as it continues its expansion. The company will open tw … view
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Thursday 25th February 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Simon Kossoff – Carluccio’s has potential for more than 200 UK sites and even more in the US: Carluccio’s chairman and co-founder Simon Kossoff has said there is potential to grow the brand to more than 200 sites in the UK and even … view
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Wednesday 24th February 2016
London restaurant to axe service charge
London restaurant to axe service charge: Kojawan, the new izakaya from SLO Group, headed up by Bjorn Van Der Horst and Omar Romero, will eliminate the service charge when it opens next month on the top floor of London’s Hilton Metropole. The … view
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Wednesday 24th February 2016
Tim Martin – laws and key decisions should be made by national parliaments and not by the non-democratic EU
Tim Martin – laws and key decisions should be made by national parliaments and not by the non-democratic EU: Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has argued that key laws are best made by national parliaments, not by the non-democratic EU. In an a … view
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Wednesday 24th February 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker – drinkers ignore Dry January as drink spend rises: Dry January and other New Year’s resolutions had less of an effect on leisure spending this year, as drinking out was up 6% compared with January 20 … view
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Tuesday 23rd February 2016
NPD Group forecasts foodservice growth in 2016 and 2017
NPD Group forecasts foodservice growth in 2016 and 2017: Global information company The NPD Group has forecast greater growth in the British out-of-home market than it originally predicted. It is now anticipating the market will grow visi … view
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Tuesday 23rd February 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Beds and Bars boss – we will relocate to Europe if we leave the EU, calls on BBPA to tackle unfair business rates: Pan-European hostel and bar operator Beds and Bars boss Keith Knowles has told Propel his company will relocate its headq … view
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Monday 22nd February 2016
M&B to trial own coffee blend in partnership with Bewley’s
M&B to trial own coffee blend in partnership with Bewley’s: Mitchells & Butlers is set to trial ‘Brood’, its own unique blend of coffee, developed in collaboration with Bewley’s one of the largest coffee roasters in the UK and Ireland. … view
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Monday 22nd February 2016
Italian Job launches £350,000 crowdfunding drive for second site, plans to open one pub annually until 2020
Italian Job launches £350,000 crowdfunding drive for second site, plans to open one pub annually until 2020: The UK’s first Italian craft beer pub has launched a £350,000 fund-raising drive on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to open anothe … view
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Monday 22nd February 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
CGA and ALMR partner to produce industry reports: CGA and the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) have unveiled a new partnership to produce a pioneering series of industry-leading intelligence reports. The ‘Future Shock … view
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Sunday 21st February 2016
Moody’s places Soho House bonds on review as company seeks increased debt deal in return for £20m equity injection
Moody’s places Soho House bonds on review as company seeks increased debt deal in return for £20m equity injection: Ratings agency Moody’s has placed Soho House bonds on review for downgrade after the company moved to increase its revolvi … view
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Friday 19th February 2016
Multi-site operators brand BBPA beer duty cut calls ‘morally flawed’ in open letter to Chancellor
Multi-site operators brand BBPA beer duty cut calls ‘morally flawed’ in open letter to Chancellor: Leaders of eight multi-site operators have sent an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer branding the British Beer and Pub Ass … view
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Friday 19th February 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The scream test, the policing and crime bill, and why employers need to know what’s up with WhatsApp
Authors: Paul Chase, Michelle Hazlewood, and Robert Liddiard

The scream test by Paul … view

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Friday 19th February 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Enterprise Inns reports rise in young people joining pub trade: Enterprise Inns has stated more young people are entering the pub trade because they want a sociable career and the opportunity to run their own business. The UK’s largest … view
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Thursday 18th February 2016
Carlsberg appoints new UK chief executive
Carlsberg appoints new UK chief executive: Carlsberg has appointed Julian Momen as the new chief executive of its UK business. Momen has been chief financial officer for Carlsberg UK since September 2012 and has played a key role in the develo … view
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Thursday 18th February 2016
Andrew Guy resumes chief executive role at Ed’s Easy Diner
Andrew Guy resumes chief executive role at Ed’s Easy Diner: Ed’s Easy Diner has reported chief executive Ivan Schofield has decided to leave the company to pursue career opportunities elsewhere in the wake of the ending of the company … view
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Thursday 18th February 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Star Pubs to invest £75,000 in chef consultancy as part of drive to expand food sales to 50% of all sales by 2020: Star Pubs & Bars is to invest £75,000 in independent chef consultancy advice to help 100 of its licensees – it follows … view
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Wednesday 17th February 2016
BrewDog to offer 20% of US division in US crowdfunding push
BrewDog to offer 20% of US division in US crowdfunding push: BrewDog is to launch a crowdfunding campaign in the US in May, offering US investors 20% of the equity in its US division. It stated: “Our innovative platform for growth puts … view
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Wednesday 17th February 2016
Douglas Jack – UK restaurants have made a strong start to 2016
Douglas Jack – UK restaurants have made a strong start to 2016: Numis Securities leisure analyst Douglas Jack has argued UK restaurants have made a strong start to 2016. In a note published this morning, he wrote: “We firmly believe t … view
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Wednesday 17th February 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Pub and restaurant like-for-likes up 1.9% in January, London ‘essentially flat’: Britain’s pub and restaurant groups have reported a solid start to 2016, with collective like-for-like sales in January up 1.9% on the same month last … view
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Tuesday 16th February 2016
10 Minutes with The ONE Group chief executive Jonathan Segal
10 Minutes with The ONE Group chief executive Jonathan Segal: James Hacon, managing director at Elliotts agency, chats with Jonathan Segal, chief executive of The ONE Group. Segal talks through The ONE Group, how it operates, how it came into … view
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Tuesday 16th February 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
£500,000 crowdfunding campaign launched to create ‘world’s best cocktail bar’ in London with ‘guest’ staff: A £500,000 fund-raising campaign has been launched on crowdfunding platform Seedrs to create the “world’s best coc … view
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Monday 15th February 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Administrator decides to drop Sarumdale interest rate swap claim against Barclays: Begbies Traynor, the administrator of pub company Sarumdale, whose directors claimed the company was the subject of interest rate swap mis-selling by Barcl … view
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Friday 12th February 2016
Update: Costa, SA Brain, Cote, Greene King, PizzaExpress, Young's, JDW
Domino’s franchisees buy Costa Coffee franchisee: Purple World, which operates ten Costa Coffee outlets across Cumbria and Lancashire, has been bought by private investors with existing businesses in food retail brands such as Domino’ … view
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Friday 12th February 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Redrawing the market map, London’s restaurant cycle reaching a high point, and delivering impactful local marketing
Authors: David Martin, Glynn Davis, and Ann Elliott

Redrawing the mar … view

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Friday 12th February 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
New concept Boyds Grill & Wine Bar to launch in Trafalgar Square: New concept Boyds Grill & Wine Bar will launch in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday, 24 February. The venue in Northumberland Avenue will feature a marble-clad, Victorian inter … view
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Thursday 11th February 2016
Laine Pub Company named as partner for £3.8m heritage pub project
Laine Pub Company named as partner for £3.8m heritage pub project: Multi-million pound restoration plans for an historic, semi-derelict pub in south London are now a step closer after The Laine Pub Company, led by Gavin George and backed … view
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Thursday 11th February 2016
Loungers reports results, changes like-for-like reporting
Loungers reports results, changes like-for-like reporting: Cafe bar brand Loungers has reported sales hit £48.02m, in the year to 26 April 2015, with like-for-like sales up 3.9%. However, the company has moved to report like-for-like sal … view
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Thursday 11th February 2016
Enterprise reports strong start to year
Enterprise reports strong start to year: Enterprise Inns has reported, in an AGM update, a ‘strong start ‘to the financial year with like-for-like net income in the leased and tenanted estate growing by 1.6% for the 19 weeks to 6 Febr … view
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Thursday 11th February 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Café Rouge set to return to site growth, plans five restaurants a year, rebranding programme to be completed by 2017: Café Rouge, the brand owned by Casual Dining Group, is set to return to site growth in 2016 and plans to add five rest … view
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Wednesday 10th February 2016
Tesco takes full ownership of Harris + Hoole despite £43.5m total losses
Tesco takes full ownership of Harris + Hoole despite £43.5m total losses: Tesco has taken full ownership of the loss-making Harris + Hoole coffee shop business, despite total losses of £43.5m since incorporation. The company has bought … view
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Wednesday 10th February 2016
AB InBev receives binding offer for Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime
AB InBev receives binding offer for Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime: AB InBev has received a binding offer from Japan-based Asahi Group Holdings to acquire Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime Brewery. Asahi’s offer values the Peroni, Grolsch, and … view
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Wednesday 10th February 2016
Gambling Commission wins appeal against Greene King bingo licence
Gambling Commission wins appeal against Greene King bingo licence: The Gambling Commission has won an appeal against the grant of bingo licence to Greene King. Previously Greene King had been successful in its appeal against the refusal of the … view
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Wednesday 10th February 2016
Update: Sugar Hut expansion, Greene King results
Sugar Hut brand set to expand across the UK: The Only Way is Essex star Mick Norcross is to expand his Sugar Hut brand across the UK after appointing a new chief executive. The Sugar Hut site in Brentwood, Essex has enjoyed a high profile … view
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Wednesday 10th February 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Camerons Brewery reports return to pre-tax profit: North east brewer and retailer Camerons Brewery has reported a return to pre-tax profit. The company saw a pre-tax profit of £1,523,278 for the year ending 3 May 2015, compared with a lo … view
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Tuesday 9th February 2016
Whitbread to launch new restaurant concept Beefeater Bar + Block
Whitbread to launch new restaurant concept Beefeater Bar + Block: Whitbread is to launch a new restaurant concept Beefeater Bar + Block in Birmingham city centre next month. Located in Waterloo Street, Bar + Block will be an evolved, contempor … view
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Tuesday 9th February 2016
Britvic hires two non-executive directors, Bob Ivell to step down
Britvic hires two non-executive directors, Bob Ivell to step down: Britvic has announced the appointment of Euan Sutherland and Sue Clark as independent non-executive directors of the company with effect from 29 February 2016. Sutherland … view
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Tuesday 9th February 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
‘Crisis talks’ to take place in London today to explore ways of ensuring long-term future for Britain’s curry houses: More than 600 curry house owners and industry representatives are to hold “crisis talks” in London today (Tues … view
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Monday 8th February 2016
Enterprise signs ground-breaking deal with British Street Food
Enterprise signs ground-breaking deal with British Street Food: British Street Food has signed a ground-breaking deal with Enterprise Inns to bring street food to its pubs. The agreement, which is called the British Street Food Pub Takeover, w … view
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Monday 8th February 2016
Jamie Rollo – Costa Coffee has 50% Ebit upside potential
Jamie Rollo – Costa Coffee has 50% Ebit upside potential: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has argued that Coast Coffee has 50% Ebit upside potential. Rollo, who increased his price target to 5600p from 5100p, said: “Our dee … view
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Monday 8th February 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Fitch – almost half of the Wellington pub estate is ‘behind’ on maintenance, represents a risk: Ratings agency Fitch has issued a note that reports almost half of the pubs in the 778-strong free-of-tie lease Wellington Pub Company e … view
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Saturday 6th February 2016
BBPA – latest UK beer sales show pressing need for another cut in beer duty
BBPA – latest UK beer sales show pressing need for another cut in beer duty: Figures from the quarterly Beer Barometer survey by the British Pub & Beer Association (BBPA) have revealed beer sales in Britain fell by 1.5% in 2015. The dec … view
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Friday 5th February 2016
Update: M&B, Geronimo, Columbo, Nando's, GK, Enterprise et al
M&B to convert ten more pubs to Sizzling Pizza & Carvery format after 55% increase in sales at first ten: Mitchells & Butlers has opened ten Sizzling Pizza & Carvery businesses in the last six months, and plans to invest in converting a f … view
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Friday 5th February 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The humble bar stool, ‘virtue signalling’ and ‘vaping’, and the impact of Wi-Fi
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase, and Dan Brookman

The humble bar stool by Glynn Davis

One … view
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Friday 5th February 2016
Just Eat buys four takeaway businesses
Just Eat buys four takeaway businesses: Just Eat, the digital marketplace for takeaway food delivery, has bought four businesses from Rocket Internet and Foodpanda for £94.7 million, to be funded from existing cash resources. The busines … view
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Friday 5th February 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Former Punch Taverns director becomes chairman of Gala Bingo: Former Punch Taverns chief operating officer Adrian Fawcett has become chairman of Gala Bingo. The bingo operator, acquired from Gala Coral by Caledonia Investments for £241m … view
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Thursday 4th February 2016
Thai Leisure Group eyes ten openings in 2016, passes £30m turnover
Thai Leisure Group eyes ten openings in 2016, passes £30m turnover: Thai Leisure Group (TLG), the Thai restaurant operator, has announced it passed £30m turnover last year – and plans up to ten new sites this year. In 2015, four new s … view
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Thursday 4th February 2016
Camerons secures £30m HSBC funding package to add 40 pubs
Camerons secures £30m HSBC funding package to add 40 pubs: Camerons Brewery, based in Hartlepool, will grow its retail pub estate, including its Head of Steam managed brand, by acquiring 40 new pubs with a £30 million funding package from HS … view
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Thursday 4th February 2016
Prezzo to offer 300 apprenticeships in the next year
Prezzo to offer 300 apprenticeships in the next year: Restaurant group Prezzo is aiming to take on more than 300 new apprentices in the next 12 months. The 12 month apprenticeship programme is aimed at people who wish to progress in diffe … view
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Thursday 4th February 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
CAMRA reports drop in pub closure numbers, calls on government to apply another beer tax cut: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed a fall in the number of pub closures in the UK, but has called on the government to cut beer tax … view
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Wednesday 3rd February 2016
Bill’s reports full year turnover hits £91.7m, new £37m facility
Bill’s reports full year turnover hits £91.7m, new £37m facility: Bill’s Restaurants, owned by Richard Caring, has reported that turnover rose 70.2% to £91.7m in the year to 2 August 2015. Adjusted Ebitda before pre-opening and exceptio … view
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Wednesday 3rd February 2016
Imbiba partners reports progress at four companies
Darwin & Wallace secures fifth site: London-based bar and restaurant company Darwin & Wallace, which is backed by the Imbiba Partnership, has secured its fifth site. Managing director Mel Marriott told the Imbiba Partnership Conference at … view
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Wednesday 3rd February 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Neil Rankin to launch new barbecue restaurant and wine bar concept with backing from Imbiba Partnership, targets seven sites in London in next five years: Chef Neil Rankin is to launch a new barbecue restaurant and wine bar concept with b … view
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Tuesday 2nd February 2016
10 Minutes with Thai Leisure Group managing director Ian Leigh
10 Minutes with Thai Leisure Group managing director Ian Leigh: James Hacon, managing director at Elliotts agency, interviews Ian Leigh, managing director of Thai Leisure Group (TLG). They discuss TLG, how it's expanded since 2004, the future … view
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Tuesday 2nd February 2016
Coaching Inn buys first site of six planned for 2016
Coaching Inn buys first site of six planned for 2016: Independent coaching inns operator, The Coaching Inn Group has further strengthened its expansion programme with the acquisition of the Kings Head in Richmond. The deal, secured off an … view
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Tuesday 2nd February 2016
Philip Yea named as next Greene King chairman
Philip Yea named as next Greene King chairman: Greene King has announced that Tim Bridge, chairman of the company, will be retiring from the board on 1 May 2016, after 11 years as chairman and over 45 years’ service with the company. Philip … view
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Tuesday 2nd February 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Tim Hall leaves Pod after disagreement over strategy: Founder of 22-strong healthy eating chain Pod, Tim Hall, has left the business after strong disagreements over the direction of the business in the last 14 months. Hall oversaw 17% lik … view
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Monday 1st February 2016
BII names Mike Clist as new managing director
BII names Mike Clist as new managing director: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has named Mike Clist, formerly of Fuller’s, as managing director from 1 April 2016. The BII stated: “The newly created position, which will be on … view
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Monday 1st February 2016
Levi Roots claims ‘complete digital footprint’ at new restaurant opening
Levi Roots claims ‘complete digital footprint’ at new restaurant opening: Levi Roots’ new Caribbean Smokehouse in Westfield Stratford City, has opened with what is claims to be the first UK restaurant to offer a “complete digital … view
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Monday 1st February 2016
Conviviality reports strong First Half
Conviviality reports strong First Half: Conviviality, the alcohol wholesaler serving consumers through the on-trade and through its franchise retail estate, has reported sales grew 38% to £252m in the 27 weeks to 1 November 2015, Ebitda … view
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Monday 1st February 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Luke Johnson to export Gail’s Bakery expertise to Florida site with founder Tom Molnar: Sector investor Luke Johnson and Gail’s Bakery founder Tom Molnar are planning to use their experience gained at Gail’s Bakery to open a bakery … view
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